LEWES, Del - The former Delaware State Police Troop 7 barracks now has official approval to be used as a homeless shelter. This comes after a unanimous vote by the Commission on State Surplus Real Property Wednesday night. The goal is to officially open Monday night.
The former Rehoboth area shelter didn't open its doors on December 1st, leaving dozens of people in the Cape region without a place to sleep and stay warm. When Delaware State Police moved out of its barracks on Coastal Highway, the discussion to turn the empty building into a homeless shelter began.
"There's plenty of room to put cots in, says Representative Pete Schwartzkopf. "It's got heat. It's dry. It has good water, separated showers."
As a Retired State Police Captain, Speaker Schwartzkopf is well aware of what this facility can offer. After celebrating a birthday on Wednesday, the vote to transform this building into a shelter was a great present for him. Schwartzkopf says he and Senator Ernie Lopez were quick to complete a lengthy process in a matter of weeks. "Ernie contacted the Secretary of Social Services and the Secretary of Housing," says Representative Schwartzkopf. "Neither could provide a shelter, but they both offered financial support if we could find one and I tackled the administration side of it to try to get this building legally so we could use it as a shelter." "Code Purple Sussex is operating homeless shelters in 8 other locations, so the state felt very comfortable working with an organization that's done this successfully and that's why we were able to move so quickly into this conversation," says Senator Lopez. "This cold weather is coming today, tomorrow, over the course of the next few days." Through a temporary agreement with Love Inc., Code Purple Sussex will operate the shelter through March 15th. Executive Director Nikki Gonzalez says churches normally serve as the shelters, but that this location will help the community learn more about the work Code Purple does. "We will serve men and women," says Gonzalez. "We have different areas that we are allowed to sleep in via the fire marshal." Once it's up and running, the two-story building will open up at 7 p.m. on nights when the temperature drops below freezing. "We have some stipulations from the fire marshal that need to be completed first," says Gonzalez. "As long as that's all done we can open." There will be a work day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for volunteers to get the shelter ready to open. Those interested in volunteering Monday and anytime this winter can
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