Springboard Delaware gave the Georgetown Town Council a detailed update on Nov. 10 about the Pallet Village navigation center, describing start-up funding, program outcomes and plans to expand the model.

Judd Malone, executive director, told the council the Pallet Village began as a privately funded experiment and has since secured a renewable four-year contract through a state RFP to operate the site alongside partners including First State Community Action Agency and the Delaware State Housing Authority. Malone said private foundations (notably Longwood) and philanthropic programs helped launch operations and that state emergency funding extended early operations.

Tom Ogden, newly elected board chairman, said the model has shown results and that Springboard plans a second navigation center in Wilmington within about 90–120 days. "Thanks to the vision and leadership of the good people of Georgetown, we are onto something here in Delaware," Ogden said.

Operations director Trish Hill described the program’s daily by-name count and outreach process, and said the majority of people identified in the count have been homeless for more than a year—often several years. Hill said the program uses a vulnerability scale to prioritize admissions, works with nearly 30 partner organizations for wraparound services, and helps participants obtain identification needed for housing and employment.

Hill and other Springboard speakers discussed performance metrics and program adjustments. They said roughly one-third of participants move into permanent housing (Hill used an approximate figure of about 35%), the average length of stay is about four months, and recent changes require participants to be actively engaging toward income within three months. Hill added that a high reported screening rate for mental-health needs reflected the share of those screened who were then identified as having a need, not that 97% of all residents received care.

Council members and residents then questioned operational details. Several speakers raised safety concerns and cited social-media posts about needles or suspected drug activity. A resident said lockers had been installed and implied those enabled illicit behavior; Springboard and an operations representative responded that lockers were removed last year after being found unused and that program staff and site cameras showed they were not needed. "Those lockers have been gone since last year," the Springboard representative said.

Residents also asked about funding burn rates and board turnover. Springboard acknowledged funding challenges in early months but said philanthropic support plus the recent state contract sustain operations; board resignations were described as limited and not affecting day-to-day service delivery. Malone and Ogden invited councilmembers and residents to tour the site.

Several clients and peer navigators spoke in support of the program. Bonnie Winchester, a community navigator, and Jennifer, a former participant, described recovery and housing outcomes they attributed to Pallet Village services and urged the council to support the program.

What happened next: Council did not take a formal vote about the Pallet Village at this meeting. Instead, members asked questions, received the update, and continued into the remainder of the agenda. Springboard’s leaders said they will provide follow-up numbers on request and encouraged visits to the site.

Funding and oversight: Springboard noted its operations now include state contracting and that independent financial reviews are conducted annually. The group listed partner agencies involved in direct health, substance-use, and housing services, including Brandywine, BB Mobile Clinic, and local outreach organizations.

Next step: Springboard offered to provide further documentation and to meet with council members; no policy or zoning action was taken at this meeting regarding Pallet Village operations.