Public Housing in Durham Receives Mixed Reviews
By Hanna A. Gordola

A year ago, Pauline McCauley did not think she would be going to school to get her GED.

Now she is a pro at hitting the books.

Her new home in HOPE VI, a neighborhood revitalization project in Durham, inspired her.

It is not like the public housing called Few Gardens, where she used to live.

“It was a step up in life as we moved out of Few Gardens, and they motivated people for higher heights,” McCauley said.

Washington expects HOPE VI to improve her life.

The federal government gave Durham $35 million to improve its troubled public housing.

Durham HOPE VI coordinator, Terrance Gerald plans to work with individual households.

“Upon identifying the survey and identifying the barriers—which are usually childcare, transportation, unemployment, un-education, just to name a few—you then work with those residents through case management,” Gerald said.

But some members of the Durham Housing Authority Board question HOPE VI’s actual benefits.

Ike Robinson says once families move into HOPE VI, they still do not have much money.

“The basic guidelines of HOPE VI take that into consideration and require the community to do that. And what I’m saying is: That wasn’t done very well here in Durham,” Robinson said.

What he wants to see is a better coordination between HOPE VI and communities.

Still, McCauley says where she is now is much better than where she was before.

“HOPE VI is a stepping stone,” McCauley said. “Not one to guide you nowhere. It’s a stepping stone to help you get where you want to get.”