"The Big G: Gentrification and the Dynamics of Neighborhood Change": Click here to download presentation materials.
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The People’s Alliance: Affordable Team
People's Alliance believes residents of all incomes should be able to find and keep affordable homes in Durham. We are working with renters and homeowners who want to stay in their homes and neighborhoods.
Our Mission
In recognition of and in an effort to combat the long history of racist and other discriminatory policies and practices that have contributed to the affordable housing crisis in Durham and across the state and country, The People’s Alliance Housing Team advocates for comprehensive and equitable housing policies.
Durham requires more housing to meet the needs of current and future residents, especially those with low and moderate incomes who are most vulnerable to displacement and exclusion from our city. Our vision is to advocate for policies that create equitable and sustainable development. The Team believes that Durham must become a place where people who have different incomes, backgrounds, and life stages live together and thrive.
The Durham community suffers from a lack of shared knowledge regarding affordable housing issues. Therefore, the PA Housing Team will take a proactive role in sharing research, advocacy goals, and community voices about affordable housing through blog posts and other means, thereby engaging community partners and stakeholders. These initiatives will enable the PA to advance change by shifting the longstanding housing narrative. In sharing resources and knowledge, we plan to engage stakeholders and advocates across Durham and North Carolina.
Our 2026-27 Platform Priorities
Meaningful progress on affordable housing requires sustained, focused effort. The following priorities represent concrete steps the PA Housing Team is committed to advancing over the next year in pursuit of our broader mission of affordable and sustainable housing in Durham.
505 West Chapel Hill (Partner Lead: 505 Coalition)
Check blogs for info
Contact: Rick Larson
Full Utilization of Federal HIV/AIDS Housing Funds (Partner Lead: Coalition to End the HIV Epidemic (EHE) in Durham)
The City of Durham has accumulated millions in unspent HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) fund, while hundreds of Durham residents living with HIV and AIDS lack stable housing. We are calling on the city to distribute these funds, revise the program administrations, and ensure that experienced community organizations are empowered to deliver these services to those in need. Learn more HERE.
Contact: Hayley Cunningham
Our Actions and Advocacy
Legacy of Our Impact
Get and Stay Involved
Partner Coalitions
The Coalition to End the HIV Epidemic in Durham (EHE Coalition)
The Coalition to End the HIV Epidemic in Durham (EHE) is a partnership of Durham community organizations and Duke University physicians working to integrate HIV care with outreach to marginalized communities and ensure that federal and local resources reach the people who need them. Learn more about the EHE Coalition HERE.
Resources and Publications
THANKS to Steve Schewel and Diane Catotti who pushed for more time to work on an agreement to keep 15% of homes affordable to working people BEFORE increasing density allowed at a future light rail station. Unfortunately, the rest of City Council did NOT support more time to keep homes affordable long-term.
HOWEVER, Steve Schewel convinced the developer, Rob Everett, to keep rents of 72 homes on the property affordable to people at 60% Area Median Income (around $27,000 to $39,000/year) for ONE year. Everett also agreed to give the City $25,000 to help with a plan to preserve and create affordable homes, AND Diane Catotti got him to agree to give $23,000 to Durham Public Schools. He said he would help with the plan and consider incentives to preserve or create affordable homes himself.
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress….Power concedes nothing without a demand." Fredrick Douglass, 1957.