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Housing leaders gather in Delaware to address market challenges and solutions

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Housing leaders gather in Delaware to address market challenges and solutions


There was broad agreement on the need to increase the number of housing units in the state, but achieving that long term goal requires a set of shorter term objectives. Rachel Strucker, executive director of the Housing Alliance Delaware, shared her expertise and expressed her support for some of Rieman’s legislative proposals.

“Short term, we can take action to address land use issues, make sure that our local municipalities, counties and at the state level, that folks are educated about what can be done to relieve some of the pressure on the market, [and] make building more quick,” she said. “Make sure more units can be built that can be at the affordable level and something we can do pretty quickly is just infuse more state funding into affordable housing development, which will help bring these projects online more quickly at a lower cost.”

Even those with good-paying jobs often find their hourly wages insufficient. She stated that individuals need to earn $25 an hour to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. According to her presentation, that’s often challenging for those employed as secretaries, clerks, construction workers and education professionals, all of whom struggle to afford such housing.

As the cost of living rises, many are forced into couch surfing and sharing living space, or facing the risk of homelessness.

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“Over the last couple of years, at the same time that we’ve seen rents increase dramatically since 2020, we’re seeing homelessness also increase dramatically,” she added. “Those things are connected. They’re not an accident. They just don’t happen to be happening at the same time. And so that’s what we’re really concerned about.”

Last month, a comprehensive housing assessment got underway to generate recommendations to improve the housing situation.

“One big piece of the solution is our Delaware Housing Task Force,” said Cynthia Karnai, executive director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. That group “is bringing together the experts in the field to come up with recommendations that we can perhaps put into action in the next couple years to make sure that we’re meeting the need.”

Those recommendations are scheduled to be delivered in March 2025.



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Delaware

Where to find warming centers in Delaware during freezing temps

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Where to find warming centers in Delaware during freezing temps


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As temperatures fall, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services will open multiple warming stations to provide shelter for anyone in need starting Jan. 28.

These stations will offer Delawareans “a safe, warm space to get relief from the cold,” according to a post from the department on the social media platform Facebook issued Jan. 27. 

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Temperatures through Jan. 30 are expected to be below freezing, with another chance of snow predicted for this weekend, according to a recent National Weather Service report.

The warming centers will include facilities located in all three counties, including Wilmington, Dover and Georgetown.  

Here’s what Delawareans should know. 

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Delaware warming stations

New Castle County 

Canby Park Office, 1920 Maryland Ave., Wilmington

Churchman’s Corporate Center, 84 Christiana Road, New Castle

Claymont State Service Center, 3301 Green St., Claymont

Kent County  

James W. Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover 

Smyrna State Service Center, 200 South DuPont Blvd., Suite 101, Smyrna

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Sussex County 

Anna C. Shipley State Service Center, 350 Virginia Ave., Seaford

Laurel State Service Center, 31039 North Poplar St., Laurel

Thurman Adams State Service Center, 546 S. Bedford St. Georgetown

Delaware warming station hours

Stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 28. Stations will remain open throughout the remainder of the week, through Jan. 30.

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These centers will provide space to residents in need of “a safe, warm place to go,” according to the Facebook post. 

How to stay warm

With winter now in full force, residents are urged to take the necessary steps to stay safe as the weather turns cold. 

This includes making sure your homes “can be safely heated” and you always have crucial items on hand in case of an emergency, including non-perishable and pet foods, water and medicine.   

Delawareans are also encouraged to have a driving kit in their car this winter.   

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Items should include blankets or sleeping bags, extra warm clothing, first-aid supplies, drinking water and shelf-stable food items like protein or energy bars and trail mix.   

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.     



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Delaware Senate Democrats oppose more ICE funding after Minneapolis shootings

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Delaware Senate Democrats oppose more ICE funding after Minneapolis shootings


What are journalists missing from the state of Delaware? What would you most like WHYY News to cover? Let us know.

Delaware’s congressional delegation is calling President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown lawless and vowing to oppose more money for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The effort to vote down additional DHS funding this week comes after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents, respectively, this month in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year old mom, was killed Jan. 7, and Alex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs intensive care nurse, died at the hands of federal officers last week.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware said federal agents are wreaking havoc on all Americans, and that this is a pivotal moment for the country.

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“It is incumbent upon all of us to do whatever we can in this moment,” she said. “Delawareans, we’re known as a state of neighbors, and I hope that that sentiment stays with us and spreads across the country, because we need it now more than ever.”

The Trump administration, as well as the president himself, have blamed the victims for their deaths. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Good a “domestic terrorist.” She said Pretti was “brandishing a weapon,” although bystander video shows Pretti holding a cellphone and trying to help a woman who had been pepper sprayed. Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino said Pretti intended to “massacre law enforcement agents.”

DHS received $75 billion in the massive tax and spending bill Republicans passed this summer, known as the “one big, beautiful bill.” Senators are currently scheduled to vote Thursday on six “minibus” appropriation bills to fund the government. If those fail, a partial government shutdown could begin as soon as midnight Friday. Senate Democrats want the DHS funding bill to get a separate vote from the other bills.



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Delaware needs to take care of littering

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Delaware needs to take care of littering


A letter to the editor expresses a reader’s opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.

To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.



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