What Durham Housing Authority Does

Durham Housing Authority (DHA) is a public agency that runs public housing and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program in Durham, North Carolina. It does not provide emergency rental aid, homelessness prevention, or other temporary information — those come from different county and city programs. DHA's job is to own and manage apartment buildings and to distribute vouchers that subsidize rent at private landlords.

DHA serves Durham County residents. If you live in Durham city proper, you may also be served by the City of Durham's housing programs, which sometimes overlap with DHA's. The two organizations coordinate but maintain separate waiting lists and programs.

Key Takeaways

  • Durham Housing Authority runs public housing (apartments it owns) and Section 8 vouchers (rent subsidies at private landlords), but not emergency rental aid or temporary information.
  • Both public housing and Section 8 have waiting lists; the Section 8 list is usually closed and can have a wait of several years when it reopens.
  • Income limits for DHA programs are set by federal rules and depend on household size; a single person earning more than roughly $30,000 per year will likely exceed the limit.
  • You can contact DHA directly by phone or by visiting their office in person to ask about waiting list status and current openings.
  • If you need help now rather than in months or years, you should also contact Durham County Department of Social Services or the City of Durham for emergency or rapid-rehousing programs.

Public Housing vs. Section 8 Vouchers

DHA owns and operates public housing — apartment complexes where DHA is the landlord. You pay rent based on your income, usually 30 percent of what you earn. DHA maintains the building, handles repairs, and collects rent directly from you. Public housing in Durham includes family apartments, senior housing, and some units for people with disabilities.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers work differently. DHA gives you a voucher (a subsidy) that you take to a private landlord. The landlord agrees to accept the voucher, and DHA pays part of the rent directly to the landlord. You pay the rest. You choose where to live within Durham County, as long as the landlord accepts Section 8 and the rent is not too high for the program. Section 8 gives you more choice of neighborhood and landlord than public housing, but fewer landlords accept vouchers.

Both programs have waiting lists. Public housing waiting lists are usually open but can have a wait of months to a few years depending on the type of unit you need. The Section 8 waiting list is frequently closed; when it opens, it fills quickly and then closes again for years.

Income Limits and Who Can Get In

DHA programs are for low-income households. Federal rules set income limits based on your household size and the area median income for Durham County. The limits change each year. For a single person, the limit is usually around 50 percent of area median income, which in Durham is roughly $30,000 to $32,000 per year. For a family of four, the limit is typically around $48,000 to $52,000 per year. These numbers shift annually, so you should ask DHA for the current limits when you contact them.

You must also have a valid Social Security number or proof of may be able to access immigration status. DHA will check your background for criminal history and rental history. A prior eviction or criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify you, but DHA reviews each case. If you have questions about your specific situation, ask DHA staff directly — they can tell you whether you are likely to be accepted before you spend time on the waiting list.

Households with a member who has a disability may have access to priority or set-aside units in public housing. Contact DHA to ask whether you may have access to for these programs.

How to Get on a Waiting List

To get on a DHA waiting list, you must explore in person at the DHA office or by mail. You will need to bring or send proof of income (recent pay stubs, tax returns, or a letter from your employer), proof of identity (driver's license or state ID), and proof of Social Security number. If you are explore for public housing, you may also need to provide rental history or references.

DHA's main office is located at 1000 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27701. Phone: (919) 687-4700. You can call to ask whether the waiting list you want is open, what documents you need, and how long the current wait is. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but you should confirm before you go.

Once you are on the waiting list, DHA will contact you when a unit or voucher becomes available. This can take months or years. You are responsible for keeping your contact information current with DHA — if you move or change your phone number, tell them right away or you may miss your offer.

What Rent You Pay in DHA Housing

In public housing, you pay 30 percent of your gross monthly income as rent, or the minimum rent set by DHA (usually $50 to $100 per month), whichever is higher. If your income drops, your rent drops. If your income rises, your rent rises. DHA recalculates your rent once a year, or more often if your income changes significantly.

With a Section 8 voucher, you also pay roughly 30 percent of your income, but the amount depends on the rent the landlord charges. If the landlord's rent is higher than what your voucher covers, you pay the difference out of pocket. If the rent is lower, you pay less. You and the landlord negotiate the rent, but it must fall within DHA's payment standard for your area.

In both cases, you are responsible for utilities unless DHA or the lease says otherwise. Some public housing includes utilities in the rent; some does not. Ask DHA or your lease to be clear on this.

If You Need Help Before Getting Housing

DHA waiting lists can be years long. If you need housing information now, contact Durham County Department of Social Services at (919) 560-8000 or the City of Durham Housing and Community Development office. These agencies run emergency rental aid, rapid rehousing, and homelessness prevention programs that can help you stay housed or find housing much faster than DHA's waiting list.

You can also call 211 (dial 2-1-1 from any phone) to be connected to local housing resources, emergency aid, and shelter. 211 is a free referral service that knows which programs are currently open and can tell you what documents you need.

If you are currently homeless or at when ready risk of homelessness, contact the Durham Homeless Services at (919) 560-8000 or visit a local emergency shelter. DHA housing is not designed for emergency situations, but these other programs are.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the wait for Section 8 in Durham?

The Section 8 waiting list is usually closed. When it opens, it fills within days or weeks and then closes again. The last time it was open, the wait was estimated at several years. Call DHA at (919) 687-4700 to ask whether the list is currently open and what the estimated wait is if you get on it today.

Can I get on both the public housing and Section 8 waiting lists at the same time?

Yes. You can explore for both programs. Getting on one list does not affect your chances on the other. You will be contacted separately for each program as units or vouchers become available.

What happens if my income goes above the limit after I move in?

DHA has rules about what happens when your income rises. In public housing, your rent will increase, but you usually cannot be evicted for earning too much. In Section 8, the rules vary. Contact DHA to understand the specific rules for your situation, because they depend on how much your income rises and how long you have been in the program.

Do I have to live in Durham to use DHA housing?

You must live in Durham County. If you work in Durham but live elsewhere, you may not be able to use DHA programs. If you are moving to Durham, you can explore while you are still living outside the county, but you will need to provide proof that you intend to move here.

What if I have a criminal record or an eviction?

DHA reviews each process individually. A criminal conviction or prior eviction does not automatically disqualify you. The age of the incident, what it was, and your circumstances now all matter. Call DHA and ask whether you should explore, or visit in person to speak with a staff member about your specific situation before you spend time on the process.