40 Pallet homes for homeless built in Georgetown, set to open in November

GEORGETOWN, DE – What used to be a field in Georgetown is now a community, 40 pallet houses strong, hoping to give the homeless in the area a chance to get warm, get help and get ahead.

“These people are just looking for somebody to give them a hand up and that’s what we are trying to do here,” said Georgetown Mayor Bill West.

The project, spearheaded by Springboard Collective is aimed at creating temporary housing complete with heat, HVAC, ac, and private spaces for the homeless in the area, eliminating the fear that many feel when living in the street, or in Georgetown’s tent city.

The village will feature communal bathrooms, kitchen mailboxes, and a front office for the village.

“This is an interim step, this is not a permanent home, but we will have communal kitchen, bathrooms private space where they are free to come and go and look for a job and not worry about stuff being stolen,” said Judson Malone of the Springboard Collective, adding ” Now they don’t have to worry about possessions when they leave or themselves being attacked at night or having critters come into their tent.”

He says the pallet village will also help that inside by giving them an address where documents, medications, and services can reach them, as well as services that will be run by partners like First State Community Action to get them help.

“it is their plan, not ours, but they need to have the plan to get help with any issues, to get to work, and eventually have affordable housing they can use that is the next step, and every three months we will check in on progress,” Malone said.

“This is a win-win for the town, as these folks need this help and these services can be concentrated and get the help to those in one place,” West said.

Malone tells us the shelter will have a strict zero-use policy for drugs, but that rehab options and medical services will be available for those suffering from withdrawal.

He tells us despite that guideline, the town will actually be more desirable for the homeless due to amenities not being available at shelters.

“We have the private spaces, lockable doors, we can have couples share a space and dogs are welcome,” Malone said.

Homeless in Georgetown say, they hope they can soon apply for housing options, as many say conditions on the street are putting their lives in danger.

“It’s hard for people out in the cold they get sick in a tent they pass out or die in a tent one of my best friends passed away in a tent cold, in the woods,” said potential applicant Anthony.

Malone tells 47ABC they expect the village to open in late November, and expect those who live there to be able to reach more permanent housing in 6-18 months.