Open Air Camp Road Affordable Homes Honored with Housing North Carolina Award for Innovation
We are thrilled to share that Open Air Camp Road Affordable Homes in Durham has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Housing North Carolina Award for Innovation in Housing by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. This recognition celebrates the exceptional preservation and rehabilitation of naturally occurring affordable homes (NOAH) along the Eno River, homes that stood on the brink of displacement just a few years ago.
In 2022, efforts organized by the tenants at risk of eviction led to a visionary partnership with CHT. By March 2024, all five homes had undergone comprehensive renovations, including new roofs, windows, flooring, mold remediation, and kitchen updates; restoring them to safe, modern, and affordable standards. Critically, thanks to the land trust model, these homes are now permanently affordable: tenants may continue renting or choose to purchase. Two families are already pursuing homeownership through CHT’s program.
Scott Farmer, Executive Director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, praised the project as “a blueprint for what can be accomplished when we think outside the box,” highlighting how preserving NOAH units is both cost‑effective and impactful.
What’s Next: Recognition at the NC Affordable Housing Conference
As a winner of the 36th annual Housing North Carolina Awards, which honors excellence in innovation, sustainability, creative partnerships, and community impact, CHT will be featured on a Housing Awards panel at the 2025 NC Affordable Housing Conference in Raleigh on September 30. There, our Executive Director, Kimberly Sanchez, will formally accept the award on behalf of CHT.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this incredible achievement, which stands as a testament to the power of community-driven solutions, thoughtful design, and a land trust model that permanently secures affordable housing for families in need.
Watch Our Impact Film
Learn more about the Open Air Camp Road Affordable Homes, watch our impact film about the project: “Land, Trust, and Resilience: The Road to Staying Home.” This film examines the process of rehabbing these five homes and highlights the stories of the residents.
