Sussex board approves Immanuel homeless shelter

With a 3-1 vote, Sussex County Board of Adjustment approved a special-use exception application filed by Faith United Methodist Church for a homeless shelter at the site of the former John Wesley U.M. Church, at Church Street and Route 9 near Lewes.

The application was filed on behalf of Immanuel Shelter in Rehoboth Beach. Attorney David Hutt said the plan is to refurbish the existing Belltown church, located on a 2-acre parcel, and then build an additional building that would house 18 to 24 people. Residents would stay 30 to 90 days and receive counseling; shelter residents would also be required to seek employment.

Opponents, many who live in nearby Henlopen Landing, had testified against the shelter because of

concerns about increased traffic, property devaluation and shelter clientele.

In his detailed motion June 19, board member John Mills said shelter residents would be vetted with background checks, including fingerprinting by Delaware State Police. “This is not a walk-up facility,” he said.

In addition, Mills said, he put a lot of weight on the testimony of Glenn Piper, a property appraiser from Landmark Associates, who said he saw no evidence that opening a shelter would affect the surrounding neighborhood.

Mills said the shelter would not generate as much traffic as a church, the previous use, and much less traffic than a restaurant and brewpub, which had been approved at the site but did not materialize.

While a few people in the standing-room-only crowd cheered when the decision was reached, many stood up and chanted, “Shame, shame, shame,” as they walked out.

Contacted after the meeting, Immanuel Shelter Board President Janet Idema said the vote is a positive step for the community.

She said the board has a long-range plan for the property but is putting further action on hold until the deadline for a possible appeal of the decision passes. The deadline is 30 days after the application has been officially recorded in the county's records.

Those plans would include a capital campaign. Work on the project would take two to three years, she said.

She stressed the center would not accept walk-ins. “But even with walk-ins at the Code Purple shelter, we have a good track record,” she said.

Immanuel has operated a cold-weather homeless shelter in Rehoboth Beach for the past four years.

Idema said she understands that some nearby residents have concerns. “For the most part, they don't have actual knowledge about us and don't understand us. We are very much about the community and want to be good neighbors,” she said. “We are about helping people get back on their feet.”

She said people can't ignore the causes of homelessness, because the issues are here. Those issues include major medical expenses and job loss, seasonal workers and people recovering from addiction who have nowhere to go.