Sunshine House provides homeless community a second chance, tools for a new life

SEAFORD, Del.- “We do not have enough shelter beds in Sussex County,” Gonzalez said.

Nikki Gonzalez, Founder of the non-profit Redemption City, is on a mission to change that and provide the gift of a second chance with opening the Sunshine House in Seaford.

“We have to establish places where people can go to lay their head, to rest, and to work on the issues that are going to enable them to have a better life,” Gonzalez said.

The 10-bed facility is an all-male sober shelter. Participants can enter the shelter after successfully completing rehab or a detox treatment.

They’ll create personal goals, gain job skills, and other tools they’ll need for their journey to recovery. “Someone might need a 30-day stay and another person might need a 6 month stay. So we want the end result to be complete independence,” Gonzalez said.

Housing Alliance Delaware says the Sunshine House is fulfilling a major need in the area as families at risk of homelessness continues to become a growing concern. “In Sussex county I think there’s less than 30 shelter beds year round. Beds, for people experiencing homelessness whether they’re adults or children,” Executive Director of Housing Alliance Delaware Rachael Stucker said.

“It’s no where near what the need is for shelter or for decent housing.”

Nikki tells me a bed isn’t the only thing these men will get. She hopes put a little sunshine in their futures. “A bed is great, but there needs to be more for the recidivism and the revolving doors to stop. You’ve got to equip people and that’s what we’re hoping to change,” Gonzalez said.

Pandemic relief funding has helped to house many families in the state in hotels and motels and it’s set to end in August. Housing Alliance Delaware says that will leave more than 400 families without housing.

The Sunshine House is currently full but accepting applicants for its wait list.

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