Delaware
A small rural town and a growing crisis: Why homelessness centers in Georgetown
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Georgetown has increasingly become a focal point for homelessness in southern Delaware, particularly within Sussex County’s rural landscape. The town’s role as the county seat, and the concentration of services that come with it, has shaped why people experiencing homelessness are more visible there than in surrounding municipalities.
A recent study surveying 247 people between October 2024 and May 2025 estimates that between 1% to 2% of Georgetown’s population may be experiencing homelessness, a rate significantly higher than that of similarly sized towns. The data was collected through sustained street outreach efforts largely in Georgetown and minimal additional outreach in the coastal and western side of Sussex County.
A glimpse into the data
Stephen Metraux, a professor of public policy at the University of Delaware who analyzed the survey data, said the findings confirm what service providers have long observed on the ground.
“Georgetown’s really gotten slammed with homelessness, as homelessness in Sussex has increased,” he said. “Georgetown did become kind of a hub, kind of more of a regional hub than a magnet.”
While more than 200 people initially engaged with the survey, many opted out before completing it, making the final dataset smaller than the total number of people contacted. Even so, Metraux said the results were striking, particularly looking at Georgetown’s population.
“Based on that data, we’ve got conservatively between 100 and 200 people on the streets at a given time in that survey database,” he said. “Of course, that survey database misses people. When you figure in people that she’s missed, you’re talking about 200 or 300 people, which is kind of the estimate that people are using for homelessness in Georgetown,” he added.
With Georgetown’s population at about 8,098 people as of 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Metraux said that estimate places homelessness at roughly 2%, a figure that stands out even when compared to major cities.
“And you do a comparison with the city of Philadelphia or any like larger cities, and a comparable percentage there is less than 1%,” he said. “You have a small town that’s slammed by homelessness right now and that was surprising.”
The data also shows that people experiencing homelessness in Georgetown are often long term. More than half of respondents reported being unhoused for over a year, a trend Metraux said is closely tied to a lack of housing availability and affordability.
“In Sussex, you have most of the housing construction at the higher end, you have zoning that makes it much harder to build a kind of multifamily housing,” he said. “Even lower-end housing, wages haven’t kept up with rising rents.”
An aging unhoused population is another growing concern. About 16% of respondents reported being homeless for more than 10 years, a pattern Metraux said reflects broader national trends.
“That’s not just in Delaware, but that’s nationwide,” he said. “A lot of them are receiving disability benefits, but those benefits are not enough to have sustainable housing unless you have some kind of a housing subsidy along with that.”
Looking for a new furry friend? Over 1,000 pets will be waiting to meet you at Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Mega Adoption Event in Delaware.
The event will take place Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center at the University of Delaware in Newark.
Organizers said dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens from BVSPCA and participating partner organizations will be available throughout the event for $35 in adoption fees.
All pets available at the two-day event will be spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations.
The event is supported by Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit organization whose goal is to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and make the country no-kill. No-kill is defined by a 90% save rate for animals entering a shelter.
“Our Megas are such inspiring events, providing a lifeline to so many pets who have lost everything. Seeing these dogs and cats chosen by families eager to give them a new life full of love is what it’s all about,” BVSPCA CEO Adam Lamb said in a news release. “As the largest adoption event in the country, our goal with the size and format is to save even more lives by reaching folks who might not otherwise consider coming to a shelter to adopt.”
“We’re proud to support Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Mega Adoption Event and the incredible impact it has on pets and the community,” said Aurora Velazquez, East Regional Director, Best Friends Animal Society. “Events like this bring people together around the shared goal of helping more dogs and cats find loving homes.”
Organizers said a limited number of early-access fast passes will be available for purchase. If you are a fast pass holder, you will receive entry one hour before general admission on Saturday, June 20.
If you are considering adopting a new pet, please bring a leash and collar for dog adoptions, a carrier for cat adoptions, a valid ID, and the adoption fee.
This event will celebrate the BVSPCA’s 22nd Mega Adoption. Over the years, more than 22,000 pets have been adopted into loving homes.
More details and volunteer opportunities are available at megaadopt.com.
Dewey Beach restaurants and bars on gloomy Memorial Day weekend
As they say at The Starboard, “When it rains, we pour.”
No, Taylor Swift was not in Dewey Beach this weekend.
However, there was a little truth to the rumors that pervaded social media.
Travis and Jason Kelce were invited to a wedding in Dewey this weekend, Starboard owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery said.
“The groom played football with them at Cincinnati and is close with those boys,” Montgomery said.
The Starboard is one of Dewey’s most iconic bars and restaurants and has offshoots across town, such as Starboard RAW and Starboard Sauced.
Montgomery said he did close Starboard RAW for the wedding party May 29, but the professional football-playing brothers and Travis Kelce’s ultra-famous fiancée, Taylor Swift, did not end up attending the wedding.
Reach Shannon Marvel McNaught at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.
MUNCIE, Ind. — Indiana State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place in Muncie early Sunday morning.
According to ISP, around 12:13 a.m., officers from multiple agencies were called to an event in the area of Bunch Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on reports of a person shot.
A Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived at the scene and approached on foot. While the deputy was walking, he made an encounter with a vehicle and discharged his sidearm at the vehicle.
The circumstances and reason behind why the deputy fired his weapon remain under investigation.
The gunfire struck the vehicle, but no one was injured during the course of the incident.
The ISP Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the deputy’s use of force. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be used by the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
The investigation remains active and ongoing; no additional information is available at the time of this article’s publication.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
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