The New Castle County Hope Center is getting $750,000 in federal money to go toward capital improvements and transportation costs, with more money expected to come later this year.
U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and County Executive Matt Meyer gathered in the Hope Center on Friday morning to announce the federal dollars that will go toward the building’s roof repairs and support its transportation services.
The Hope Center operates a shuttle system seven days a week from its location off Airport Road near New Castle to the Prices Corner bus stop every half-hour during the week and every hour on weekends. They also received a $10,000 grant from Uber, which guests can use for rides.
Investing in the Hope Center has been heavily prioritized by the New Castle County government, as the area is facing a crisis in affordable housing. The former Sheraton Hotel, sitting just off I-95 north, had been vacant for years until December 2020 when the building was bought by the county with money from the pandemic-era CARES Act.
What is the purpose of the Hope Center?
The Hope Center specializes in short-term housing for houseless individuals, as well as providing resources such as medical care, workforce development, school programming for children and consistent transportation to get patrons to other nearby communities.
Over 2,500 individuals have spent at least one night in the Hope Center since its opening, including 69 pets and 22 babies who have been born.
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Could more funding be on the way?
Announcing the roof repair funding came on an ironically rainy morning, Coons noted in his address.
“A roof over one’s head is, at the end of the day, the foundation of what shelter means,” Coons said. “It’s also transportation, it’s mobility, it’s engagement, it’s care.”
Coons also stressed the federal delegation’s hope to provide another $1.9 million through congressional spending to the Hope Center sometime this year.
LaToya Brown, a resident of the Hope Center since January, stressed the shelter’s significance to her and her 5-year-old son.
“Finding the Hope Center has been nothing but a blessing to me,” Brown said. “I went through every program. I came here broken; now I feel whole and seen. It’s been a journey, but I’m here now and I’m thankful.”
Do you need housing?
Those in need of temporary emergency shelter at the Hope Center should contact your local State Service Center at 866-843-7212.
Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.
