On March 1, CHT purchased five homes on Open Air Camp Road in Durham, officially making them part of our permanently affordable inventory. The residents of those homes are members of the Eno River Tenants’ Association and had long hoped their homes could be protected by becoming part of a land trust. Planning is already underway to complete extensive necessary renovations on the homes, work that will be funded by a grant from the Oak Foundation and a loan from the Durham Affordable Housing Loan Fund. The current tenants, some of whom have lived in their homes for nearly twenty years, will get to stay – and some may even choose to become homeowners using our land trust homeownership model.

On March 15, we launched an innovative new program to help more first-time homebuyers get “mortgage ready” and prepare to buy a home. The pilot “Budget Your Way Home” program serves current applicants who are ready to buy a home but face barriers to qualifying for a mortgage, such as inadequate savings, low credit scores, and unstable incomes. All spots in the pilot program are currently filled.

The Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition, of which CHT is a member, is circulating a petition for Chapel Hill Town Council to put an affordable housing bond on this year’s ballot. We’re so grateful for the ongoing work the Town does in affordable housing!

CHT Orientation: Everyone is welcome to attend this in-depth introduction to our program in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. In-person and Zoom options available. Next session: April 11, 12 noon, in-person at our Chapel Hill office. Register here.

Homebuyer Education: This 8-hour class is offered in-person in our office (105 Conner Drive, Suite 1000, Chapel Hill) and gives potential buyers the tools to navigate the home-buying process. Completion of this class is a requirement of the program and most lenders, and attendance for the whole session is required to receive the certificate. This class is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Next session: June 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Supplemental live sessions are also available for those who have attended an online program. Contact Program Coordinator Deja Gilmore at dgilmore@communityhometrust.org for details and to register.

Neighborhood Tour: Learn more about the communities where CHT residents live and see some examples of our homes for yourself. The neighborhood tour lasts approximately two hours and starts with coffee and conversation at our office. Space is limited and registration is required. Next tour: April 24, 2:30 p.m. Request a seat on the bus here.

​Welcome to 1749 Legion Rd! This 2 bedroom / 2.5 bathroom townhome is located in the Legion Road community and is just minutes from I-40, schools, and Wegman’s. Downstairs you’ll be greeted by a cozy entryway, followed by a galley style kitchen, dining space, living room with a window alcove, half bath, and storage. Upstairs are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry closet. Enjoy your time outdoors on the spacious deck, walk to Wegman’s for shopping or dinner, or hop on a bus right outside your front door to explore Chapel Hill.

“The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes,” National Low Income Housing Coalition, March 2024.

“Local Land Trust Buys Eno River Tenants’ Properties,” Indy Week, March 13, 2024.

“Do Community Land Trusts Improve Resident Outcomes?” Jakob Kendall Schneider, Mary Clare Lennon, and Susan Saegert, Housing Matters, February 21, 2024.