Del. advocates: Give 'em shelter, year round
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
By: Fit Staff
mcampbell@whyy.org
By: Tasha Jamerson
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Delaware's homeless shelters are usually open only during the cold winter months. But the recession has put more people out of their homes, and that has homeless advocates wanting shelters open all year round.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The homeless shelter in Dover first opened in December on a temporary basis and has been moving to different locations across the city every couple of weeks. This week they've set up shop at the Holy Trinity Church. But the roaming may soon be over. They are hoping to move to a permant facility in the next few months. And Deacon Erich Gillespie says the need is immense.
Gillespie: Right now I think I have 16 people on the waiting list and the calls are continuing to come in. I've turned about six or seven men away today already.
Which is why the permanent shelter, along with feeding and housing, will also offer job and social services at the new permanent site.