NEW CASTLE - On April 17, 2025, Governor Matt Meyer signed Executive Order #8, launching the Delaware Interagency Collaborative to End Homelessness, a bold, coordinated effort to combat the rise in homelessness across the First State. The signing took place at the New Castle County HOPE Center, a model of innovative shelter and service delivery for those experiencing homelessness, championed by Governor Meyer in 2021 as New Castle County Executive. 

The overall goal of the Collaborative will be to cut homelessness in half and end youth homelessness in Delaware within the next five years. You can read the full executive order here. 

In his remarks, Governor Meyer emphasized the urgency of addressing homelessness and the lack of affordable housing, as well as the need for coordinated action. 

“We are witnessing a troubling rise in homelessness across Delaware, especially among children and families,” said Governor Meyer. “The rent is too damn high for everyone, housing costs are rising, and too many Delawareans are being priced out of stability. We must expand affordable housing options, remove barriers, and ensure that every person in our state has access to a safe and secure home.” 

Delaware State Housing Authority Director Matthew Heckles outlined the urgent need for Executive Order #8 and how the Collaborative will fill a current void in state government 

“Many Delawareans are doing great work to address homelessness, but efforts are fragmented throughout the state. We know that sheltering alone can prolong homelessness if it isn’t coupled with housing stability and wraparound services – this is, ultimately, what works,” said Director Heckles. “The Collaborative created by Governor Meyer is an opportunity for us to identify best practices, what services currently exist and where the gaps are, and then deploy our resources to best serve Delaware’s most vulnerable. It is an opportunity to think differently and get to real solutions.” 

Rep. Larry Lambert, the vice-chair of the House Housing Committee, provided closing remarks and underlined the importance of interagency collaboration.

“At a time when so many families, from Claymont to Delmar and everywhere in between, are just one emergency expense away from facing housing insecurity, addressing the housing and homelessness crisis has never been more urgent,” said Rep. Lambert. “Each agency and organization holds a piece of the puzzle, and when they work together, just like we do in our neighborhoods, they can help people not just survive, but truly move forward and contribute meaningfully to their communities.” 

Stark Statistics Driving Action

• The 2025 Point-in-Time Count recorded 1,585 people experiencing homelessness in Delaware.
• 19.3% of homeless households included children under 18.
• Children under 18 made up 27.3% of the state’s unhoused population.
• Delaware’s homeless population increased 16% from 2024 to 2025.

The Newly Established 15-Member Collaborative will:

• Advise the Governor on how to address and ultimately eliminate homelessness statewide.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of homelessness programs, policies, funding, and services.
• Recommend ways to streamline and coordinate efforts across state agencies and community organizations.
• Examine the feasibility of expanding successful models like the Hope Center to Kent and Sussex counties.
• Oversee implementation of a statewide strategy to reduce overall homelessness by 50% and end youth homelessness within five years. 

The Collaborative resurrects and expands upon the mission of the former Delaware Interagency Council on Homelessness, which ended in 2018. 

The group will be chaired by the Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority and will include cabinet secretaries, county and city leaders, and nonprofit stakeholders. All meetings will be open to the public, accessible, and inclusive. 

For more information on the Delaware Interagency Collaborative to End Homelessness or to view Executive Order #8 in full, visit governor.delaware.gov/executive-orders.