<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Header Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.HeaderChar
{mso-style-name:"Header Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:Header;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<div align="center">
<table class="MsoTableGrid" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:none">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:81.0pt">
<td width="363" style="width:261.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:81.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Title: City of Durham Communications Department" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:243.75pt;height:54.8pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:.02pt;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:margin;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image002.jpg@01D77997.7B2B8030" o:title="" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="f" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin" anchory="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="325" height="73" style="width:3.3833in;height:.7583in" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D77997.7B2B8030" align="left" hspace="12" alt="Title: City of Durham Communications Department" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><span style="font-size:1.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="230" valign="top" style="width:279.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:81.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="color:#00467E">News Media Contact<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:#00467E">Beverly B. Thompson, Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:#00467F">919.560.4123 x11229 | 919.475.2362 (mobile</span><span style="color:#00467E">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:#00467E">Beverly.Thompson@DurhamNC.gov</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00467E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoHeader" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:5.0pt;color:#00467E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoHeader" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#00467E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:3.4pt">
<td width="593" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width:7.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:3.4pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="font-size:50.0pt;color:#00467F">News Release</span><span style="color:#00467F;text-transform:uppercase">
</span><br>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#EF3D42">For Immediate Release: July 15, 2021</span><span style="color:#D3372A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black;background:white">City of Durham Launches New Platform to Track Progress on Affordable Housing Goals</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#500050;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">ForeverHomeDurham.com Brings Together Partners, Charts City-Wide Commitment to an Affordable, Livable, and Inclusive Community </span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#500050;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:black;background:white"> </span><span style="color:#500050;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="color:black">DURHAM, N.C.</span><span style="color:black"> — The City of Durham announced today the launch of its </span><a href="http://www.foreverhomedurham.com"><i>Forever Home, Durham</i> website</a><span style="color:black">, highlighting
developments of the historic $160 million affordable housing program. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="color:black">A catalytic public investment designed to expand affordability for renters and homeowners, the program became possible when city residents voted in favor of the $95 million affordable housing bond in November 2019. A portal for progress,
commitments and outcomes, the site spotlights activities that have been underway since bond passage, including resources and information about city-funded services and partner organizations providing housing opportunities. </span><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:#500050;background:white"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:black;background:white">The website is a cornerstone of the City’s stated commitment to collaborate with the community and provide transparency on how the $160 million multi-year investment is making an impact. It will also serve to demonstrate
how the investment is spurring additional funding to create affordable housing, jobs, and stability for years to come. </span><span style="color:#500050;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:#500050;background:white"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:black;background:white">“<i>Forever Home, Durham</i> represents a major investment by the people of Durham, who approved this bond overwhelmingly. The City is committed to consistent communication and transparent public service, and Forever
Home, Durham is an integral component to that promise,” said City of Durham Community Development Department Director Reginald Johnson. “A centralized source of accurate and timely updates is important. This website is just a start as we work to make Durham
affordable, livable and inclusive for its residents.”</span><span style="color:#500050;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:#500050;background:white"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="color:black">The website will be updated on a quarterly basis to inform the community at large. In addition to monitoring the progress of the five major goals of the
<i>Forever Home, Durham</i> affordable housing program on the homepage, visitors will be able to see homes being built, services provided, impact stories in the community, requests for proposals, frequently asked questions and more in a clear, easy-to-use format.
As the City continues to work hand-in-hand with partners across the community, website visitors will also be able to navigate directly to other partner organizations that are making the progress of <i>Forever Home, Durham</i> possible. </span><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="color:#222222"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="color:black">“At DHA, we have seen first-hand that the City of Durham is an active believer in accomplishing more together than you can alone,” said Durham Housing Authority CEO Anthony Scott. “While we have had a front row seat to the great work
the City has done in our community since city residents voted in favor of the $95 million affordable housing bond, this website is a communal tool for us all to see real money creating real change. There is still hard work to be done, but the partnership we
have in place with the City is critical to the success of our mission, including the community-developed DHA Downtown and Neighborhood Plan.” </span><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:#500050;background:white"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:black;background:white">To learn more about <i>Forever Home, Durham</i> and how it’s making an impact, visit the
</span><a href="http://www.foreverhomedurham.com"><i>Forever Home, Durham</i> website</a><span style="color:black">.</span><span style="color:#500050;background:white"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:#500050;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="color:black;background:white">About City of Durham Community Development Department </span></b><span style="color:#500050;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:black;background:white">The mission of the </span><a href="https://durhamnc.gov/445/Community-Development"><span style="background:white">Community Development Department</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white"> is to foster
safe, decent and sustainable neighborhoods, and to enhance housing quality and affordability for the citizens of Durham. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department helps to ensure that the city has thriving, livable neighborhoods by enhancing housing
quality and affordability for Durham residents. The Community Development Department is responsible for coordinating the City’s community development and neighborhood stabilization and revitalization efforts including financial empowerment and home retention,
affordable housing, and homelessness services programs. The City implements these services by working with developers and community housing development organizations.</span><span style="color:#500050;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
###<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>