Durham has the lowest percentage of home ownership of any major city in the state; 54 percent of Durham residents are homeowners according to the 2000 Census. One of the goals of the Neighborhood Partnership has been to encourage organizations to expand affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods. To accomplish that, Duke has created partnerships with public, private and government organizations.

• $3.7 Million Donation
  • Duke University paid $3.7 million in March 2006 to purchase 12 rental homes and three lots in three nearby neighborhoods (Trinity Heights, Trinity Park and Burch Avenue).
  • The homes are being sold with restrictive covenants requiring owner occupancy.
• Duke’s Collaborations:
  • Local affordable housing organizations, with support from Duke have purchased more than 75 houses for rehabilitation and sale to low-income homeowners in partner neighborhoods.
• Trinity Heights neighborhood :
  • Duke oversaw the building of 40 stand-alone houses and town homes on vacant, university-owned land in the Trinity Heights neighborhood just north of East Campus. http://www.realestate.duke.edu/
  • In addition to helping stabilize the six-block area, the project has increased city property tax revenues by more than $140,000 a year.
• Self-Help Community Development Corporation
  • A $4 million affordable housing loan from Duke has enabled the nonprofit Self-Help Community Development Corporation to complete the renovation of 77 houses for first-time, low-income homeowners in Walltown, an historically African-American neighborhood north of Duke’s East Campus.
  • One-third of these new homeowners are Duke employees.
  • Home ownership has increased from 15 percent to 25 percent, according to the 2000 census.
• Habitat for Humanity
  • The Durham chapter of Habitat for Humanity has built 13 homes in Walltown, many with direct assistance from Duke volunteers.
  • Another 22 homes have been built or are scheduled for construction in the West End neighborhood through Habitat’s Southwest Central Durham Initiative. Duke donated three vacant duplexes in the Crest Street neighborhood to Habitat, along with $10,000 for renovation into single-family residences.
• Southwest Central Durham Quality of Life project
  • Duke supports the Southwest Central Durham Quality of Life project, which brings together residents, non-profits and businesses to address community issues.
  • The SWCD partnered with Self-Help, the Durham Community Land Trustees, Habitat for Humanity, and the Homebuilders Association and the City of Durham to plan the development of Pauli Murray Place.
  • The 14-home project, begun in mid-2005, is designed to provide affordable quality homes in the West End of Durham. Duke is helping build a park for the neighborhood
• The Juanita McNeil and Joseph Alston West End Community Center
  • Duke and The Duke Endowment built The Juanita McNeil and Joseph Alston West End Community Center in a former law office with a $195,000 donation .
• St. James Family Life Center and Carter Community Charter School
  • Duke invested more than $400,000 to transform the vacant Walltown Elementary School into the St. James Family Life Center for a neighborhood church .
  • Carter Community Charter School and a library established by the Junior League of Orange-Durham Counties also use the building.