DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University and the A.J. Fletcher Foundation has committed a combined $1.65 million to a Durham fund designed to help people experiencing homelessness overcome financial barriers to securing stable housing.
The investment, announced November 12 by the City of Durham, is expected to help approximately 200 additional households move into stable homes through the city's Flexible Housing Assistance Fund.
The new funding includes $1 million from Duke and $650,000 from the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. It represents the first $1.65 million toward a community goal of raising $5 million in private and philanthropic support for housing-focused homelessness interventions.
How the funding will help households
Durham's Flexible Housing Assistance Fund supports Housing Sprints and other rapid rehousing efforts by helping residents address expenses that can prevent them from moving into available housing.
The assistance can cover security deposits, utility debt, application fees, overdue rent and short-term rental assistance. These costs can create barriers for people who have found housing but cannot afford the expenses required to move in.
Housing Sprints bring together outreach workers, nonprofit organizations and landlords in focused efforts to help households move into homes within weeks.
Durham reports progress in housing efforts
Since February 2026, Durham's Housing Sprints have helped 115 people, including more than 50 children, move into stable homes, according to the city.
The city reported that most participants moved into housing within 30 days and that 98% remained housed.
A current Housing Sprint launched November 1 and aims to help 30 households, including 15 families, move into homes by the end of the year.
Participating organizations include Families Moving Forward, Housing for New Hope, Family Promise of the Triangle, Urban Ministries of Durham and HOM Inc.
Public and private investment
The new philanthropic contributions build on more than $8 million invested this year by the City of Durham and Durham County in homelessness services and housing interventions.
The city's broader Strategic Framework to Make Homelessness Rare & Brief aims to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring by 2031. A key milestone is a goal of housing 400 people by June 2027.
Durham officials say continued investment in flexible assistance will be important because households often need immediate financial support to secure available housing.
Residents, businesses and organizations interested in supporting the effort can find information through the city's Flexible Housing Assistance Fund and its Rare & Brief Durham initiative.
Source: City of Durham, November 12, 2026.
