Delaware
Landlord accused of targeting homeless families in Delaware | Investigation
NEW CASTLE, Delaware (WPVI) — Several homeless families say they signed leases with the help of New Castle County officials for homes that weren’t delivered.
Some used government funds to secure the housing.
The home in question is located at 7030 Woodland Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.
When the Investigative Team stopped by the property, it appeared vacant. A peek in the window also showed a home in disrepair.
The home was supposed to be a sanctuary for David Rogers, who was unhoused, and his 13-year-old daughter.
“You know, my back was to the wall because I didn’t have any other option except to pursue that one,” he said.
At the time, Rogers was staying at the New Castle County Hope Center, which provides housing and support for homelessness.
With his 90-day stay coming to an end, he told the Investigative Team his county case worker gave him contact information for Toure Henderson who claimed to run a company called Wealth of Society.
Wealth of Society claimed to be in the real estate, cars and construction business, according to a 2019 YouTube video.
“He says he’s working with the town. He’s done this before. He’s placed other families in places. Call him,” recalled Rogers.
Rogers did make that call. He said Henderson offered up that Woodland Avenue home in Philadelphia, even documenting in the lease that it would be furnished. His move-in was scheduled for January 1. Rogers scrounged up $2,200 from family and friends and signed the lease.
“The guy was sweating me so much for the money,” he added.
But the move never happened. So, Rogers went to his New Castle County caseworker for help and soon learned others had also given money to Henderson.
“So I went on, you know, all the websites,” said Shawntae Hughes. “Unfortunately, I even went on Craigslist. That’s where I met Toure.”
Hughes said she found herself homeless after a shooting at her Wilmington home last summer.
After several months at Hope Center, the state’s victim compensation fund gave her $7,200 to find a home. She signed a lease with Henderson for a November 2023 move-in date on that same Woodland Avenue property. But she said when it was time to move in, Henderson said it wasn’t ready and he bounced her from hotel to hotel for several weeks.
“January 1, he says, I’m done,” recalled Hughes. “I’m canceling your lease. You’re getting nothing else from me.”
Carrie Casey is with Hope Center. She alleges Henderson also took $6,600 in county money and didn’t deliver a home for another homeless woman.
David Rogers questions why the county referred him to Henderson without properly vetting the alleged landlord.
“We do not vet the landlords,” said Casey.
Casey said they tell all clients to vet any landlord or property themselves. She added that the Hope Center only aids in helping to locate housing for the homeless, which is often difficult because many landlords are reluctant.
The Investigative Team reached Toure Henderson by phone and he agreed to an interview. By phone, he denied any wrongdoing to our Chad Pradelli.
“Are you renting houses that are not ready to be rented out?” asked Pradelli.
“Absolutely not,” replied Henderson.
Henderson also blamed vandalism for his inability to rent the Woodland Avenue home.
“Do you have any rental licenses you could provide us?” asked Pradelli.
“I didn’t rent the property,” Henderson replied.
“What do you mean? You’re on the leases,” said Pradelli.
“How can you take deposits for properties that aren’t finished and don’t have licenses?” Pradelli pressed again.
“Because there is nowhere to rent thanks to your government,” Henderson replied.
Within a few days of our phone interview, Henderson wrote three checks totaling roughly $16,000 to New Castle County, the State of Delaware, and David Rogers.
Both Rogers and Hughes told us they did eventually find homes.
Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Delaware
Check out these softball photos from Delaware Online High School Media Day
Delaware high school players share their celebrations, dugout chatter
High school players share their celebrations and dugout chatter during DelawareOnline’s Baseball, Softball Media Day.
They don’t call them celebrations anymore.
Delaware’s high school athletes have shortened that word to “celly.”
It’s what you do to pump up your team, recognize a teammate for a big play or maybe throw off an opponent.
We recently asked players to share some of their best cellies at Delaware Online High School Baseball and Softball Media Day at Frawley Stadium, and they had some good ones.
“A big celly I like to do is I like to do a little motion to my parents in the outfield when they’re watching,” said Madison Evans of Archmere softball. “In the dugout, I like to be as loud as possible for every teammate I can, no matter who’s up to bat.”
Milford softball lets the dogs out.
“We all just bark,” the Buccaneers’ Madison Webb said. “… A loud dog. A very loud and annoying dog.”
With the Masters right around the corner, Dover catcher Ryan Perkins often borrows a motion from one of his other favorite sports to celebrate.
“I’m a big golf guy, so I hit a little pitching wedge into the green,” he said.
Then there is the Cape Henlopen softball team, which does something appropriate for a school located a mile from the Atlantic Ocean.
“We do like a little scuba thing if we hit a double,” Alivia Longo said. “We also like to eat candy in the dugout sometimes, so we’ll just say, ‘Hey, where’s the candy at?”
We also took a lot of photos at media day – hundreds and hundreds of photos of players and coaches from 54 teams around the state. Take a look through the first batch – these are focused on softball – and come back to Delaware Online over the next few days as we release more.
Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists served as the presenting sponsor of the event.
ShopRite provided a free lunch for all in attendance, and Birdie’s Links and Drinks also sponsored the media day.
Special thanks to Andrew Layman of the Riverfront Development Corporation, who allows Delaware’s top high school players to enjoy the state’s only professional baseball stadium.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on X: @BradMyersTNJ. Follow us on Instagram: @DEGameDay
Delaware
ChristianaCare and CHOP pediatric health partnership launches April 1
ChristianaCare patients will have access to CHOP’s specialty programs including surgery, cardiology, neurology, radiology, ophthalmology and genetics, officials said.
The health systems also intend to collaborate on research and educational initiatives.
Dr. Janice Nevin, president and CEO of ChristianaCare, called it a “defining moment” for pediatric care in Delaware.
“Through our affiliation with CHOP, we are combining strength with strength to deliver world class pediatric subspecialty care right here in our community,” Nevin said in a statement. “This partnership is an important step forward to ensure that every child and every family have access to the exceptional care they deserve — when and where they need it.”
ChristianaCare operates three hospitals and outpatient health offices for adults and children in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. CHOP’s network includes its flagship hospital in Philadelphia, another inpatient hospital in King of Prussia, as well as primary care offices and clinics across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Delaware
Record numbers of hunters ready for Delaware’s spring turkey season
Brixi, a young turkey hunter, with her first Delaware gobbler harvested during a recent season /Delaware DNREC photo by Lauryn Downes
Youth Hunt Expanded to Include Ages 15 and Under; DNREC
Again Reminds Hunters to Register All Harvested Turkeys Online
Delaware’s upcoming spring turkey hunting season has been extended by a day thanks to a recent regulatory change, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.
The season will run from Saturday, April 11, through Sunday, May 10, as published in the Register of Regulations, offering turkey hunters with selected permits (Segment D) an additional day of hunting. The extra Sunday of turkey hunting for Segment D hunters is noted in the online version of the 2025-26 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide but not in print versions of the guide, which were produced before the regulations were amended.
The season will open with a special two-day youth and non-ambulatory hunt Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5. In another regulatory change this year, young people under 16 years old may participate in youth hunts. Youth must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and who possesses a Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN). Accompanying adults may not hunt during the special youth-day hunt.
Regular-season turkey hunters under the age of 13 also must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and who possesses a Delaware hunting license or a License Exempt Number (LEN).
Non-ambulatory hunters who participate in the special two-day hunt must use a wheelchair for mobility.
A permit is required for anyone who hunts on public lands – the permits can only be used on the public land location and during the turkey season segment for which they have been issued. Sunday hunting for turkeys is allowed on private lands with landowner permission and on state wildlife areas. Hunting on Sunday is not permitted on state forests or the Coastal Delaware National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Bombay Hook NWR and Prime Hook NWR.
Record numbers of turkey hunters are expected to pursue Delaware gobblers this year after an all-time high of 992 turkey hunting applications were submitted for the 2026 spring turkey hunting permit lottery – with 540 permits made available to hunters for the upcoming season. For more information about hunting on state wildlife areas, wild turkey hunting in Delaware or the annual turkey hunting permit lottery, visit the de.gov/hunting webpage.
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife also reminds hunters who bag a turkey that they must now report their harvest online or by phone rather than at an in-person check station. Hunters can register their turkey after logging into their DigitalDNREC account – or may expedite recording their information by clicking the Quick Hunting Registration link at the Digital DNREC app, or by calling 855-DEL-HUNT (855-335-4868).
Additionally, Delaware turkey hunters are reminded that the Division of Fish and Wildlife is continuing to expand new turkey harvest reporting procedures started in 2025. Hunters are now required to complete their turkey harvest report card prior to moving their bird from the location where it was harvested. Further change requires all first-time turkey hunters in Delaware age 13 or older to successfully complete a DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife-approved turkey education course.
Hunters who have completed the course receive the turkey harvest report card when purchasing their license or obtaining their License Exempt Number. Any hunters who took the turkey education course but did not receive a turkey harvest report card when obtaining a license or LEN should contact the DNREC Hunter Education Office at 302-735-3600 ext. 1. For more information about turkey hunting and the registration procedures, hunters should refer to the online Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide.
About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 75,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Alyssa Impressia, alyssa.imprescia@delaware.gov
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