Number of transitional beds for Delaware youth leaving foster care more than doubled during pandemic

The one designated transitional housing supplier for Delaware youth leaving foster care has greater than doubled its out there mattress house, however demand stays excessive.

The Elizabeth Murphey Faculty in Dover not too long ago added an eleventh mattress — a small quantity when in comparison with the greater than 500 Delaware kids in foster care, however a considerable enhance from the 4 beds out there earlier than the pandemic. Faculty Director Michael Kopp says a surge in demand for transitional housing through the pandemic was partially an unintended consequence of the eviction moratorium.

“What occurred through the pandemic was that landlords weren’t allowed to place folks out of housing,” he mentioned. “In order that they needed to make selections about not even bringing them in. So the children leaving foster care who had no credit score historical past – landlords wouldn’t take an opportunity on them.”

Going through rising demand for transitional housing, the Murphy Faculty started in search of grant funding to accumulate homes in Dover — together with one close to its unique campus north of downtown — to transform into transitional housing.

Division of Household Companies Director Trenee Parker says whereas the Murphey Faculty is the state’s solely designated transitional housing for younger folks leaving foster care, her company can provide different help, particularly rental help vouchers.

“A few of our youth are ready to stick with us till they full their schooling in order that they don’t depart the normal foster care system once they flip 18,” she mentioned. “We offer housing for them, although they’re adults.”

However Parker notes the scarcity of landlords prepared to just accept vouchers introduced challenges when making an attempt to accommodate these leaving foster care.”

The Murphy Faculty can also be one in all 4 services statewide taking kids in DFS custody that aren’t positioned with foster households. A facility in Milford solely takes women, Wilmington has a limited-stay emergency shelter, and a Seaford heart homes kids with critical behavioral well being wants.

Whereas DFS is obligated to aim to reunite kids with their households, Kopp says the scarcity of long-term services just like the Murphy Faculty implies that kids from New Citadel and Sussex Counties are typically positioned in Dover. “It’s very troublesome to assert that you just’re making an attempt to reunify for those who’re sending the child to a unique county, the place it’s more durable to satisfy and do remedy collectively,” he mentioned, “however due to want, it occurs.”

With winter approaching, the variety of instances reported to DFS is rising. In line with Kopp, the Murphy Faculty has taken in 4 kids from New Citadel County within the final two days alone.