The Shepherd Place

THE SHEPHERD PLACE IS AN EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER THAT BEGAN OPERATION IN JANUARY OF 1990. WE ARE INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (NOVEMBER, 1988) AND HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN OUR PRESENT LOCATION SINCE THAT TIME. WE HAVE ONLY THE ONE LOCATION AND PROVIDE ALL OUR SERVICES FROM 1362 SOUTH GOVERNORS AVENUE IN DOVER, DELAWARE. DESPITE OUR ADDRESS, WE ARE NOT LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF DOVER BUT, RATHER, IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF KENT COUNTY.

THE SHELTER IS STAFFED 24/7 AND HAS DEDICATED PHONE & FAX LINES AS WELL AS INTERNET ACCESS. THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR IS A FULL TIME, COMPENSATED POSITION AS IS THE SHELTER MANAGER AND CASE MANAGER.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE PRIMARILY FROM DOVER AND KENT COUNTY DELAWARE (80%), HOWEVER, WE FREQUENTLY SERVE HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FROM SUSSEX AND NEW CASTLE COUNTIES, (18%), AND OCCASIONALLY, OUT OF STATE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, (2%).

APPROXIMATELY 50% OF OUR REFERRALS COME FROM THE DELAWARE STATE SERVICE CENTERS, THE REMAINDER COMING FROM CHURCHES, OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND SELF-REFERRALS.

Transitional Housing is available for those clients that qualify, however, there is a waiting list for the limited space in the program. Those clients who can work are encouraged and assisted with finding employment, those who cannot receive whatever assistance they need with getting the ongoing support they need. They also receive help finding permanent housing, or if needed, space in another shelter when their Thirty Day stay at the Shepherd Place is over. That step between being in a shelter and being in a more permanent leased space that will be 'theirs'. And, as with the shelter itself, it is provided at no charge. The money the client earns is saved for things like future down payments and deposits on utility service. The list of restrictions on who is eligible for the place is long. They must be employed in a stable long-term job, they must not have outstanding legal trouble, they must not have a history of substance abuse or have successfully completed treatment and remain clean, the family must be stable and school age children must be enrolled in school, and .... and so on. Yes the restrictions are tight, but the need is great, and the house had a waiting list before it was more than a gleam in the Shelter Director's eye.