Local advocate proposes safe parking area for car dwellers
GEORGETOWN, Del. – “The ultimate voiceless person is a person living in their car is what I’m starting to learn because they won’t even reach out to services,” said Jim Martin, a local advocate.
“They’re so afraid of being found out,” said Martin.
Martin an advocate for the homeless is asking Sussex County officials to build a parking and sleeping area for car dwellers at a county-owned property for the summer.
“I’m glad Jim is doing the best he can with city council and everyone trying to break through the red tape so we can have a better life,” said Patricia Cookson, a car dweller.
“We don’t want to stay like this,” said Cookson.
Martin said people like Patricia Cookson have been forced to live in their car because their income is simply not enough to pay for rent. That is why he is asking for 25 parking spaces to help people who are employed in the community get back on their feet.
“If I see people that are trying to improve their situation then that’s the folks that we want to get behind and try to invest in so they can eventually get to an affordable place to live,” said Martin.
Martin said he is proposing to build a parking lot area for car dwellers at a parcel of land in Georgetown near KFC and the Microtell Inn & Suites Hotel.
“The only thing I’m asking the county for is to use their property for six months and that’s it,” said Martin, “It’s a temporary solution and everything else would be handled by our team.”
Martin said the parking lot would be available for car dwellers between the months of May and November and that he would be responsible for things like trash removal and security.
Cookson said the homeless already have enough on their minds so having something like this would be a big help.
“A lot of times the gas my god for a four cylinder car you cannot believe how much gas I can actually go through especially in the winter time for heat for me and her and now for the summer it will be the A/C,” said Cookson.
Cookson said that with people like Martin advocating for the homeless the future for hundreds will likely change for the better.
Martin added he has teamed up with Dr. Michelle Williams, a real estate developer whose expertise includes public administration and community development. Martin said they both recently submitted a predevelopment request form at Georgetown Town Hall to get more support from town officials.
