County OKs partnership for Pay-for-Success program aimed at family homelessness

New Castle County Council on Sept. 23 adopted Resolution 25-177, authorizing the county executive to execute a partnership agreement with Delaware Family Hope LLC to provide intermediary services for a Pay-for-Success project aimed at preventing and ending family homelessness.

The resolution establishes the county’s role in a Pay-for-Success project for the Family Hope Project and, according to a staff fiscal note read at the meeting, “will have no fiscal impact on the county,” a certification signed by the county chief financial officer on Sept. 11, 2025.

Councilman Tyrone Hollins, who moved the resolution, said the item was discussed at length in the Community Services Committee earlier the same day. Hollins said presentations were given by Mike Bowser and Nicole Waters, the department’s housing manager, and that the project also has backing from local philanthropic organizations. “We discussed this at length this afternoon in the Community Services Committee meeting,” Hollins said, noting the participation of county staff and private supporters.

Council members complimented county Community Services staff for preparing the proposal. “They have just been working their tails off to make sure that people in New Castle County, who may be homeless, can get a second chance,” Councilman Koneko said during the floor debate. Councilman Cartier noted the award was competitive and said New Castle County was one of seven U.S. jurisdictions selected; he said the project could follow up to “120 families” to improve housing stability.

There was no public comment on the resolution. The clerk called the roll and the council voted 13–0 to adopt Resolution 25-177. The motion passed and the measure was recorded as adopted.

The resolution authorizes the county executive to execute the partnership agreement; the transcript and accompanying staff materials state the agreement is intended to have no direct fiscal impact on the county’s budget. The resolution and the staff fiscal note are on file with the county clerk.

Background: Council members said the project received significant philanthropic support and is intended as an innovative, outcomes-focused approach to housing stability. County staff who presented the item at committee included Mike Bowser and Nicole Waters, identified in the committee discussion as the housing manager for Community Services. The private partner named in the resolution is Delaware Family Hope LLC, which would serve as an intermediary for Pay-for-Success contracting and performance measurement.

Votes and next steps: With the 13–0 vote, the county executive may sign the partnership agreement. The resolution’s text specifies the intermediary role; the resolution does not appropriate county funds, and staff noted the county’s financial officer certified no county fiscal impact on Sept. 11, 2025.

Sources: County meeting transcript for Sept. 23, 2025; staff-read fiscal certification referenced during the council presentation.