 SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- There is a new type of homeless shelter expected to come to Sussex County soon.
Pallet has forty shelter villages across the nation and they will be providing the homes for Springboard Collaborative's project.
Conley's United Methodist Church has agreed to have a village at its enclave, an area enclosed by trees. Pastor Bill Davis says there are many homeless people that have been around the church.
"There's been homeless people in the area in the woods right adjacent to our property," Davis said. "We've allowed some homeless people to park temporarily in our parking lot when they were in need."
The shelters will have many features including water, electricity, and safety features like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Also as part of the village, there will be separate buildings for bathrooms and a community center.
Springboard Collaborative Founder & Director of Operations Judson Malone says there have been concerns about security and people loitering around other homes.
"We're trying to make it very clear that this will be a secure facility," Malone said. "It's going to have overnight professional security. It's going to have trained staff during the day to check people in and out. They're obviously free to leave anytime they want. But when they do leave they have to take the transportation choices we give them."
The non-profit is also looking to build a village in Georgetown but a location has not been found yet. Town Manager Gene Dvornick says the council passed a resolution on October 27 to help with the effort.
"It allows for temporary shelter facilities on lands of non-profits and it helps expedite it so there's not a bunch of zoning hoops to go through," Dvornick said. "Information to the community, a solid work plan for the non-profit that's doing it, and really it just makes it an overall solid operation."
The collaborative will need a temporary use permit approved by Sussex County and other approvals in order to have a shelter in Lewes. Also, three public information sessions are required to take place in Georgetown after a location is solidified. The hope is to have a Georgetown shelter up and running by May.
More steps to come but the ball is rolling on keeping those without a home safe and secure.