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A brief on the Shepherd Place.
Overview
The Shepherd Place Inc. is a family shelter in Dover Delaware was founded some twenty years ago by Father Lawrence Hunt and others who felt an acute desire to work to meet the need of those they saw in the Dover area who were homeless.
A Short History of the Shelter.
The large stately white house that has come to symbolize the shelter was built around 1920 on the Kesselring farm that was then south of Dover. It passed between various families until 1988 when the estate of the former owner transferred the house and property to the Shepherd Place for one dollar in 1988.
At the time of the transfer a group of local citizens, led by Father Hunt was working to establish a shelter in the South Dover area to serve the critical need of homeless families. With the acquisition of the old house and its large outbuilding, the problem of a place to serve those in need was solved. But now, as is so often the case, the real work began.
The Fire
Several years ago the shelter suffered damage from a major fire in it's Annex building. The building was a total loss, as seen in these pictures, and had to be rebuilt from the ground up. Fortunately all the residents and the staff member that were in the building at the time got out safely.
With the new building and a major renovation of "the old house" the Shelter has greatly improved the quality of its services while remaining true to Father Hunt's vision of caring for those in need.
Growing, Changing, Staying True To The Mission
The Shelter continues to provide housing, case management, food and other basic needs at no cost to those who need them. Those needs include clothing and other items as well as a limited amount of household supplies to those that move from there into their own home or apartment. And the vast majority of that which is provided to the clients during their state law mandated thirty day maximum stay, as well as former clients, is donated by the community.
Donations of cash and goods is very important as the Shelter itself receives no direct Federal aid. The Shepherd Place is an affiliate United Way agency.
Transitional Housing
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.
The Shelter's Clients
The shelter averages nearly 500 clients a year, of which about half are children.
The reasons they come through are as varied as the people themselves. The usual stories include domestic violence, substance abuse, and personal tragedy such as a fire. But there are also those who have been caught up in somebody else's mess and are now on the street and that kind of thing.
The case management services offered are client specific. No, they do not tell the unemployed master electrician or a school teacher who is between assignments to "go to GED class" as some other social service outfits have been known to do. The shelter's staff will tailor the plan to meet their needs. Such as the electrician mainly needed a job and a ride to it and the teacher needed to update her resume.
The Shelter is always looking for other options as well as donations to expand their efforts to help those in need.
The Shelter Executive Director Ms. Hammond, and Board President Mr. McGrath.
Our Staff
Executive Director - Lakena Hammond
Shelter Manager - Betty Thomas
Board President - Mark McGrath
Case Manager - Jessica Hazzard
Shelter Maintenance - Emory Streets
The Shepherd Place provides relief to families and individuals who are in distress or dire economic situations without regard to age, race, creed, national origin or sexual orientation. The Shepherd Place is intended to provide short term emergency shelter and will work to reduce the degree of homelessness in Kent County, Delaware.
The Shepherd Place
1362 S. Governor Ave.
Dover, DE, 19904
Phone 302-678-1909
Fax 302-678-4935
Copyright 2009, All rights reserved by The Shepherd Place Inc.
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