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Housing Alliance: about 560 people were counted experiencing homelessness in Wilmington on one night in 2024; Friendship House runs Code Purple cold‑weatherShel
Summary
Rachel Stucker, director of Housing Alliance Delaware, told the City of Wilmington Public Safety Committee on Feb. 10 that the statewide point‑in‑time count shows a notable rise in unsheltered homelessness and that roughly 560 people in Wilmington were experiencing homelessness on the night counted in 2024.
Rachel Stucker, director of Housing Alliance Delaware, told the City of Wilmington Public Safety Committee on Feb. 10 that the statewide point‑in‑time (PIT) count — the federally required, one‑night snapshot used by communities that receive federal homeless‑assistance funds — was completed in late January and that preliminary analysis of 2024 PIT data shows increasing unsheltered homelessness.
Stucker said that, when the 2024 numbers are disaggregated to city level, approximately 560 people in the city of Wilmington were experiencing homelessness on the single night counted in January 2024. She said the larger New Castle County total was 837. She cautioned that PIT results are compiled and finalized in spring, and the Housing Alliance typically posts final numbers in April‑May.
Statewide, Stucker said homelessness increased about 16% from 2020 to 2024 and that unsheltered homelessness (people sleeping in cars or places not meant for habitation) rose roughly 58% since 2019. She said roughly one in four people counted on the night of the PIT is a child under 18, and that 6–7% are over 65.
Kim Eppyheimer, executive director of Friendship House, described how Friendship House operates the Code Purple cold‑weather shelter for New Castle County and Wilmington. She said Code Purple shelters open only when temperatures fall below a county threshold (historically around 20 degrees) and that Friendship House partners with faith communities to host the walk‑in sites. Since 2022 Friendship House has run Code Purple on its own most seasons; Eppyheimer said the program has seen between 70 and 90 people in Wilmington on nights it opened and that this season the group has run roughly 25 Code Purple activations (up from an average of 12–15 in prior years).
Regarding funding, Stucker said Friendship House received a small grant (about $6,000) via CBDC in one season and that the city later recommitted $12,000 toward Code Purple this season; she estimated the countywide cost could reach $25,000–$30,000 for the season and that the city’s share could approach $18,000. She said providers also seek Community Development Block Grant funding for future seasons.
Both presenters described gaps: limited year‑round shelter capacity in New Castle County, constrained access to behavioral‑health and substance‑use treatment for people who are unsheltered, and insufficient permanent affordable and accessible housing options. Stucker and Eppyheimer urged stronger coordination among emergency shelters, police, health partners and housing providers; the presenters said some police officers were not aware of the PIT methodology and that more cross‑training and outreach could improve responses.
Ending: Committee members thanked the presenters and the chair said the council would invite the Housing Alliance and Friendship House back for a deeper discussion on homelessness, shelter capacity and possible city‑level responses.
