NEW CASTLE (January 22, 2024) – Today, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) along with partner community agencies led a community response briefing to provide the latest information regarding the state’s efforts to support individuals facing homelessness and housing instability related to substance use disorder.

Organized by the DHSS Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), these quarterly briefings aim to inform the public about the State’s ongoing work to reduce overdoses and respond to the opioid epidemic.

The event was opened by Delaware Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Chair of the Behavioral Health Consortium, PhD, RN.

“Today, the unfortunate reality is that too many people who are unsheltered and living in encampments, on the street or in cars or motels, are also grappling with substance use disorder or behavioral health challenges. We must develop public policies to support social services and health agencies to meet Delaware’s families where they are. Traditional approaches to service delivery do not always work. If we are going to get real results, we need to meet people where they are and intervene there,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long. “I’ve been there on the street, working directly with people looking for shelter, and I see them struggling with addiction and other health concerns. We have to continue meeting people directly where they are and provide them with hope, with the tools and services they need to get back on their feet. I’m proud of the innovative work DSAMH and their partners have done and will continue to support them in any way possible while exploring new pathways for safe, secure housing with access to services.”

DSAMH Director Joanna Champney followed the Lt. Governor and presented information about DSAMH’s Recovery Support Scholarships, supported by the Behavioral Health Consortium and available to addiction treatment providers so they can provide short term emergency housing resources to people in their substance use treatment programs. This includes a seven day hotel stay, one-time one-month rental assistance, one-time security deposit, or one month of Oxford House rent.

“Reports from our behavioral health treatment providers indicate that in Delaware, 7% of people starting addiction treatment and 13% starting mental health programs are homeless,” Champney said. “When their housing is unstable, we worry very much that they may disengage from treatment. That’s why we partner with our addiction treatment providers to offer housing support to people already in treatment who are facing an emergency, and it’s why we administer and fund outreach programs for people who aren’t yet engaged in treatment. Our staff and partners try to build relationships and trust with people in the tent cities or who are living on the street. We meet some of their basic needs first. If and when they are ready, we help them connect to services.”

Karen Records, Chief of Social Determinants at DSAMH, provided an overview of Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) programs. This program served 675 persons this past grant year – 263 were enrolled through street outreach and 412 were enrolled through supportive service in-reach activities. Clients received connection including but not limited to temporary and permanent housing, substance use treatment, mental health treatment, income assistance, and healthcare insurance access.

Staff from one of Delaware’s service providers, Horizon House, Denise Rodriguez, Program Director, and Kenneth Fassett, Outreach Coordinator, spoke about their services and outcomes of their efforts.

Rachel Stucker, Executive Director for the Housing Alliance Delaware, shared the state’s upcoming efforts regarding the annual Point in Time (PIT) count and information related to serving on Continuum of Care teams.

The event was championed by Eugene R. Young, Jr., Director, Delaware State Housing Authority.

“The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is proud to work alongside our state agency partners and local nonprofits to address substance abuse in our community,” Young said. “Now more than ever, we need community involvement. From joining the Point In Time count to donating items for hygiene kits or advocating for more recovery homes throughout the state, we all have an opportunity to help Delawareans on the road to a new life.”

Sharon Bell, DSAMH Community Outreach Manager, spoke about the work of her team completing outreach efforts to homeless encampments, making contact with 395 unhoused individuals in 2023. Bell said for donations or inquiries to contact her at Sharon.bell@delaware.gov or by telephone at 302-353-6492. Donations also are accepted at 203 Mitchell Lane in the Springer Building of Herman Holloway Campus in New Castle on Wednesdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Josette Manning, DHSS Cabinet Secretary closed the program with a call to action.

“Addiction can destabilize people in many ways, but one of the most damaging and cyclical aspects is that addiction contributes to homelessness, and homelessness further exacerbates addiction and mental health problems,” Secretary Manning said. “DHSS is committed to helping people access opportunities to escape this cycle. Our programs and partners continue regularly seeking out unhoused people to offer help. Through our outreach, connections to treatment, and temporary emergency housing resources, we offer people a compassionate opportunity to get help.”

To help address behavioral health needs of Delawareans, DHSS has several ways for individuals or their family members to connect:

• Call the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333 – a single point of contact in which callers can connect to a variety of resources and information, including support from clinicians and peer specialists plus crisis assistance.
• Stop by one of DHSS’ Bridge Clinics for an in-person assessment.
• Visit TreatmentConnection.com to find out which treatment providers are located near you.
• Visit HelpIsHereDE.com, DHSS’ one-stop website where Delawareans can search for treatment services and resources in Delaware or nearby states.
• Call 988 if the individual is in crisis and needs immediate support.
• Call 911 if someone has overdosed and needs emergency medical attention.
• Learn where to find Narcan training, get the medication through the mail, and download the OpiRescueDE App here.

Delaware Affordable Housing Developers Facing Cost Increases Encouraged To Apply

Dover, Del., February 1, 2023 – The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is extending the submission deadline for the Market Pressure Relief Fund (MPRF) to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023.

Application materials can be found here: http://destatehousing.com/Developers/Developers.php.

MPRF was announced in July 2022 and created using $9 million in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, a part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It is just one part of a multi-tiered approach to addressing the affordable housing crises across Delaware.

The MPRF program aims to relieve economic cost pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on Delaware’s affordable housing development community. Owners of affordable multifamily rental projects currently under construction that have faced construction cost increases due to supply chain disruptions and inflation can receive additional financing to ensure these projects are completed, and affordable housing units are added to the state’s inventory.

All other program guidelines remain as published on the destatehousing.com website. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications being reviewed in the order in which they were received.

For more information or to learn more about DSHA housing development investments, please visit destatehousing.com.

About the Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it serves as a Public Housing Authority and a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own, and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (888) 363-8808 or visit our website at www.destatehousing.com.

Bills will give local governments new tools to address vacant homes, strengthen neighborhoods

NEW CASTLE, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday signed into law House Bills 187 and 188, bipartisan legislation that give new tools to local governments to fight neighborhood blight and combat vacant or abandoned homes.

Representatives J.J. Johnson, Stephanie T. Bolden, Joseph Miro, Daniel Short, John Mitchell and Kim Williams, and Senators Bryan Townsend, Margaret Rose Henry and Stephanie Hansen sponsored the two bills, which passed the General Assembly unanimously in June.

Governor Carney signed the legislation at a vacant home purchased by New Castle County with state funds as part of an anti-blight initiative in the Garfield Park community near New Castle.

House Bill 187 will allow local governments to prequalify bidders at sheriff’s sales to restrict bidders who are delinquent on property taxes or violating property maintenance codes. House Bill 188 will allow local governments to place a lien on a vacant property in violation of maintenance standards to recoup enforcement and abatement costs.

“Vacant and abandoned properties can bring down property values, attract crime and make neighborhoods unattractive places to live, work and play,” said Governor Carney. “Strengthening our communities requires creative solutions to the problems we face, and new tools such as these will help local leaders effectively combat blight by directly addressing vacant homes. Delaware has invested $8.25 million in Strong Neighborhoods funding to redevelop housing in communities such as Garfield Park, which is leading to $35 million in other investment, and we must continue to work supporting residents who want to create safe streets and livable communities.”

Vacant and abandoned homes become breeding grounds for crime and dumping grounds for trash, are targets for arson and become a health and safety hazard for their surrounding communities. These properties also drive costs to county taxpayers, diverting public safety resources, and force local government to pay for basic maintenance, grass mowing, and waste removal. Additionally, vacant and abandoned housing has been shown to depress neighborhood property values and reduce tax revenues that fund critical public services.

“We want our neighbors to have pride in their communities, but housing vacancies overwhelm too many regions of our state and cause a host of problems in its tracks. House Bills 187 and 188 provide a beacon of light in those situations. With these bills, local governments are empowered to take charge of blight in these communities by ultimately working to return vacant properties to use and helping Delawareans restore that pride,” said Representative James Johnson, D-New Castle, prime sponsor of the bills. “Our residents – and their homes- deserve that attention. By eliminating blight we will be able to foster a new sense of community and responsibility.”

“This legislation is all about holding real estate investors accountable and promoting vibrancy in our communities,” said Senator Bryan Townsend, D-Newark. “Neglected properties and blight are having a real impact on crime rates, property values, and quality of life for Delawareans. Investors and people who want to be able take ownership of homes must also take ownership of maintaining them, not just rely on the community and taxpayers to foot the bill for blight.  Coupled with investments in open-space for established neighborhoods, the tools in this legislation can be of great help to promoting the safety and prosperity we should want all Delawareans to enjoy.”

“By turning vacant places across our county and state into livable spaces we will reduce crime, lift property values, and turn liabilities into opportunities for hardworking new homeowners,” said New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer. “City, county and state collaborated to create stronger policies, and we thank Governor Carney and the leadership of the General Assembly who saw the value in the legislation being enacted today.”

“As a former president of New Castle County Council, I know all too well the cost of blight for local governments,” said Senator Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown. “The downward spiral that blight creates for entire communities is stunning. It’s not just the risk of crime or fire—studies show that vacant and abandoned homes can affect surrounding residents’ physical and mental health. These bills offer invaluable tools that protect our communities from speculators who try to game the system at our expense, and leave taxpayers and responsible property owners holding the bill. I’m glad to have supported it, and hope to continue working with state and local officials to protect and revitalize our neighborhoods.”

“These new tools build upon the work of the Strong Neighborhoods Housing Fund in purchasing, renovating and selling formerly vacant, abandoned or blighted properties, turning 181 empty homes or vacant lots into owner-occupied homes that brighten a street,” said Anas Ben Addi, Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. “These partnerships with local governments and nonprofit partners help improve the quality of life for our residents and make Delaware a better place to live.”

“I have seen the negative effects that vacant, abandoned and blighted properties have on vibrant neighborhoods such as ours,” said Lee Jarmon, president of the Overview Gardens Garfield Park Civic Association. “I commend the state, county and other local leaders for working together to pass legislation to address and help to remedy this serious issue.”

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Where/When: The Modern Maturity Center, Dover, DE on Monday, March 23, 2015 from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. The Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.

Attorney General Matthew P. Denn sent out a letter stating, ” The nationwide economic crisis across this country has shown some inprovement, but the crisis is not over. Many Delawareans continue to fight to stay in thier homes. That’s why the Delaware State Housing Authority and the Department of Justice have partnered to form the Delaware Homeowner Relief Initiative, as we continue to help Delawareans protect their most important investment – their home.”

Attorney General Denn encourages you to attend the next FREE housing workshops. You will have the opportunity to meet with mortgage lenders and servicers on-site (Please bring loan information and budget). There will be certified housing counselors and representatives from the Attorney General’s office and other agencies. The educational sessions will cover the ways to avoid foreclosure scams, Delaware Foreclosure Timeline, National Mortgage Settlement and current federal programs.

“No appointments necessary.” Monday, March 23, 2015 will be held at The Modern Maturity Center located at 1121 Forrest Ave, Dover, DE 19904. Loan servicers available from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. Educational session will be from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Tuesday, March 24, 2015 location will be at The Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. Loan servicers are available from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Educational session is at 5:00 pm.

For more information please visit: www.delawarehomeownerrelief.com or www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov. Email: Consumer.protection@delaware.gov, or call the Delaware Homeowner Relief Hotline: 1-800-220-5424 or Attorney General Matt Denn’s Foreclosure Prevention office: 302-577-8393/8378.

DSHA Partners with Federal and Local Agencies to
Expand Help for Homeowners

Contact:
Christina M. Hardin
Chief of Community Relations, DSHA
Phone: (302) 739-4263
Email: Christina@destatehousing.com

July 12, 2013 – (Dover, DE) – The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) announced last month that it will be taking the lead in a new outreach project designed to expand the relief options available to homeowners who are struggling with their mortgages. The Making Home Affordable Outreach and Intake Project aims to help homeowners avoid mortgage default by seeking resolutions through the Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program, the cornerstone of President Obama’s plan to offer lasting relief to homeowners in financial distress. DSHA is expecting to receive $47,750 which will be allocated to the housing counseling agencies who are participating in the program for document preparation, marketing outreach, and oversight, in addition to the $12,135 for marketing funds through the MHA supplemental outreach funding. While the MHA Program was set to expire at the end of this year, the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Housing and Urban Development recently announced that the deadline has been extended until December 31, 2015.

“We are pleased to be partnering with local housing counseling agencies to participate in this project,” said DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi. “While the housing market has begun a slow recovery, many homeowners are still struggling to make their mortgage payments on time and could benefit from one of the relief options available to them through the Making Home Affordable Program.”

Homeowners not only have more time to participate in the MHA Program, but the relief options available to them have been expanded as well. Homeowners who previously may not have qualified for a loan modification or refinance may now be eligible under expanded MHA criteria. Furthermore, homeowners who are underwater, or owe more than their homes are worth, may be able to benefit from the MHA Principal Reduction Alternative.

“The Making Home Affordable Program has provided help and hope to many Delaware homeowners,” said Jane C.W. Vincent, HUD’s Regional Administrator of the Mid-Atlantic region. “Families have used its tools to reduce their principal, modify their mortgages, fight off foreclosure and stay in their homes. And with this extension, we ensure that the program keeps supporting homeowners in the First State for years to come.”

DSHA, along with five HUD-approved nonprofit housing counseling agencies, will be conducting intensive outreach to homeowners who may be eligible to participate in the MHA Program. Homeowners are encouraged to seek free, professional help from a certified housing counselor, who can help them navigate the relief options available to them, and determine which one best meets their needs.

“It is so important that homeowners begin working with a certified housing counselor at the first sign of trouble with their monthly mortgage payments,” said Stephanie Staats, Chief Programs Officer for YWCA Delaware. “A housing counselor can help you avoid mortgage default, repair your credit, budget more effectively, and teach you the skills to make sound financial decisions in the best interest of you and your family.”

Delaware agencies participating in the MHA Outreach and Intake Project will be hosting a statewide Open House on July 22, 2013 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm at office locations in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, and Georgetown. Attendees will learn more about how the Making Home Affordable Program may be able to help them, whether by curing a mortgage delinquency, refinancing their loan at a lower interest rate, or reducing the amount owed on their principal. More information about this Open House will be available soon.

About the Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own, and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (888) 363-8808 or visit our website at: www.destatehousing.com.

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