A collaborative vision from VOANS Housing and DCLT leadership for Affordable Housing Month
Safe, quality housing may be generally viewed as a basic necessity, but the U.S. faces an ever-growing housing crisis that continues to recategorize quality affordable housing options as a privilege, and further defer the dreams of homeownership for many. More than 771,000 people experienced homelessness, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual point-in-time (PIT) report in January 2024. That’s an 18 percent increase from the same report in 2023. As of April 2025, the average rent in the U.S. recently reached $1,828 a month, and this cost varies based on where you live.
America’s housing crisis is not only impacting marginalized communities; with rising costs of development and construction adding to these challenges, the crisis is now quickly encroaching on middle class Americans’ access to quality, affordable options as well.
The challenges facing housing development are erasing the “traditional” path to homeownership and safe housing options — a path that historically was not always accessible to all. This Affordable Housing Month, Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS) and Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) are reminded that this unprecedented crisis practically demands to be addressed with unconventional and innovative solutions.
Innovative Dwellings: Our Partnership in Action
After receiving a 3-year, $3 million grant for pre-development expenses from the Wells Fargo Foundation in 2020, VOANS launched the Innovative Dwellings program — conducting research on small-scale, alternative housing options and partnering with mission-aligned organizations. Specifically, the grant funded pre-development expenses for creating 125 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans experiencing homelessness.
The Innovative Dwellings program explores using modular construction techniques that reduce costs and construction timeframes while maintaining quality. These efficient dwellings range from 400-800 square feet and specifically address affordability challenges while meeting diverse resident needs.
While the exploration of innovative housing is not a new venture in the housing industry, the collaboration between VOANS and DCLT exemplifies why partnerships are essential to addressing one of our nation’s most pressing challenges. Combining VOANS’ national reach and resources with DCLT’s deep community roots and local expertise, our different perspectives and complementary strengths have created housing solutions and future opportunities to make a bigger impact that neither organization could accomplish alone.
Strengthening Communities through National-Local Partnership
The national-local partnership dynamic is a powerful multiplier and is practically required when going about charting a new path that doesn’t particularly have a box in which traditional housing development procedures can place it. VOANS brings resources, scale, and breadth of experience that amplify local efforts, identifying best practices across regions, advocating at the federal level, and mobilizing resources quickly. This national perspective helps identify patterns and solutions that might not be visible or relevant at the local level.
At the same time, DCLT’s deep understanding of local needs, market conditions, and community relationships ensures that these national resources are deployed effectively in ways that respect and strengthen the community’s unique fabric. Without this local expertise, even the best-resourced national initiatives can struggle to gain traction or address community-specific challenges.
In addition to their focus on affordable housing and property management, DCLT elevates and follows the community land trust model — which creates pathways to homeownership for people who would otherwise be excluded from the market. By separating land ownership from home ownership, DCLT maintains the land in trust for the community while enabling individuals to purchase homes at affordable prices.
The partnership continues to grow and open up possibilities for both organizations. DCLT has been able to move forward with implementing innovations in response to housing needs in Durham and bring other organizations, such as Mākhers Studio, into the project to help make Guthrie Village a reality in Durham for veterans and their families. VOANS has been able to ensure its resources create genuine community impact through trusted local relationships. This complementary partnership exemplifies how national organizations can support regional and local efforts while respecting community leadership, lived experiences, and increasing reach and impact.
Expanding Networks of Collaboration
One of the more exciting outcomes of our partnership has been watching it catalyze additional collaborations. Beyond the partnership itself, we also want our partners to connect and partner with each other — creating a network effect that multiplies impact throughout the development ecosystem.
In addition to Mākhers Studio, the overall Innovative Dwellings program allowed us to partner and build connections with YardHomes in Minnesota, the Wells Fargo Foundation, and Volunteers of America affiliates in various markets doing similar work to tackle the housing crisis. These expanded networks strengthen the entire affordable housing ecosystem, making all of our work more effective. By openly sharing contacts, knowledge, and opportunities, we’ve created value far beyond our direct partnership. This collaborative mindset represents a fundamental shift from competition to cooperation in addressing housing challenges.
Creating Replicable Models for Nationwide Impact
The goal is to ensure the Innovative Dwellings program isn’t a one-time project, but an opportunity to learn more about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and determine how this model can be implemented in other communities. VOANS’ national presence allows for disseminating lessons across diverse markets and contexts, while DCLT provides deep insight into what makes solutions work at the community level.
The modular construction methods and standardized designs developed through the Innovative Dwellings initiative offer particular promise for scaling. These approaches reduce both cost and time while maintaining quality and allowing customization for local needs. The cost for a single-family home can cost upwards of $500,000, with a development timeline of four to seven years and a construction period of about 18 to 36 months. Meanwhile, costs for an ADU can hover around $200,000, with a construction period of six to 12 months.
We anticipate placing the first homes of Guthrie Village on the property in preparation for occupancy in fall 2025. While each community has unique characteristics, our fundamental partnership model can be adapted widely.
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The affordable housing crisis requires all of us—organizations large and small, public and private, national and local—to come together with creativity and commitment. Through partnerships like ours, we can develop solutions that are not just theoretically sound but practically effective in meeting the diverse housing needs of our communities. We invite other organizations to explore collaborative possibilities and welcome community members to engage with our work. Together, we can ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and supportive housing.
To learn more about VOANS’ Innovative Dwellings program, visit voa.org/innovative-dwellings.
To learn more about DCLT, visit their website at dclt.org.
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