HUD Discusses Affordable Housing and Workforce Development with the City of Durham

HUD Discusses Affordable Housing and Workforce Development with the City of Durham.

Recently the Greensboro Field Policy and Management Team met with the City of Durham's Community Development Department to exchange ideas on the importance of affordable housing as well as to discuss the city's Section 3 initiatives and their participation in the ConnectHomeUSA digital inclusion program. The ConnectHomeUSA (https://connecthomeusa.org/) program will soon see eight of the city's public housing buildings connected to fiber and high-speed internet. Greensboro Field Office Director, Roosevelt A. Grant, and Wanda Page interim City Manager also discussed the importance of affordable housing in improving the quality of life of Durham's most vulnerable residents.

"There is work that remains to be done but HUD is committed to partnering with the City to further support their efforts to promote affordable, safe, and inclusive housing. This partnership will facilitate opportunities to improve housing opportunities for the City's most vulnerable residents and look to effect positive employment related outcomes," said The Greensboro Field Office Director, Roosevelt A. Grant.

Along with the numerous affordable housing projects currently in development within Durham, FPM discussed how Section 3 can be a path to self-sufficiency for low and very low-income residents. Deputy City Manager, Keith Chadwell, said "that the city is committed to economic and workforce development for Durham's residents, especially in a time when the city's demographic and employment opportunities have changed dramatically in the past few years."

Director of Community Planning, Reginald Johnson discussed the city's efforts to not only preserve affordable housing but to develop public-private partnerships as well as mixed use, mixed income apartment complexes downtown. The meeting was a great opportunity for HUD to connect with local governments, carrying out the day-to-day work to provide affordable, safe, inclusive communities for all.

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