Sussex County Officials Urge Accountability as State Weighs Hope Center Expansion

DOVER, Del. — State housing officials are seeking millions in new funding to expand Delaware’s Hope Center model into Sussex County, a proposal that local leaders say must balance compassion for vulnerable residents with accountability, clear rules, and community impact.

The Delaware State Housing Authority is requesting $4 million in its fiscal year 2027 capital budget to establish two new Hope Centers — one in Kent County and one in Sussex County — modeled after the New Castle County facility that provides emergency shelter and centralized services for people experiencing homelessness.

DSHA Director Matthew Heckles said the goal is to address gaps in downstate services by creating a single, year-round access point for shelter, health care, case management, and housing navigation.

“There are too many people falling through the cracks,” Heckles said. “The Hope Center is a place for people to go when they don’t fit neatly into the criteria that the rest of the system is looking for.”

The proposed Sussex County Hope Center would repurpose an existing building rather than construct a new facility, a strategy DSHA says reduces costs and speeds deployment. Officials are also pursuing federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program to support the project.

Local leaders stress structure and community impact

While no site has been selected, local officials in lower Delaware say the program’s design will determine whether it helps people move toward independence or unintentionally creates new problems.

Milford Mayor Todd Culotta said he supports efforts to help people stabilize and return to self-sufficiency but cautioned against approaches that lack firm expectations.

“We want people to get on their own feet and support themselves,” Culotta said. “That’s the point of the centers. When there are lax rules or not clearly defined goals, sometimes that creates a dependency situation that doesn’t really help anybody and causes more problems.”

Culotta also emphasized that community impact must be considered alongside social-service goals.

“It’s never just the center itself,” he said. “It’s how it impacts the surrounding environment that can become a problem, and those are hard to control once they’re in place.”

Milford, which sits between Kent and Sussex counties, has experienced rapid population growth, Culotta noted, making placement decisions especially sensitive.

“We’re growing like crazy,” he said. “The New Castle Hope Center took advantage of a closed hotel. We don’t really have anything like that around us right now.”

Treatment-first approach urged

State Sen. Eric Buckson, R-South Dover, said any downstate Hope Center should prioritize treatment for mental illness and addiction before long-term housing placement.

“What you see on the streets right now from many folks is an illness problem,” Buckson said. “These folks are mentally ill or addicted to drugs. Both are diseases. You need a policy that shelters the sick and houses the healthy.”

Buckson said a treatment-first approach would benefit families, neighborhoods, and law enforcement while helping individuals achieve lasting recovery.

“The communities who see it every day are the ones who benefit when treatment drives down the number of people suffering on the streets,” he said.

Budget review ahead

The funding request is part of DSHA’s broader FY27 capital plan, which also includes $23 million for the Housing Development Fund to support affordable rental units and homelessness prevention efforts statewide.

The proposal will be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget and the General Assembly. Lawmakers must approve the funding before DSHA can identify a Sussex County site or finalize partnerships.

Despite differences over approach, state and local leaders agree that homelessness in Sussex County is increasing and that existing shelter capacity remains limited.

How the Hope Center model is adapted for lower Delaware — and whether it includes clear rules, treatment pathways, and safeguards for surrounding communities — will likely determine whether the proposal earns broad public support.