Homeless advocates push for supportive housing in Sussex County

The Community Resource Center in Rehoboth Beach wants to help its homeless clients, and then never see them again.

They know that would be a measure of success for the nonprofit and for the individual.

“We hope they move on, find a place to live and are able to sustain moving forward,” said Nancy Alexander, CRC executive director.

But, Alexander said, many clients cannot sustain without supportive housing, which is a place to live that comes with an on-site case manager.

“Down here, folks say, ‘Get them housing.’ But, they’re not going to survive,” said Annette Johnson, CRC program director. “[Case managers] make sure they know how to use a microwave, the rent is paid, and they are seeing their doctors and mental health and substance abuse counselors.”

Johnson said there is no supportive housing in Sussex County. She said housing that is advertised as affordable is still out of reach for CRC’s clients and does not include the help many people need.

As state lawmakers prepare to unveil a plan to coordinate homeless services, Johnson said supportive housing should be part of the solution. She cited a recent example where she said it would have made a difference.

“We helped somebody move into housing and it just did not work. She did not pay her bills. The landlord was really working with this particular client. But, if she had a case manager, the rent would have been paid and she would not be unhoused,” Johnson said.

CRC opened its winter day shelter program Dec. 1. It is scheduled to run until the end of March. CRC remains open, but some services are reduced after that.

CRC is open seven days a week to provide a place to come in from the cold, get a hot meal, do laundry, and take advantage of healthcare and case management services. It was even open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Johnson said they receive 25 to 28 people a day.

She said they are seeing an increase in the number of people with unaddressed mental health and substance abuse issues.

Johnson said Beebe Healthcare’s Community Mobile Health Clinic and Nurses & Neighbors provide services to CRC.

Alexander said CRC’s Giving Tuesday campaign was successful in raising awareness and donations.

The shelter is still in need of food, toiletries, winter clothes, coats and accessories. 

Alexander said the biggest need is supportive housing.

“We need land, a building, zoning and staffing,” she said. “It would be a dream for me if all those things came together and we wouldn’t need a day shelter anymore. The community at large cannot keep saying, ‘not in my backyard.’ Homeless people are here; they need hand-holding and a place to live.”

For more information, go to rehobothcommunitycenter.org.