Tharros Village opens for second season near Lewes

Jason Plaine and his fiancée just moved into Tharros Village, the encampment for homeless residents at the former Troop 7 site on Route 1 near Lewes.

Tharros opened for its second season July 7.

They had been living in the woods behind Tharros since they came down from Pennsylvania to try to find jobs.

“Somebody told us about this place,” Plaine said. “They put us on the list and we got in. We both just landed jobs, so hopefully, from now on, things are looking up. In the woods, it’s just piles of trash everywhere. Hopefully people here can all chip in and keep it nice.”

Plaine said he hopes they will be able to get an apartment by the end of the summer, thanks to funding from First State Community Action Agency, one of Tharros’ partner groups.

Organizers describe Tharros, which is a Greek word meaning courage, as a transitional, self-governed village, not a shelter.

“It’s a step up to the next level. It’s not intended to be a long-term solution,” said Frank Arena, director of governance.

Arena said 17 men and women moved in on opening day, five more the following day. He said they already have a waitlist.

Tharros is only allowed to have 28 individual tents per the lease arrangement with the state.

“We have a couple of returning visitors; we have some new people. We have a number of couples. Everybody gets their own tent, but they certainly can share,” Arena said.

Tharros opened for the first time last October for a 45-day pilot program, made possible through an agreement with the administration of former Gov. John Carney.

This year, Tharros organizers were required to gain approval from Sussex County Council and get a signed agreement with the state to use the property.

Part of the 7-acre site is still set up as a Department of Transportation salt barn, which is only used in the winter.

No drugs or alcohol are allowed in the village. Every resident is registered for safety.

“Every tent has a number, so state troopers will know who is in each tent,” Arena said. “We took pictures of everybody, with their permission, so if there’s a problem, they’ll know who the person is.”

Tharros has received donations for additional amenities this season. Those include:

• Permanent security fence, part of which is screened for privacy. The City of Lewes gave $25,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act to pay for the fence

• Security camera to monitor the village

• Locked rear gate accessible to emergency services

• Blessing box where people can drop off nonperishable food donations

• A bulletin board that lists available services.

A team of volunteers is building a shade tent to provide some cover for community picnic tables.

There are portable restrooms and hand-washing stations donated by American Sanitation, and a trash dumpster courtesy of Casella Waste Systems.

Arena said they are still trying to raise $3,000 to connect to the existing lines to provide running water.

They are also asking for a donation of fill dirt to cover areas that flood when it rains.

United Church in Milford brings a mobile shower unit and food to the site every Wednesday.

Tharros also works closely with Beebe Healthcare’s Population Health, which brings its mobile unit to the site.

There will be a bottled water drive for Tharros from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 12, at St. Jude the Apostle Church on Route 1 near Lewes. Arena said the goal is to collect at least 100 cases.

Tharros is scheduled to close for the season Nov. 30. Code Purple shelters will open the next night.

Organizers will have seven days to dismantle the encampment and restore the property, according to Arena.

He said they will have to go through the same approval process with the county and state for next year.

“If we had more space, we could take care of more people, because we’ve got this down now,” Arena said.

To volunteer or to donate, go to tharrosvillage.org.