Affordable Housing

Federal housing funding flows directly to the City of Durham, therefore housing programs have historically been managed by the City. With the recent escalation of the housing crisis, the County is working to become involved in ways that are supportive of the many entities already working in this field. The list below includes several initiatives that the County is currently involved in.

The County's 300 and 500 East Main Street affordable housing projects

The County has formed a Public Private Partnership (P3) to develop affordable housing at the County’s two properties at 335 East Main Street and on the 500 block of East Main Street in downtown Durham. Please see the Current Projects webpage for construction updates.

• The Renegade Durham at 335 E Main St plans to open in Spring 2025. Contact the developer through their website for details and application information. This project will also include a childcare center, and a parking deck with public spaces.
• The County’s mixed-use project at the 500 Block of East Main Street is under construction and will include both market rate and affordable housing, in addition to retail spaces and public parking. Please check here for construction updates.

County and City jointly fund multiple affordable housing projects

• In May 2023, Durham County transferred $10,000,000 in Federal ARPA Funding to the City of Durham to match the City’s funding commitment for affordable housing projects that responded to the City’s 2021 Request for Proposals. This was followed with an additional $3,500,000 in ARPA Funding later that year, bringing the County funding to $13.5 million.
• In August 2023, the County and City jointly funded the $6,050,000 purchase of the Carver Creek Apartment Complex on behalf of Housing for New Hope. Carver Creek is a supportive housing campus that connects individuals to community agencies that support mental health, physical wellness, and employment training through dedicated case management. Their primary focus is on individuals who have faced long-term homelessness and who have a disabling condition.

Durham County commits $1 million to Housing Loan Fund

Durham County has committed $1,000,000 to the Durham Affordable Housing Loan Fund, and is working with partners to further increase this Fund. This fund leverages $3 million in private funding for every $1 million of public dollars. It is anticipated that this Fund will be expanded to cover all of Durham County, add a gap financing vehicle, and be expanded to for-profit developers in the near future. Developers seeking bridge or gap financing should contact the Fund Manager, Self-Help, at MultifamilyLoans@self-help.org.

Durham County is represented on the following Boards, Committees and Task Forces:

• The Durham Continuum of Care (CoC) coordinates the homeless housing system service provisions for the City of Durham and Durham County. 
• The Durham Homelessness Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) is the Continuum of Care (CoC) decision-making body for the Durham Continuum of Care
• The Affordable Housing Network is convened by Duke’s Office of Durham and Community Affairs to strengthen relationships between groups working in the housing arena
• The Joint City, County, Schools Durham Housing Task Force

Questions about Durham County’s affordable housing projects may be directed to Christy Raulli, the County's Sr. Real Estate Officer. Questions about the County’s homelessness services and inter-agency coordination may be directed to Samantha Smith, Special Projects Coordinator in the Office of the Chief of Staff.

For more information about Durham County's homelessness strategy and response, please see this Special Projects page.