Durham council debates $1.5 million loan commitment to Durham Housing Authority as operations shortfalls draw scrutiny

Durham City Council members spent the bulk of one agenda item examining a proposed city loan to the Durham Housing Authority (DHA) and DHA’s broader operational and maintenance challenges.

At a council meeting where DHA officials presented financial figures, Ashanti Brown, identified as Chief Operating Officer of the Durham Housing Authority, told the council the authority manages “more than 4,000 units” and that typical annual rental receipts for public housing equal “1,400,000” while outstanding or uncollected rents total “3,100,000.” Brown said DHA’s overall budget is about “56,000,000” and that rent-collection rates were running near 65 percent, short of a stated goal of 98 percent.

Why it matters: DHA provides a large share of deeply affordable housing in Durham. Council members said they were prepared to consider a city loan to help DHA continue operations and complete needed repairs, while pressing DHA for stronger financial controls, resident outreach and maintenance assurances.

Council discussion and DHA explanation Councilmember Ruiz (identified in the meeting as leading the item) urged support for the loan while emphasizing the city’s fiduciary duty. Brown told the council the figures in the staff memorandum reflect accounts receivable and rent shortfalls that stem in part from pandemic-era nonpayment policies and large wait lists for assistance.

“1,400,000 is what we would normally collect annually for public housing,” Brown said, adding that the higher 3,100,000 figure represents total uncollected rent across program types. She also said DHA had filed 86 cases for nonpayment since July 2024 and that the authority had a budget of roughly 56 million dollars.

Council members voiced both sympathy for residents and concern about DHA management and accountability. Councilmember Cook, citing site visits and constituent reports, described substandard living conditions in some units and said the proposed city support must include enforceable performance measures. “If DHA comes to us in two years and asks for another 1.5 million, we need more substance in the contracts,” Cook said.

Several council members said they supported a loan rather than a grant but insisted on explicit reporting, monthly financial reviews and audit requirements. City staff told the council they would incorporate those expectations into any agreement: monthly in-person financial meetings, reporting requirements and compliance audits.

What was not decided The transcript records lengthy discussion and an expression of support from several council members but does not show a formal, final council vote on the loan during the provided portion of the meeting. Staff described negotiation items and reporting expectations that would be written into an agreement, but the record here ends with the council’s discussion and staff noting they would negotiate and incorporate oversight terms.

Context and numbers cited - DHA units: “more than 4,000 units” (as presented by DHA staff). - Typical annual rent receipts for public housing: “1,400,000” (per DHA presentation). - Total uncollected rents cited: “3,100,000” (per DHA presentation). - Rent-collection rate stated in memo: ~65 percent collected, internal goal set at 85–98 percent in different places of the record. - DHA budget referenced: “56,000,000” (as stated by DHA staff). - DHA reported 86 cases filed for nonpayment since July 2024 and 13 evictions resolved in that period (as stated by DHA staff).

Outlook Councilmembers said they will proceed with a loan structure that includes oversight and reporting requirements; staff said they would negotiate the details. The transcript did not include a final vote during the excerpt provided.