Dear vested stakeholders in Durham public housing, including the Durham City Council, Durham Housing Authority, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and elected officials,
We, members of the Duke University community, write this letter in solidarity with McDougald Terrace residents and all those affected by substandard housing conditions in Durham Housing Authority (DHA) residences. Our 282 signatures demonstrate our commitment to supporting our neighbors not only in McDougald Terrace but in all substandard housing in Durham.
We are calling on you, our elected and appointed officials, to do your respective duties in addressing this crisis, including but not limited to: declaring a state of emergency, issuing a formal apology to McDougald Terrace residents, and taking steps to ensure this issue is resolved and that those responsible are held accountable. Regardless of which entity is in charge of overseeing DHA, these residents are your constituents. It is unacceptable to allow human beings to live in the conditions many individuals have described, including being plagued by black mold, roach and rat infestations, and sewage leaks. Echoing the sentiments of a Durham resident who spoke at the last Durham City Council meeting, there is no way you would ever live like this.
As a society, we consistently ignore the needs of low-income and minority communities. Racial and economic injustice, decades of disinvestment in public housing, and inaction in response to residents’ concerns have all contributed to the current crisis, which another resident called “our Hurricane Katrina, our Flint, Michigan.” More specifically, the decay and deterioration seen at McDougald Terrace is a direct result of DHA’s failure to take corrective action in response to failing Housing and Urban Development (HUD) inspections in 2018 and 2019. In those years, McDougald Terrace received scores of 21 and 31—well below a passing score of 60 out of 100. If McDougald Terrace residents were not low-income families, predominantly families of color, we do not believe the substandard conditions in Durham public housing complexes would have been allowed to persist.
Housing is a human right and one of the most basic human needs. Not having stable, safe, affordable housing jeopardizes an individual’s ability to lead a prosperous life and contribute to a thriving society. The medical community has clearly established links between substandard heating and stoves and carbon monoxide poisoning, which at its most severe can lead to death. This is just one of numerous environmental health issues caused by unsafe housing: mold triggers asthma, lead and lack of clean water are associated with developmental disability, and nonfunctioning plumbing leads to diarrheal disease.
Federal, state, and local policies have historically failed to support the needs of public housing residents in the U.S., and decades of underfunding have contributed to the current crisis in Durham. We therefore push our elected and appointed officials to support legislation that would improve the city’s dilapidated public housing stock, advocate for more federal funding for public housing, and pass common-sense reforms to public housing policy, including requiring that all public housing units have carbon monoxide detectors installed. DHA officials should also be held accountable for their lack of responsiveness to residents’ concerns and for their inability to appropriately resolve these issues within a reasonable timeframe.
As members of the Duke and Durham community, we commit to standing in solidarity and allyship with McDougald Terrace residents and others advocating for improvements to public housing in Durham. We stand in full support of the demands made by Ashley Canady, President of the McDougald Terrace Resident’s Council, as well as the Council itself. We urge you to take immediate action to resolve this crisis.
Regards,
Sabrina A. Davis, MPP Candidate 2020
Parker Martin, MPP Candidate 2020
Elise Goldwasser, Sanford Career Services
Bridging Communities
Nick Fiore, MPP 2021
Aadil Khan, MPP Candidate 2021
Allie Jaarsma, MPP Candidate 2020
Priya Shankar, MPP Candidate 2020
Kenneth Dodge, William McDougall Professor of Public Policy
Leah Baldasare, MPP candidate 2020
Allison Sokol, MPP Candidate 2021
Kathy Julian, Staff Assistant, Center for Child & Family Policy, Duke University
Yash Bajaj, MPP Candidate 2020
Hannah Bartlebaugh, MPP Candidate 2020
Suzanne Valdivia, Assistant Director of Internships, Sanford School of Public Policy
Kaki Comer, MPP Candidate 2020
Rosie Rohrs, CCFP Data Technician
Eryn Gorang, MPP Candidate 2021
Elizabeth Jones, MPP Candidate 2021
Jenn Alexander, MPP Candidate 2021
Paelina DeStephano, MPP Candidate 2020
Dan Stevenson, MPP Candidate 2020
Matias Scholl, MPP Candidate 2020
Batool Askari, MIDP Candidate 2021
Laura Schaaf, MPP Candidate 2020
Nicole Forlan, Duke University BSN, RN NP/DNP CANDIDATE 2020/2022
Tranae Felicien, J.D. Candidate 2022
Hanna Heycke, MPP Candidate 2020
Joseph Robbins
Kiah Cheatham, Graduate Student 2023
DUSON Spring 20 Cohort, ABSN 2021
Kamieo Lewis, Duke School of Nursing ABSN Student 2021
HUYEN DO, MIDP Candidate 2021
Laura Stilwell, MD/PhD Candidate
Shydai Dean, ABSN Candidate 2021
Jaelin Honey, Nursing Student 2021
Tikkara Cooper, MPP Candidate 2020
Jasmine Masand, MPP Candidate 2021
Aman Aberra, PhD Candidate
Hannah Loftus, MPP Candidate 2020
Taylor Hughes, MD Candidate 2021
Julian Xie, MD/MPP Candidate 2021
Phifer Nicholson, MD Candidate 2023
Root Causes
Courtney Richman, MD Candidate 2021
Willis Wong, MD Candidate 2022
Alyssa Habermann, Duke University School of Medicine 2021
Keegan Pace, MPP/JD Candidate 2023 Christine Wh, MD Candidate 2021
Vivian Lei, MD Candidate 2021
Safa Kaleem, MD Candidate 2021
Tyler Strobl, MPP Candidate 2021
Alison Conrad, MPP Candidate 2020
Hannah Graunke, MPP Candidate 2021
Rev. Susan A. Rogers, MDiv Duke Primary Care Leadership Track
Best Uchehara, MD Candidate 2023
William Grant, MD Candidate 2020
Alexis Wilsey, MD Candidate 2022
Jerishma Patel, Medical Student 2023
Camille Robinson, MD Candidate 2023
Emma Frantz, MPP-MEM Candidate 2021
Linda Phung, MD Candidate 2021
Kayla Thompson, MD Candidate 2023
Jacob Benton, MD/PhD Candidate 2024
Rosalynd Mosser, MPP Candidate 2021
Liam Miranda, MPP Candidate
David Stewart, MD Candidate 2021
Lyra Olson, MD/PhD candidate 2024
Amanda Del Risco, MD Candidate 2023
Cosette Champion, MD Candidate 2020
Chase Johnson, MPP Candidate 2021
Kaileen Fei, MD Candidate 2023
Norah Karlovich, MD Candidate 2021
Julia Isaacson has, MD candidate 2022
Emily Lazinski, ABSN candidate 2021
Kalkidan Assefa Kebede, MIDP Candidate 2021
Nnamdi Amilo, MD Candidate 2020
Elena Drews, MD Candidate 2021
Tressa Ellett, MD Candidate 2022
Indraneel Dharwadkar, MPP Candidate 2021
Nathaniel Neptune, MD/MBA Candidate 2021
Tamar Chukrun, MD Candidate 2023
Benjamin Lueck, MD Candidate 2023
Lizzy Zhao, MD Candidate 2023
Louis Scola, MPP Candidate 2020
Emma Foley, MPP Candidate 2021
Mona Dai, PhD
Alex Sames, ABSN Student
Surya Ravichandran, MD candidate 2021
Elizabeth Shenaut, Master of Public Policy
Candidate, Master of Environmental
Management Candidate 2020
Mariah Philips, MPP Candidate 2020
Imali Bandara, MPP Candidate 2020
Le’Andre Blakeney, MPP
Norine Chan, MD Candidate 2023
Kathryn Benson, MD Candidate 2023
Amanda Farrell, MD Candidate 2021
Sanford Board Leadership Initiative, MPP Student Organization 2020
Danelle Gamble, MPP Candidate 2020
Marek Zorawski, MD-PhD Candidate 2026
Karen Lin, MD Candidate 2021
Samantha Holcomb, Duke PA Student 2021
Mandee Sheff, MPP Candidate 2021
Mary Leibold, Nursing School Student 2020
Active Mind, Nursing School Club
Thao Nguyen, MD candidate 2021
Reg Ledesma, MPP Candidate 2021
Alyssa Skalitzky, ABSN Student 2021
Mariana Vedoveto, MPP Candidate 2021
Lindsay Olson, MD Candidate 2023
Colleen Muse, MPP Candidate 2020
Jacquie Ayala 2021
Sierra Atwater, MD Candidate 2023
Rachel Holtzman, MPP/JD Dual Degree Candidate 2023
Maria Nagawa, PhD Student 2023
Swati Rayasam, MSc, Global Health and the Environment 2017
Rachel Salzberg, MPP Candidate 2020
Policy in Living Color, Sanford Organization
Jasmine H Salas, ABSN Student 2021
Maya Torain, MD Candidate 2020
Olivia Kretschmer, ABSN Student 2021
Nicole Lococo, MPP Candidate 2021
Narissa Jimenez-Petchumrus, MPP Candidate 2021
Katie Jackson
Deandrea Newsome, MPP Candidate 2020
Ale Villeda, MD Candidate 2021
Marialana Weitzel, Staff Specialist
Erin Lowder, MPP-JD Candidate 2021
Alexis Domeracki, MD Candidate 2023
Maria Gomez-Caraballo, MD Candidate 2021
Tiffany Wei, Undergraduate Student 2020
Hannah Sofia Brown, MD Candidate 2022
Bence Zolyomi, MD Candidate 2023
Maria Ramirez, MPP Candidate 2020
Fred Heller, MD Candidate 2022
Arianna Fischer, MPP Candidate 2021
Elayna Kirsch, MD Candidate 2023
Erika Dennis, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (ABSN)
Grant J. Abass, M.D. Candidate 2022
Forrest Robinette, MPP Candidate 2020
MPP Student Council, Sanford School of Public Policy
Hannah Silver, MPP Candidate, 2021
Bridget Eklund, Duke Law, JD Candidate 2021
Brendan Johnson, MTS Candidate
Lee Schmidt, MD Candidate 2022
Andrew Trexler, MPP Candidate 2020
Tess Koenigsmark, MPP Candidate 2020
Leigh Davenport, JD Candidate 2022
Breanna McHugh, JD Candidate 2022
Maryam Kanna, JD Candidate 2021
Linda Wang, JD Candidate 2022
Kenyon Wright, MD Candidate 2023
Sarah Dunn, Duke SnaHP, Duke PA Program 2020
Hilary Bernstein, MBA Candidate 2020
Tori Kinamon, MD Candidate 2023
Kira Panzer, MD Candidate 2023
Arakua Welbeck, MD Student 2020
Ganga Moorthy, MD
Margaret Morash, MD, PhD Candidate
Smaraki Dash, MD Candidate 2023
Yair Koenig, MTS Candidate 2021
Florence Zhao, Duke University Undergrad 2022
Jenna Frush, MD Candidate 2021
Michelle Metzler, Duke Physician Assistant Student 2021
Seve Gaskin, MPP Candidate 2022
Mason Seely, MD Candidate 2023
Parrish Ravelli, Community Member Melissa Burney, Physician Assistant Student 2020
Kaitlyn Daly, RN, PhD Graduate Student
Maleah Roth, Duke University Physician Assistant Program, PA-C Candidate 2021
Morine Cebert, PhD Candidate School of Nursing 2020
Ajenai Clemmons, PhD Candidate 2021
Taylor Kovarik, PA Student 2021
Emmy Yang, MD Candidate & Duke Divinity School Student 2020
Ralph Litzinger, Duke University Professor Miriam Cho, Master of Divinity Candidate 2020
Meril Pothen, MPP Candidate 2020
Myaing Myaing Nyunt, Associate Professor of Medicine and Global Health 2008
Jonathan Choi, JD PhD Student 2025
Olivia Lin, MD Candidate, Duke University School of Medicine 2021
Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Professor, Duke University
Liza Moore, Duke Physician Assistant Program 2021
Zoey Petitt
Peter Kussin M.D, Professor of Medicine 1985
Duke Hotspotting Initiative
Zohaib Shaikh, MD Candidate 2021
Alissa Kirby, Physician Assistant Program 2020
Isha Amin, PA-S 2021
Catherine Admay
Rimel Mwamba, Program Coordinator Shashika Bandara, Associate in Research
Duke Global Health Institute
Nimesha Gerlus, MD/PhD Candidate
Rae Jean Proescholdbell
Kate Hauler, PA-S 2020
John Alcorn, MEM Candidate 2021
Amanda Lucier, MD Candidate 2020
Kristen Razner, Physician Assistant Program 2020
Bridget Geyer, MD Candidate 2023
Breanna McHugh, JD Candidate 2022
Lauren Giese, Duke Physician Assistant Student 2021
Jennifer Schmitt, Duke Physician Assistant Program Student Class of 2021
Katherine Monjaras, PA Student 2020
Luke Wachsmuth, MD/PhD Candidate 2025
Lee Foster, MPP Candidate 2021
Leila Adell, Physician Assistant Student 2020
Alexis Lacewell, SPT 2021
Ben Garfinkel, Master's of Health, PA Studies Candidate 2020
Jordan Hildenbrand, MD Candidate 2021
Jennifer Vu, PA Student 2020
Laura Okolie, PA Candidate 2020
Mariah Leroux, PA Candidate 2021
Lorena Ramos, PA Candidate 2020
Carol El-Sayah, PA Candidate 2021
Liridona Osmanaj, MIDP Candidate 2020
Ben Thompson, PA Candidate 2020
Sarah Bouchard, PA Candidate 2021
Eleanor Semmes, MD PhD Candidate 2022
Alexa Henriques, Masters Candidate 2021
Claire Ravenscroft, PhD Candidate 2020
Megan Holmes, Assistant Professor
Lawrence Mumm, Physician
Samuel Hofacker, MD Candidate 2020
Hunter Augeri, PhD Student 2025
Sierra Camille Mims, MD Candidate 2022
Sarah Tait, MD Candidate 2021
Melissa Kandel, Clinical Services Coordinator Occupational Therapy, Duke University Hospital
Meredith Achey, MD Candidate 2020
Duke Med for Social Justice, MD Candidates
Joan Clifford, PhD
Laura Eidem, PA Candidate 2021
Nicky Chung, MD Candidate 2022
Lindsay Schlichte, MD Candidate 2023
Liliana Paredes, Duke University, Professor of the Practice
Joanna Krupp, MD Candidate 2023
Jennifer Tu, MD Candidate 2022
Sanford Women in Policy, MPP/MIDP Student Organization
Heather Lowell, MHS Candidate 2021
Crystal Kennedy, PhD Candidate 2022
Brandon Lê, PhD Student
Alexandria Ayala, MD Candidate
Bridget Kiely, MD Candidate 2023
Kristina Dunworth, MD Candidate 2023
Kelly Goo, MD Candidate 2023
Katha Desai, Medical Student 2023
Addison Caruso, JD Candidate 2021
Valerie Gartner, PhD Candidate
Sarah Cunningham, PhD Candidate 2021
Mary Moya-Mendez, MD Candidate 2023
Maya Evanitsky, UPGG PhD Candidate
Deeksha Malhotra, MD Candidate 2023
Jack Leschisin, MD Candidate 2023
Riana Syed, MD Student 2023
Chinedu Okafor, MD Student 2023
Timothy N. Ochoa, MD Candidate 2023
Taylor Bell, Physician Assistant Student 2020
Kassie Shannon, MD Candidate 2022
Seth Flynn, MD Candidate 2023
Emma Ryan, MD Candidate 2021
Jack Finlay, MD Candidate 2023
Chelsea Shoben, PhD Student 2023
Jessica Hauger, PhD Student 2023
Natalie Wickenheisser, MD Candidate 2023
Shivani Chandrashekaran, MD Candidate 2023
Nancy Tang, Duke PA Program 2020
Sara Grundy, MD Candidate 2022
Monica Bodd, MD Candidate 2022
Rachel Meade , PhD Student 2026
Matthew Calvert, MPP Candidate 2020
Shauntell Luke, MD Candidate 2022
Priya Alagesan, MD Candidate
Nicholas Johnson, MD Candidate 2022
Darby Herkert, MD Candidate 2023
Elana Horwitz, Medical Student 2022
Rachita Singh, MPP Candidate 2020
Christelle Tan, MD Candidate 2020
Vishal Venkatraman, MD Candidate 2023
Alice Yu, MD Candidate 2022
Lindsey A. Chew, MD/PhD Candidate
Peter Cqllejo-Black, MD Candidate 2020
Miranda Morris, Duke MD Candidate 2023
Melanie Eccles, Pathologist Assistant MHS Candidate 2021
John Dudinec
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