McDougald Terrace Press Conference Report & Next Steps

Posted by February 17, 2020 8:00 AM

McDougald Terrace Press Conference Report & Next Steps

“…Now, we got to get this thing right. What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love….” -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

Durham CAN Leaders Celebrate Valentine's Day With Press Conference On McDougald Terrace

On Friday, February 14, 2020, in the spirit of a holiday celebrating love in its many forms, 75 leaders from Durham CAN, Durham Housing Authority residents and community members gathered across the street from the Durham Housing Authority for a press conference after issuing a public letter to Durham City leaders calling for a “fierce urgency” in response to the deplorable conditions endured by Durham Housing Authority (DHA) residents.  In addition to calling for an immediate, long-term solution to the current crisis at McDougald Terrace, the letter called for three actions:

First, a re-prioritization of the City and DHA’s spending plan for the $95 million affordable housing bond that accelerates the necessary funding investments for deferred maintenance in all DHA properties in need of repair with CAN leaders, residents and community members at the design table and considering the redevelopment of Fayette Place as a potential resource.

Second, that the pilot of DHA’s eviction reforms – including rental assistance coordination, regular training of property management staff, and delays in eviction filings for non-payment of rent – be made permanent.

And third, that Mr. Scott, CEO of the Durham Housing Authority, fulfill the public commitments he made to CAN and Hoover Road residents to credit $37,926 in court fees charged to DHA residents whose eviction filings were voluntarily dismissed in 2018 and 2019.

Read the letter in its entirety

Watch the press conference aired by WRAL

Links to press coverage

ABC 11: McDougald Terrace expected to welcome families back Friday

Durham Herald Sun: Public housing tenants go home after carbon monoxide crisis

WRAL: Group wants more money for Durham housing complex maintenance

Spectrum: Displaced Durham Families Return to McDougald Terrace

Assoc. Press (from Durham Herald): Families returning to housing complex after health concerns

News and Observer, Saturday, February 15, 2020 print edition

News and Observer Letter to the editor

Next steps

Attend 2/28 Durham City Budget Retreat

During its February 20th Work Session, the Durham City Council agreed to a last minute request from the Durham Housing Authority for $1.4 million to pay for electrical upgrades in buildings at McDougald Terrace.  The City Council plans to discuss where the $1.4 million approved Thursday will come from at its budget retreat on February 28th.  The need for repairs at McDougald Terrace, Hoover Road, Oxford Manor, Cornwalis and all DHA communities should not create a false choice between decades of delayed maintenance and fidelity to the City's stated commitments to invest the proceeds from the sale of the Police Headquarters into the construction of new affordable housing, or its commitments to CAN to fund pre-development planning for Fayette Place.  We encourage CAN leaders to attend to ensure CAN priorities are reflected in this and other aspects of the budget.

Participate in March Re-inspection at Hoover Road

We will conduct a "Resident Re-Inspection" with Hoover Road residents to document the status of repairs that Mr. Scott committed to completing in Fall 2019 and schedule a meeting to present him with our findings. For more information contact Heather Ladd or Ruth Petrea.

Attend March Eviction Court Watching

If the Durham Housing Authority files new evictions, we'll attend the scheduled March eviction hearings to observe. For more information contact For more information contact Heather Ladd or Ruth Petrea.