HARRINGTON, Del. - West End Neighborhood House celebrated Monday the opening of Life Lines South, a new housing facility that is the only supportive housing program in Sussex County specifically for young adults ages 18 to 23 who are experiencing homelessness or aging out of the foster care system.
The facility, once a bed and breakfast located on a farm that is nearly 100 years old, has been converted into a 10-room residential space. Each private room includes a closet and bathroom.
"This is a dream come true not just for me, but for 10 young people who right now have no place to rest, no place to call their home," said Paul Calistro, executive director of West End Neighborhood House.
Calistro said the support of the local community was key in making the project a reality. "It’s great to have a community that wants to embrace people who need a little bit of a helping hand, so that they can reach their self-sufficiency and maximum potential," he said.
The property also includes a kitchen, conference room, kitchenette, and office spaces. Life Lines said the facility will have a full-time case manager and two part-time intervention specialists to help residents navigate their transition toward independence.
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride, U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons attended the opening ceremony.
Coons told CoastTV News this was a very exciting project "that brings together resources from the community, from banks, from individuals, from the federal government, the state government, to take this century-old home and transform it into a place of safety, of support, of community affection, for young Delawareans who are aging out of foster care."
According to West End Neighborhood House, the project took three years to complete.
"Most of the time, our youth, because they're not coming in with much on their back, we're able to provide support for them with their clothing, with food, with shoes, anything that they might need in order to stabilize them," said Stacy Shamburger, director of the Life Lines program. "Then the goal is, of course, for them to get a job if they don't already have one, finish school if they haven't already, if they need mental health support or anything like that."
Life Lines said the facility is currently half furnished. Organizers expect the first residents to move in as soon as next week.
The application process is open. For more information or to apply, click here.