LEWES, Del. - Tharros Village unveiled its upgraded guest resident tent program, highlighting plans for a spring launch.
The event, held at 11 a.m. at Tharros Village, featured the new tents on display. The nonprofit says each unit is priced at $1,100 and is designed to support the organization’s mission of serving adults experiencing homelessness.
Leaders said the program will officially begin this spring, with fundraising efforts aligned with “Do More 24,” a statewide 24-hour giving campaign.
Executive Director Mike Agnew says the new, more durable tents are needed to withstand weather, such as UV sun damage, wind and flooding during storms.
"The pallets that we used were good. But, not substantial enough. And they break. They're not designed for the purpose that we used them for. In this particular case, we're now stepping it up," said Agnew. "We're really moving from a pilot program to a community asset."
Each tent will have a permanent wooden, raised platform underneath, making up $600 of the cost. There will be 28 tent structures total, and Tharros Village is looking for investors to sponsor the costs.
"We're also committed to the principle because we don't want to create a magnet. We don't want to be drawing people down from other counties or other states. So it's still a tent. But now a much, much more upgraded ten than we had before," said Agnew.
Agnew says they are also working to add more outdoor security cameras and add electricity to the property.
According to Agnew, Tharros Village has a code of conduct, with zero tolerance for violence, drugs, theft or weapons.
Lewes councilperson, Khalil Saliba, also attended the unveiling in support.
"Homelessness remains a problem in coastal Delaware. It is a problem that fortunately, we have Camp Tharros and others who are willing to tackle it. And in partnership, folks like the City of Lewes and others are working with Camp Tharros to address it," said Saliba.