Parts shortage pushes back Georgetown Pallet Home Village opening to mid-December

GEORGETOWN, DE- A delay in the installation of electrical wiring for 40 pallet homes in Georgetown has delayed the project that was set to open by Thanksgiving, leaving the 40 people set to move in, still out in the cold.

“Hang in we are doing the best we can we will try to open it as quickly as possible,” said Community Outreach Coordinator for Springboard Collective Trish Hall.

The homes were designed to have heat, ac, and power for plug-in devices, but those amenities caused a delay, as they could not open the homes before the wiring was complete.

“We were waiting on some electric parts panels and wiring and electricity for each cabin,” Hall said adding “we intend to be finished with the electrical work on December 5th and the grading of the soil will be done within a week after that with an opening in mid-December.”

But as temperatures drop, delays have a cost for the people living without shelter.
Georgetown mayor Bill West says they’ve had to mobilize resources to help those slated to have already moved into the homes.

“One of the older ladies had developed a sickness and her oxygen dropped we put her in a motel this morning to try and get her stable and we got her case worker to get her to the doctor to get her medication,” he said.

Mayor West tells 47ABC despite that delay, he believes the homes will be a genuine improvement for those who need them.

“We are hearing that by the end of this month, we will be ready to take in occupants and that’s a great feeling to know this holiday season these folks will have a farm place to be in,” he said.

The homes currently have 40 people screened and approved for move-in with another 40 on the waitlist.

West says within 18 months they are hoping that a large number of units will be turned over with residents able to maintain work and find permanent shelter.