Help Preserve Affordable Housing in Durham​

May 2021 Update
Over 20 volunteers from Immaculate Conception came together on Saturday, May 15th as part of IC's Affordable Housing project, to help make needed repairs to a neighbor/homeowner's home, (located behind Ingold Tire and Auto.) We had a chance to start getting to know Ms. Emma, and we hope this is the beginning of a long-term relationship with her and other IC neighbors. We continue to identify neighbors in need, and provide assistance in partnership with Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT), a highly respected affordable housing provider right down the road from IC.

It was also wonderful that those participating met so many IC parishioners that we didn't know beforehand! It was a chance for Anglos and Latinos to get to know each other, and for new parishioners to meet those that have been at IC for many years. 
BIG THANKS to all who came out to work, as well as to those who have financially supported this project. We have raised about $20K, which will be used for some of the more expensive repairs. For example, Ms. Emma's roof is going to be replaced this week, and we will be able to help other neighbors as well.

Although our next workday is not yet planned, there will be more in the upcoming months. Please contact Jenny Lischer-Froehlich, if you were unable to join us last Saturday, but would like to participate in the future.

More work days to follow, please let us know if you would like to be added to our volunteer list.

Affordable Housing Project, a New IC Ministry

A small group of people at Immaculate Conception, who have not been financially impacted by COVID, have been discussing the possibility of donating some or all of their upcoming stimulus check to a cause supporting Affordable Housing in Durham. We think we have found an opportunity that may be of interest to several IC parishioners through a partnership with Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT).

DCLT, located just down the street from IC, was founded in 1987 by neighbors in Durham's West End. Today, DCLT develops, manages, and advocates for permanently affordable housing for Durham residents with low and moderate-income through ownership and leasing models. One of the needs they do not have covered in their scope is upgrading homes in our neighborhood that were purchased in the 80’s and 90’s through their lease to purchase option. Some of these homes have had no significant maintenance done on them since they were purchased, due to the low income of the homeowners. It is a high priority for our community to keep our low-income homeowners in their homes.
We would like to create a fund to help at least 4 of these neighbors make major repairs to their homes (e.g., new roof or new HVAC system), and the funds would be managed by DCLT. We want to raise at least $20,000 to make these upgrades. We hope many parishioners would feel called to contribute to the fund; or they may feel that they could provide “hands on” service to these neighbors, e.g., through painting or gardening. This project could be transformative for our parish. It could not only bring us together by focusing on a tangible Affordable Housing project; but would give us the opportunity to get to know our neighbors who live close to IC that we have never taken the opportunity to get to know. 
One of the key take-aways from our August panel discussion on Faith and Racial Equity was that IC should be very intentional about getting to know our neighbors and neighborhood. This would be a great first step, and we could continue through a partnership with DCLT to find other ways to “walk with” the folks in our community.

As a Franciscan parish, this is a great opportunity for us to respond to Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' in which he writes that addressing the issue of housing is a major issue for human ecology: "[...] Creativity should be shown in integrating rundown neighborhoods into a welcoming city: 'How beautiful those cities which overcome paralyzing mistrust, integrate those who are different and make this very integration a new factor of development!'" ~Laudato Si' #152​​​
If you are interested in joining other Immaculate Conception parishioners to help low-income neighbors in our West End neighborhood stay in their homes, please complete this Google Form or contact Jenny Lischer-Froehlich.