Durham One Fund Supporting Displaced McDougald Terrace Residents
United Way of the Greater Triangle announced today that the Durham One Fund will begin accepting donations to support the McDougald Terrace residents impacted by the high carbon monoxide levels and mold conditions reported within the housing authority complex last week. The organization is also immediately allocating nearly $53,000 of funds currently available through the Durham One Fund to provide $250 stipends that individuals and families who have been, or plan to be, evacuated can use to purchase food and other personal items.
“These individuals and families already have enough to worry about without the added pressure of surviving a dangerous situation like this one. It’s imperative as a community that we have support structures in place to help our neighbors when they need it most and that’s exactly what the Durham One Fund was designed to do,” said Eric Guckian, President and CEO of United Way of the Greater Triangle. “We are devastated for the people who have lost loved ones, are displaced from their homes, or are suffering from health-related conditions as a result of this situation and we are committed to providing the short-term and long-term support they need to stabilize and rebuild their lives in the days, months, and years following.”
Individuals can donate directly to the Durham One Fund online at https://unitedwaytriangle.org/durham-one-fund/
The Durham One Fund was created by United Way of the Greater Triangle – along with partners including Triangle Community Foundation, Durham County, City of Durham, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Durham, Discover Durham, Upstream Works Collaborative, and other local nonprofit organizations – in response to April 2019’s gas explosion in Downtown Durham and has already distributed more than $160,000 to support those affected by that disaster. The fund’s goal is to provide short-term and long-term support that will help stabilize and re-build the lives of individuals and families impacted by loss, injury, displacement, disruption, and/or other impacts as a result of unforeseen disasters.
More than 170 families have been displaced from McDougald Terrace to surrounding hotels since Durham Housing Authority began evacuations on January 3. Another 40 families are currently on a waiting list to receive a hotel voucher.
Physical items including gently used clothing, shoes, and jackets as well as unopened toiletries, feminine products, baby formula and food, and non-perishable food items are greatly needed. Donations can be dropped off to the Durham Housing Authority at the T.A. Grady Recreation Center (531 Lakeland St., Durham, NC 27701).
United Way of the Greater Triangle will be working with Ashley Canady, President of McDougald Terrace Public Housing Council to identify and distribute the immediate $250 stipends to displaced residents.
If you are involved with a nonprofit or government entity that has experienced an unbudgeted or unforeseen increase in critical services as a result of the McDougald Terrace evacuation and would like to request Durham One Fund support, please contact Nick Allen, Chief Program Officer at United Way of the Greater Triangle, at nallen@unitedwaytriangle.org.
About United Way of the Greater Triangle:
United Way of the Greater Triangle’s mission is to eradicate poverty and increase social mobility through the power of partnerships, with support provided across four counties: Durham, Johnston, Orange, and Wake, NC. Through three impact focus areas – Cradle to Career, Healthy Families, and Equity in Leadership – United Way supports 84 nonprofit organizations doing the on-the-ground work needed to break the cycle of poverty. To learn more, visit www.unitedwaytriangle.org.
