RALEIGH—Open Air Camp Road Affordable Homes in Durham has been honored with one of North Carolina’s top awards for excellence in affordable housing. This year’s Housing North Carolina Award winner for Innovation in Housing exemplifies the vitality of housing preservation in our communities.
In 2022, residents of a group of naturally occurring affordable homes (NOAH) along the Eno River were at risk of eviction. Determined not to lose their homes, their advocacy led them to a connection with Community Home Trust. By March of 2024 all five families’ homes were fully rehabbed with new roofs, windows, flooring, mold remediation, kitchen renovations and more.
As a part of Community Home Trust’s permanently affordable land trust inventory, residents of Open Air Camp Road Affordable Homes can remain as renters or choose to purchase their homes using the land trust model, which two of the families are already in the process of utilizing.
“Open Air Camp Road Affordable Homes is the blueprint for what can be accomplished when we think outside the box,” said Scott Farmer, executive director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, who presented a plaque to Community Home Trust. “Preserving NOAH units is a cost-effective way to keep North Carolinians in safe, affordable homes and the innovation of this project is commendable.”
The 2025 Housing North Carolina Awards celebrates its 36th year by recognizing affordable housing accomplishments in the following categories: community impact, creative partnerships, excellence in sustainability and innovation in housing. Awards are being presented by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency at each property and the winners will participate in a special awards panel at the 2025 NC Affordable Housing Conference in Raleigh on September 30.
The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency is a self-supporting public agency that provides safe, affordable housing opportunities to enhance the quality of life of North Carolinians. Since its creation by the General Assembly, the Agency has financed more than 321,320 affordable homes and apartments, totaling $34.4 billion. To learn more about the Agency and its programs, visit www.HousingBuildsNC.com.