For weeks, daytime temperatures throughout Delaware have rarely risen above 40 degrees. For those of us living in safe and comfortable homes that means higher utility bills, more snow- shoveling and perhaps more days and nights when we just want to “nest” by fire or candlelight with a good book and some music.
Unfortunately thousands of people are homeless, or struggling mightily to survive in sub-standard living condition according to data from the Housing Alliance of Delaware and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Some struggle to find low-cost housing in the midst of our state’s thriving real estate market. Some have health issues that hinder their ability to earn enough money to live on. And some simply can’t make ends meet despite working more than one job. These challenges are being addressed by many non-profit organizations year-round, but the need feels especially dire on these bitterly cold days.
Fortunately there are ways you can help. In the Wilmington Area, Friendship House has served the area for 35 years and now helps about 14,000 people every year. They serve folks who are struggling for the financial stability needed to pay for and qualify for affordable housing by providing several crucial services, including:
- Accessing vital records, including birth certificates, which can be crucial for driver licensing, and Social Security cards, which often must be presented to employers
- A computer lab for searching for and applying for jobs
- Access to phones, chargers and a mailing address so they can connect with employers
- Clothing, food and medical referrals
- Weekday hospitality and access to restrooms.
You can donate financially to support folks living in and around Wilmington, Newark and Dover https://www.friendshiphousede.org/delaware-homeless/i-want-to-help/how-to-donate/. There are also lots of opportunities for volunteers, who are crucial to the organization’s success. Learn more at https://www.friendshiphousede.org/delaware-homeless/i-want-to-help/volunteer-application/ .
In Dover, the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing also prepares people to find stable housing, including housing managed by the organization, with all kinds of support services and serves more than 12,000 meals a year. Learn how to donate and volunteer at https://www.doverinterfaith.org/get-involved.
Kent County is also home to:
- The Catholic Charities Diocese of Wilmington, which provides a range of services to meet emergency needs and put people on track for affordable housing https://www.ccwilm.org/about-us/.
- The House of Hope, serving women who need shelter and those who need support for finding sustained housing, where you can donate food and cleaning supplies https://hoh19903.wixsite.com/cdhc.
- People’s Place, which provides a range of services that respond to the needs of low-income Delawareans in Kent, Sussex and lower New Castle https://peoplesplace2.com/about-us#.
- The Shepherd Place, which provides housing, food and basic needs and case management to help people become independent and needs both donations and volunteers https://www.shepherdplace.org/about-us.
- Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity, which is working to revitalize downtown Dover with more affordable and mixed income housing https://centraldelawarehabitat.org/volunteer/restore/.
And if you live in Sussex County, you can support efforts to end homelessness by connecting with:
- Home of the Brave in Milford, which provides support services to address homelessness among military veterans https://homeofthebravefdn.org/about/.
- Casa San Francisco, providing meals, emergency housing and support services (while also servicing folks in Kent and New Castle counties https://www.ccwilm.org/casa-san-francisco/
- Family Promise of Southern Delaware, which addresses several root causes of homelessness, provides emergency shelter, and financial literacy and job placement services https://www.familypromisesouthernde.org/what-we-do.
- The Way Home, which helps formerly incarcerated individuals get on track for employment and housing https://www.twhprogram.org/about
- The Shepherd’s Office in Georgetown, a beloved organization that for years has provided food and counseling and other services to help people find housing and employment https://www.shepherdsoffice.org/.