In growing cities like Durham, property taxes can become burdensome to low-income homeowners over time. In such cases, the public often raises concerns that long-time residents will be displaced from their homes due to increased financial hardship, in addition to lost social support in changing neighborhoods and disillusionment with local government.

This project team partnered with the Durham County Department of Social Services (DSS) to study a novel, county-level intervention called the Low-Income Homeowners Relief (LIHR) program, which expanded property tax relief to homeowners in Durham, North Carolina who were previously ineligible for state-based relief. The team conducted 41 semi-structed, qualitative interviews with LIHR participants to learn about their experiences paying property taxes and applying for relief.

Findings from the study provide insight into the mechanisms through which property tax relief affects residents and their mobility decisions. They also contribute to improving future property tax relief efforts by providing rich, qualitative evidence on low-income homeowners’ experiences with the program.

Learn more about the team’s findings by reading their team profile.

Team Outputs

Durham’s Plan to Help Longtime, Low-Income Homeowners Age in Place (Team profile; 2024 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase)

Supporting Low-Income Homeowners Through Property Tax Relief (Poster presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)

Promoting Racial Equity and Housing Stability in Durham Through Financial Relief (Lightning talk; 2024 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase)

Data and analysis shared with local policy partners and community members

Timing

Summer 2023 – Summer 2024

This Team in the News

The Sullivan Award: Honoring Three Who Aid Others at Duke and in the Community

See earlier related team, Examining Racial Inequality and Reform Through Driver’s License Access (2022-2023).

Image: Sunrise over Durham, by Bill Snead/Duke University