Gov. Meyer Launches Statewide Collaborative to Cut Homelessness in Half

Gov. Meyer signs an executive order to combat homelessness in Delaware

In a move to address the growing homelessness crisis across the First State, Governor Matt Meyer signed Executive Order #8 on Thursday, establishing the Delaware Interagency Collaborative to End Homelessness. The announcement was made at the New Castle County HOPE Center, an innovative shelter and support hub Governor Meyer helped open in 2021 during his time as County Executive.

The newly formed Collaborative will serve as an advisory body to the Governor, with a mission to cut overall homelessness in Delaware by 50% and end youth homelessness entirely within five years.

“We are witnessing a troubling rise in homelessness across Delaware, especially among children and families,” said Governor Meyer during the signing. “The rent is too damn high for everyone, housing costs are rising, and too many Delawareans are being priced out of stability. We must expand affordable housing options, remove barriers, and ensure that every person in our state has access to a safe and secure home.”

Recent data underscores the urgency. The 2025 Point-in-Time Count reported 1,585 individuals experiencing homelessness in Delaware—a 16% increase from 2024. Nearly 20% of homeless households include children under the age of 18, and over a quarter of the state’s unhoused population is under 18.

Delaware State Housing Authority Director Matthew Heckles, who will chair the 15-member Collaborative, highlighted the fragmented nature of existing homelessness services and the need for a unified, data-driven approach.

“Many Delawareans are doing great work to address homelessness, but efforts are fragmented throughout the state,” Heckles said. “Sheltering alone can prolong homelessness if it isn’t coupled with housing stability and wraparound services. The Collaborative is our opportunity to think differently and get to real solutions.”

The Collaborative will include state cabinet members, county and city leaders, nonprofit partners, and legislative representatives. Their work will focus on analyzing current homelessness services, identifying gaps, and coordinating resources to deploy targeted strategies. Among its duties:

Advising the Governor on homelessness reduction efforts
Reviewing statewide policies, programs, and funding
Recommending coordinated strategies and service expansion
Examining the feasibility of replicating the HOPE Center model in Kent and Sussex counties
Releasing annual reports to track progress and inform legislation

Representative Larry Lambert, vice-chair of the House Housing Committee, provided closing remarks and stressed the power of collaboration.

“Each agency and organization holds a piece of the puzzle,” said Rep. Lambert. “And when they work together, just like we do in our neighborhoods, they can help people not just survive, but truly move forward and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

The new Collaborative revives and expands the mission of the former Delaware Interagency Council on Homelessness, which disbanded in 2018. All meetings will be public, accessible, and inclusive, with the goal of transparent and actionable governance.

For more information or to view the full Executive Order, visit https://governor.delaware.gov/executive-orders/executive-order-8/