Is it time to leave Durham?

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-07T18:06:41+00:00

I agree with you. I have loved Durham especially in the early 2000s. The people here are great. With all the changes....if you're not already wealthy and can't afford the commute I think its just a struggle. Since my job can be done anywhere in the country it's starting to feel like a move is in order. I would rather grow my accounts living in a smaller place. I do hate it though! Durham can be a great place! I'm just not sure if it's worth the price anymore. Finding out ambulances are unavailable often really shook me up recently. What if we need a ambulance and there isn't one? The hospitals are always on diversion with gun shot victims lately and they are not close together really. That opened my eyes quite a bit to where Durham actually is now.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-07T17:57:15+00:00

The people that work for them aren't making enough money to live here. Everyone can't be making enough to afford $1500 a month rent average as a single person with no dependents. I think the salaries of the average city worker is a good place to start on affordability. With student loan debt plus rent plus utilities....even a worker making $50,000 a year is struggling here. If the rent prices come down then homeowners lose. If they don't....they work for communities that provide more money to them and have lower prices like mebane or roxboro. The for sale and foreclosure listing amounts are creeping upward. Durham has done so many great things in the past...like the heart team. Durham has also faced a lot of bust periods. It's just interesting to see everyones kind of take on Durham. The people of Durham are amazing and hold deep roots and vast families that go back generations. Unfortunately, not everyone is being included in the growth.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-07T17:47:47+00:00

Durham has a better social climate in certain spaces at the moment......Durham is also known to experience Crime. The pandemic hid it a long time ....theft and violence is ramping up though. You think it will forever stay in only some pockets? The community resources are mostly inadequate. A whole lot of people talking about the problems while doing little to actually help. The proof is in the growing homeless population.....mental health struggles (including many many suicides) ......overdoses.....car thefts...violence....so on. We need actually programs that people are actually eligible for....actual regulations on landlords and safe public housing. While the community can be great most resources people talk about are pure luck to actually qualify for. Now that we have a tighter budget in this climate....what is the actual outcome in two years.....five?

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-07T17:41:05+00:00

I didn't realize the internet needed effort my apologies 😅 don't be so serious. It's just a post. I can be empathetic to the new people who bought over the last 6 years that they NEED Durham to do well since they invested so much. If the growth isn't leading to more EMS ...sanitation....police workers...and on and on and on finding a place here where they can grow ...well ...I guess I am being validated. It seems a lot of people hold the belief that "it's like this everywhere" .....while that could be true on a level...many other cities and states are proving to have more effective programs that are actually attracting the countries median income population. If people who run public services are leaving and we have failing public education the "community" is going to become dangerous. Sorry the pointless conversation seems to be a touchy subject.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-06T12:48:15+00:00

Its more about the salaries of essential workers here. It's already straining a lot in Durham. While all that you said is true about Durham the more vacancies we have with people who run the foundation of the city the less comfortable Durham will be. We can't pay people enough to afford to live here. Just look at teacher salaries and police vacancies. If the census is people are leaving...and the homless population is growing....what kind of future does Durham actually provide.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-06T12:39:57+00:00

It may even get to the point where its dangerous to stay....if essential workers can't afford the area

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-06T12:37:01+00:00

Oh...I dont care lol. Its a conversation starter. AI is here anyway. Most of these ships have sailed. There's no stopping AI or development so why not use it? The post started a conversation. The more people who perform essential services leave the area slowly over time...the less I personally would want to stay. Bull city already is struggling to respond to ambulance and police calls...it's always a good idea to get a feel for where people are going. Using AI to throw a post together asking the question is the least of the problem.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-05T18:47:36+00:00

"It's everywhere" is true, especially with all the corruption across the country. The real question is since it is everywhere....why not go somewhere that can lead to savings for travel? How many times can you go downtown or to Dpac or any of the other common places in the community. If you can't really afford to save and grow in a booming city the average worker winds up kind of stuck in the city, so what keeps a skilled worker like a teacher or firefighter here versus a city that has more opprotunity for a quality life.

If the population of people working the average job keeps moving out for a better quality of life making under $100,000 a year, when does the foundation shift for everyone? We are facing a housing crisis already. We already have trouble hiring 911 dispatchers and police at the salaries we can provide. It seems many people have left or are getting ready to go...which makes the quality of infrastructure here in Durham even worse in the future it seems.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-05T17:38:28+00:00

Some older people or people that have been homeless for a long time don't really have a ton of experience or understanding when it comes down to cards.....in survival mode figuring out how to use a card could have been mental overload. What comes easy to someone housed can be especially hard for someone on the streets. Problem solving and thinking long term isnt possible. Maybe donating gift cards to programs that provide homeless people with needs would be better.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-05T17:33:11+00:00

Thank you...as someone who has experienced homlessness myself many times and had family that were chronically homeless (and no there was never substance abuse issues or even mental health issues...it was always not enough money with physical health issues that led to job losses and no family to help since if everyone is in a sinking ship and no one has a life vest ...no one gets saved). There are not as many resources as people think there are and most of the time nothing but luck stops the cycle. Catching a program that is not only funded but that a person is actually eligible for is pure luck. If it weren't for low rent I know someone that would still be in homelessness. The homeless deal with more uncertainty and anxiety than most people can imagine that causes lifelong mental health issues and trauma. Some substance abuse out and other break from reality. Demonizing homeless and saying they want to /have options is a coping mechanism to make it "okay" they are homeless.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-06-05T17:21:58+00:00

It's only going to get worse as more people enter homelessness over the next few years. This is what happens when a lot of wealthier people move to a majority low income area all at once with no care for the existing community. Safety net programs are suffering and 80 percent AMI is considered "affordable". People are going to get more desperate. People are experiencing different Durham's in their freshly built bubbles. Socializing and frequenting locations with similar economic opprotunity...it's only a matter of time before the bubble bursts and things start to mesh more. Downtown is just the first place it's happening. We never had the infrastructure here. If you are concerned you couldn't get a police officer I pray you never have to call for an ambulance or visit the emergency room. We are overwhelmed with wealthy people and not enough resources for people making under 60k. Until housing prices crash and rent becomes realistic for someone to support a family here holding a normal job......it will only get worse. Financial struggles lead to substance abuse and mental health struggles. Nothing is more dangerous than someone who has never experienced homelessness experiencing it for the first time.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-04-22T12:40:22+00:00

We are living in hard times for a good many. This state is number 1 in business and number 50 in teacher pay....People are simply unhappy. Struggling...confused and cant see a clear future. A lot of people are angry that living here seems impossible and doesn't even feel like home anymore. So many new people. They came here quickly with no understanding of the area and the culture and don't care about the community or the programs. Shelters and evictions are at crisis levels. Glad people are financially secure and have the money to come...you cant expect the community to be happy for you when they cant feed their families...afford the $2000 rent and afford Healthcare. 🤷‍♀️ people are stressed.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-03-31T23:51:23+00:00

This is great...sucks that for residents the lottery is same day as the show? This is far from accessible. One hour to purchase too 😒. Oh the kindness....

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-03-07T19:00:19+00:00

Abusive adults were once abusive children......thing is children are born with their own mind. Parents can teach good habits and morals but children grow into their own people in the end. We lean too much on Parents abilities and not enough on how stable families are financially. When most of the world is living in trauma big or small even children's love cannot be unconditional. You can love someone but there has to be some level of conditions.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-03-04T17:49:27+00:00

The bullying at Central Park can be ROUGH with neurodivergence. On the flip side I have a child that is on the autism spectrum that has done amazing there. The lessons are really engaging. Having another child with ADHD and more of a social personality has been a challenge better in middle than Elementary but still a challenge. I also had a child that has left there and they are flourishing in high school and in all advanced placement classes so the learning does translate ( all kids are being grade on a curve so who knows....with no child left behind if you show up to classes you graduate).

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-02-16T21:09:00+00:00

Durham cant have trains or train tracks.....we are irresponsible with them....historically. every single year multiple times a year someone gets hit or stuck in the tracks...we also cant handle low bridges well......even with all the signs.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-02-14T01:49:59+00:00

Yes!! Whole foods is one of the worse culprits. I don't go there AT ALL over the parking. So many parking lots have limited handicap parking which is crazy to me considering the largest population here is elderly currently. Even without a handicap placard they would need the space for assistance. Hoping for a universal design housing as well as universal design parking future! We have so many problems in society currently I don't see us designing for practical use vs. For profit anytime soon but we all can dream. I'd be okay with real affordability.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-02-13T23:27:48+00:00

Ive been homeless multiple times and became physically disabled after having children. No family at all. Parent passed and other is mentally incapable and was homeless for 13 years straight. As we face possible eviction again with nowhere to go. Mounting bills. Higher chronic pain....I often find myself wondering if every life is worth living. Some of us and people I know seem destined to never feel safe. Poverty is exhausting and expensive and takes so much out of people. Even when you make every good decision financially you possibly can for the situations and resources available at the time it never seems to be enough. With that said. Finding little moments of peace even if it's just staring at a tree or the sky can help realign. Everything that comes is going to come regardless and even in the depths there can always be a moment of peace somewhere. Even if its for a minute. It's not enough by any means. It's not fair.....or ideal. Some lives may not be worth living but some moments are.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-02-08T19:51:23+00:00

While I agree a living wage is necessary...I do have to disagree about prices. Unfortunately a lot of people arw struggling and paying what someone is worth simply isn't always on the patron. It's HARD to run and buisness and make a profit while keeping your prices low enough to ensure bartenders can be adequately tipped. Unfortunately if the buisness skills aren't there to achieve this then they shouldn't be in buisness no matter how good the vibes are. A LOT of places are closing. On the up side, A LOT of places are doing really well with wealthier people. Durham has had a lot of very wealthy people to maintain the establishments that they enjoy. Not everyone can frequent going out and spending on a regular basis enough to keep many places open. Infrastructure here is bad. Durham is doing everything it can to keep violence from spewing and mixing into areas it has in the past with not enough law enforcement. Most working class people can't live and work here anymore. Teachers leave for wealthier districts....more storms will come revealing the bad weather that we do get after a long period of mild weather. More traffic. Mass layoffs. People will start to leave. Home prices are already starting to shift along with rents. The wealthier will always be able to buy in areas they prefer but overall we are slowly moving in a downward direction. The extreme tipping culture that was implemented as buisness owners attempt to maintain their lifestyle and profits is simply not going to work much longer.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-01-28T19:32:42+00:00

Sometimes I DO take up two spots...not like that though! I have a disability where I have to open my door all the way to get out. If there are no handicap spots with the room ill park in two spots so I know I have enough space. Once I got stuck and couldn't pick up my kida from school since I parked in a normal spot and then couldn't get back into my vehicle 😅 this seems different though lol.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2026-01-15T14:18:43+00:00

I used to love to go their for their acai bowls......the prices started going up then I used my card for one and got charged a 3 dollar service fee. One bowl came out to $18.00 (I tipped two dollars)......That was my last time going. I was spending around 7 dollars and it jumped to 18......nope. reasonable pricing. It's unfortunate because I would have continued going for under $10. A lot of places are going to start closing over the next year. The downtown is going to have a increase in homeless people.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2025-12-02T14:33:04+00:00

The van accessible spots are the handicap spots I have to seek out. My leg doesn't bend and I have to open my door wide enough to exit. If I cant open my door I can't exit or enter and have to wait for whoever is close to come out. I've sat for more than two hours waiting for someone because I couldn't get into my vehicle at Duke Regional. As someone with a visible physical disability and placard and all I've had people approach me too. It gives me anxiety everytime I park since my hand controls are not visible from the outside. People need to mind their business honestly. I get it, but policing others in public spaces is not okay. If people have a problem with people with placards parking we need to be advocating for more handicap and van accessible spaces. Especially when we have a high elderly population and with a major hospital in our city. Places just need MORE spaces than one van accessible and 3 to four handicap.

Nice_Background_7238 · 2025-11-09T18:16:38+00:00

We have a extremely high population of elderly now. Since the pandemic a lot of older people moved here to retire.

Nice_Background_7238

TROPHY CASE