"Delaware sees a 35% increase in homelessness, especially for families with the lowest incomes.
On behalf of the Delaware Continuum of Care, Housing Alliance Delaware conducted the 2021 Point in Time (PIT) Count on January 27, 2021. On that night, 1,579 people were experiencing homelessness in Delaware. This is a 35% increase from the 2020 PIT census of 1,165 people.
The staggering 35% increase in homelessness in Delaware is indicative of the affordable housing crisis facing our state. Housing remains out of reach for thousands of Delawareans, forcing far too many to rely on temporary shelter for far too long.
Delaware has a shortage of 20,000 affordable housing units for the lowest income households (those with incomes less than 30% Area Median Income). Nationally, Delaware has the 17th highest housing wage in the country – meaning that the household income needed to afford a market rate rental unit is the 17th highest in the nation.
The COVID-19 crisis has shed a bright light on the housing and homeless crises facing our state. Solving these problems requires significant and strategic investments in both the short term crisis, as well as the long term solution - which is to ensure that everyone in Delaware has access to housing."
If you're interested in reading the entire press release from Housing Alliance Delaware, please click the "read more" button below.
Comments