Politics

Durham City Council Approves Funding Plan for Affordable Housing Units

The plan supports new affordable units and household stabilization alongside a separate downtown redevelopment effort by the Durham Housing Authority.

By Durham Policy Desk · Published July 24, 2026

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Durham City Council Approves Funding Plan for Affordable Housing Units — Photo by infomatique / flickr (by-sa)

The Durham City Council approved a $4.5 million funding plan in May 2026 to support the development and preservation of affordable housing, targeting 270 new units and stabilization for 135 households. The Durham Housing Authority separately unveiled a $566 million redevelopment plan to construct 2,500 new housing units downtown as part of its federal Rental Assistance Demonstration portfolio renewal.

These steps occur as the city prepares its FY2026-2027 Annual Action Plan for affordable housing. That plan expects approximately $1.9 million in CDBG and $975,000 in HOME funds, with final HUD entitlement amounts still pending notification.

Results From Earlier Bond Initiative

The city's 2019 'Forever Home' bond initiative has already surpassed its goals, spurring 1,668 new affordable rental homes and preserving 888 units, exceeding the original targets of 1,600 and 800 respectively. A proposed zoning reform known as the Land Development Code was halted due to opposition from a coalition of a gas station developer and neighborhood groups, pausing significant housing rule reshaping.

For Durham residents, the council funding and authority redevelopment plans point to potential increases in local affordable rental supply. The bond results show prior delivery of new and preserved units that residents have already accessed. The halted zoning changes leave current development rules in place for the time being.

Next Steps for Housing Plans

The city will continue work on the FY2026-2027 Annual Action Plan while awaiting final HUD figures. The Durham Housing Authority redevelopment remains part of its ongoing federal portfolio renewal process. Residents seeking affordable housing can monitor updates through city and authority channels on unit availability and application processes.

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