New Castle – New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer today applauded the outlay of $750,000 in the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed into law by president Biden for capital improvements to The Hope Center. The critical improvement to the Hope Center will be a new roof.
The federal funding is part of $97 million investment in Delaware projects secured by U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.). The full appropriations will go to community priorities such as water infrastructure improvements, mental health support, childcare services, affordable housing, education and research, workforce development, and more up and down the First State.
“I would like to thank our Congressional delegation for their hard work in ensuring this funding,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “I and the people of New Castle County am appreciative of the hard work of Senators Carper, Coons and Representative Blunt Rochester did this year to ensure The Hope Center can continue its mission.”
The Hope Center recently celebrated its second year of service to the people experiencing homelessness of Delaware. Since opening the doors of the Hope Center in December, 2020, The Hope Center has gone on to serve more than 685 families (over 2,000 individuals), and been the temporary residence to those displaced from Adams Street in Wilmington, from Hurricane Ida, the war in Ukraine, and Afghanistan. More than 200 Delawareans have moved into permanent housing.
“We would never have been able to get The Hope Center project off the ground without the support of our federal delegation and their tireless work on the CARES Act,” County Executive Meyer said. “Their continued support of this project means countless Delawareans will have a safe place to rest their heads at night and a pathway to stable housing.”
Each member of Delaware’s federal delegation worked tirelessly to fund needed projects in Delaware once earmark appropriations were restored in the U.S. Senate in 2021.
“I am proud to work with Senator Coons and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester to secure nearly 100 million for projects in Delaware,” said Senator Carper. “These investments will help foster innovation at our universities, grow our economy, provide affordable housing and infrastructure investments, deliver health care to the far reaches of our state, improve public safety, and invest in our children.”
“Senators, representatives and local leaders can identify the needs of their communities better than bureaucrats in Washington, and these transparent, locally supported funds will create good-paying jobs, keep Delawareans healthy, and bring much-needed affordable housing to the First State,” said Senator Coons. “As Delaware’s sole member of the Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to work with my colleagues to ensure that nearly $100 million has been set aside in this year’s omnibus specifically to make a difference for Delaware.”
“The most fundamental mission of our Congressional Delegation is to improve the lives of Delawareans up and down our state,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “Through this bill, working alongside Senators Carper and Coons, I’m proud that we’ve managed to deliver nearly $100 million that will go directly to improving the health, economic vitality, and quality of life for hundreds of thousands in the First State. I look forward to working with our state, local, and nonprofit partners to ensure these funds are put to their best use.”
The Hope Center is supported by dozens of community organizations and partnerships like Fair Chance (job training/placement), Family Promise of Northern New Castle County (onsite case management and rapid rehousing, ChristianaCare (1,035 patient visits), Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans (veterans experiencing homelessness), King’s Table (food donation) and 145 community groups have volunteered their time, talents and treasures to the Hope Center residents.
Services that the Hope Center provides for their guests include COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, 24 hour on-site staffing and case management by DCHV, medical and behavioral health services, transportation to schools, jobs, and medical appointments, housing navigation and exit planning, after school activities and animal support by Faithful Friends.
About the Hope Center
The New Castle County Hope Center, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. The Mission of the New Castle County Hope Center, Inc. is to provide financial support to the New Castle County Hope Center. The Hope Center’s mission is to house and support individuals & families experiencing homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic.