Why Should Delaware Care?
With Delaware bracing for its first major winter storm, the need for shelter for those living on the streets is vital. And for decades, The Code Purple winter initiative has been providing much-needed refuge to the state’s unhoused population.
As Delaware braces for its first major winter storm of the year, faith centers across the state are preparing cots and air mattresses, with volunteers ready to welcome those seeking refuge.
These efforts are part of the Code Purple initiative, which provides emergency overnight shelter for those who are unhoused during the harshest time of the year.
While Delaware’s homeless facilities work year-round to support those in need, often struggling to keep beds available, the winter months bring a critical demand for shelter as freezing temperatures can lead to frostbite, hypothermia and can worsen health conditions.
In each county, an organization oversees the winter initiative and works with local churches to cater to the basic needs of the unhoused and provide them with a place to sleep when Code Purple is declared.
New Castle County – The Friendship House
The Friendship House, a longtime service hub for the unhoused, oversees the program in New Castle County, providing shelter in Wilmington, Newark and Middletown.
In New Castle, a Code Purple is declared when the weather reaches 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below, either in actual temperature or the “feels like” temperature.
They are partnered with over six churches that have opened their doors to provide people with a safe place to sleep.
“It’s something we’re called to do as Christians – to care for those who don’t have shelter, for those who don’t have adequate food or housing. Caring for them is part of our faith,” said The Rev. Patrick Burke, the rector of The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, Wilmington’s Code Purple location.
Before COVID, the Salvation Army operated Code Purple for at least the last few decades in Wilmington. They offered night shelters while the Friendship House worked with them and provided day services at its Wilmington Empowerment Center.
It’s something we’re called to do as Christians – to care for those who don’t have shelter, for those who don’t have adequate food or housing.
the rev. patrick burke
Later, the Friendship House expanded to run emergency shelters in Newark and Middletown with support from local churches.
Kristen Reisor, who manages Code Purple for the Friendship House, said the organization took over Wilmington with the help of the Hope Center after the Salvation Army stopped offering shelter during the pandemic.
But as the Hope Center grew, it began only taking referrals, creating a system where some people could fall through the cracks. As a result, the Friendship House took over all three locations in 2022.
Today, the organization can house up to 50 people in Wilmington and 20 people in Newark each night. In Middletown, where shelter demand is lower, they open only if at least three or four people require shelter.
“Oftentimes they find another option. There’s a lot more couch-surfing opportunities down there,” she said.
About three to five days before a Code Purple, the organization sends out an email blast to their partners, with times, locations, and pre-registration details. They also share the information with the police department and offer pre-registration by phone or in person at their empowerment centers.
The shelters open at 6 p.m. and offer dinner that is either provided by volunteers or the University of Delaware. They usually operate with a large single room, designating sleeping areas for men, women and children.
“Oftentimes we’ll prioritize women getting a bed first, and then elderly getting a bed first, because there are times where we don’t have enough beds for everyone, and we’ll give folks a chair. So there is kind of a system to it,” Reisor said.
Unlike other Code Purple sites in the state, the Friendship House uses paid staff to work the program and will assign two staff members to each site for the 12-hour shifts.
Staffing the shelters is their biggest expense, and although they receive small grants to help with the program, Reisor said the cost of keeping the initiative operational daily would be too expensive to maintain.
However, during the daytime and most days of the week, the organization’s empowerment centers are open. There, people can access different resources like meals, computer labs, financial assistance and case management services.
Kent County – Code Purple Kent County
Code Purple Kent County, an organization that provides different outreach and housing resources has been operating emergency winter shelters since 2013.
They also serve as a liaison, connecting those in need with the other Code Purple programs in the state.
Unlike New Castle, Kent operates their Code Purple shelters on a fixed schedule from Dec. 1 and May 1, rather than operating by the weather conditions.
They have two separate sites in Dover: one for men and another for women and children. The men’s shelter accommodates 40 to 50 individuals, while the women and children’s site can provide space for about 20.
Currently, families and couples must stay in separate shelters for the night. However, Code Purple works to make the shelters accessible by not requiring any identification to ensure anyone in need can find a safe space to stay.
“There are really no barriers to being able to enter,” said Ennio Emmanuel, the director of operations of Code Purple Kent County.
He also said the shelters work to try to accommodate pets, and especially service animals.
The shelters rely heavily on the work of volunteers, operating on a first-come, first-served basis. They are open between 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., providing dinner, breakfast, shower and laundry services.
Emmanuel said the organization spends between $50,000 and $60,000 a year on the program alone. But in addition to providing emergency shelter, they work to connect individuals to services that help them transition to permanent housing, reducing the reliance on emergency shelters.
The organization typically secures permanent housing for at least 95% of the women and children in their shelters by April and assists 50% to 70% of the men in finding housing.
This year is a pivotal time for connection, as new and established organizations collaborate amidst political and cultural shifts, Emmanuel said. He believes there’s an opportunity to inspire compassion for the unhoused and advocate for solutions like a Hope Center-style facility to support homelessness and others struggling to find adequate services.
“And so I think just bridging that gap and finding how everyone can connect more and be more involved is something that I think is going to be more evident this year than other years,” Emmanuel said. “And then using that to our advantage so that we can, throughout the year, do more work.”
Sussex County – Love Inc.
Love Inc. is a Christian-based organization that operates nationally to help churches and businesses work together to support people facing homelessness, food, and financial hardship.
Love Inc. Mid-Delmarva has run Code Purple shelters in Sussex County for over a decade, partnering with seven churches to operate from Dec. 1 to March 15.
The program offers four shelters for men and three for women, each housing up to 14 individuals.
Daily reservations can be made through their call center. The shelters prioritize reservations for guests who stayed the previous night, allowing them to secure a spot for the following evening when they check in, said Giovanni Otero, community relations director of Love Inc. Delmarva.
But priority is only granted to those who show up and the remaining spots are open to new callers
Shelters in Sussex open later than others, between 8 and 10 p.m., with checkout at 7 a.m. Otero explained the later hours accommodate volunteers, many of whom spend multiple nights a week chaperoning while balancing personal and family responsibilities.
“People have this idea or this fear of what the homeless population is like, but it’s really not as scary as people think it is. A lot of times it’s the end of the day. They’ve been out in the cold, they’re tired,” Otero said.
The program provides over 2,800 beds a year, but outside of the Code Purple program, they provide other immediate services like food pantries, laundry, and furniture. They also provide financial assistance for utility bills and even support for small things like gas.
Otero noted that while they provide temporary shelter and refer guests to additional resources, their role is not as a crisis center but as a bridge for those actively working to improve their situation.
They also offer classes on financial literacy, support groups, and mentorship programs.
But Love Inc, hopes to expand on their commitment to meeting the needs of the community during the winter months.
“Our goal is to continue to involve people, communicate and let them know that they can be also a hero to those who are in need,” said Miguel Alban Guerrero, executive director of Love Inc.
Get Involved
To learn more about Code Purple resources or volunteer opportunities, contact the organizations listed below or visit their websites.
New Castle County: Contact the Friendship House at (302) 482-2271
Kent County: Reach out to Code Purple Kent County at (800) 733-6816
Sussex County: Call the Love Inc. Connection Center at (302) 629-7050
Code Purple Locations
New Castle County
Wilmington
- Episcopal Church of Saint Andrews and Matthews (men and women)
Newark
*The location for a given night is subject to change.
- Calvary Baptist Church (Men and women)
- Newark United Methodist Church (Men and women)
- Newark United Church of Christ (Men and women)
- St Paul’s Lutheran (Men and women)
- Saint Thomas Episcopal Church (Men and women)
Middletown
- Church on Main (Men and women)
Kent County
Dover
- People’s Community Center – located in the People’s Church of Dover (Men only)
- Dream4 Foundation, part of the Maranatha Life Changing Church (Women and children only)
Sussex County
Seaford
- Grace Seaford Church (Women)
- St. Luke’s Parish Hall (Men)
Georgetown
- Georgetown Presbyterian Church (Men)
Milford
- Milford Nazarene (Women with or without children)
- Avenue United Methodist Church (Men)
Lewes
- St. Jude The Apostle Church (Men)
Rehoboth Beach
- Lutheran Church of Our Savior (Women)
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