Firefly displacing Dover’s homeless community?

With Firefly completely sold out, hotels and motels in the area that provide temporary housing are booked. This has left many members of the homeless community with no place to go.

Lisa Davis says, “We have a place. Let’s do what we can to help those that don’t have a place to be this weekend.”

Davis is the executive director of a non-profit that over sees the Milford Community Center. They’re not a shelter, but do open their doors during a “Code Purple.” That’s when it’s gets too cold for people to stay outside. However, this week they’re making an exception. They will be housing about fifty people from Thursday night until Monday morning.

The community center has partnered with Rebecca Martin, the director of Code Purple Kent County.

She noticed a housing crisis when families in programs for temporary housing in hotels and motels in Dover had nowhere to turn during a recent NASCAR race. Establishments either raised their rates or were at capacity.

Martin continues, “It’s great that we have the venue here for NASCAR and Firefly. We need the income in our area. However at the same time, our people that are in need are displaced. We need to help them.”

Martin has helped organize a temporary solution for the weekend of the Firefly Music Festival with the help of several organizations.

Latricia Thomas, a volunteer with the Foundation for a Better Tomorrow says, “We have formed an informal coalition with the state.”

DART has agreed to provide transportation. Thursday night they’ll be picking up those displaced from the Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover and will be taking them to the community center in Milford. If the center reaches capacity, the Smyrna Armory has volunteered to take the men. Again, this is only temporary. With the summer just beginning, more events could cause similar problems for the homeless community.

Lashandra Gilmore, another volunteer with the Foundation for a Better Tomorrow continues, “Hopefully with the team behind us, everyone will you know be able to plan a little bit better.”

We’re told the last thing anyone wants is someone without a roof over their head.

Official tell us centers are always taking donations. For this weekend, they’re asking for prepared meals and bottled water. They’re also always accepting monetary donations.

If you know someone who may be in need of temporary housing as a result of the upcoming festivities in the Dover area please contact any one the following:

Latricia Thomas: 302-272-1704

Lashanda Gilmore: 302-272-2818

Code Purple: 1-800-733-6818

Foundation for a Better Tomorrow: 302-674-1397