Speak Up: Small shelters could help foster big dreams for the homeless

They are not quite tiny homes, and they are far from being tents. The pallet shelters that sales representative Ben Simons and his crew put together from several scattered pieces in around 40 minutes at Maranatha Life Changing Church at 1207 E. Division St. are meant to serve as steppingstones into more permanent housing for the homeless. Code Purple Kent County Executive Director Ennio Emmanuel found out about the pallet shelters mission back when some individuals in his shelter were infected with COVID-19. Mr. Emmanuel said he believes, with so many counties and municipalities getting extra funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, now is the perfect time for central Delaware to find places for the 300 or so homeless people in and around Dover to stay.

• I went to go take a look. They’re not bad at all. They can have an AC unit, heat, and there are outlets. These even have bigger shelter options for families or those with pets. — Darious Deryous Wilson

• Is this property zoned for these types of buildings? Did you get the correct permits to build these structures? Were they inspected by the inspections department and the fire marshal? Did you pay your fees to the city/county? Did you get a certificate of occupancy, etc.? If not, you may not have insurance. P.S. If it’s an emergency for you, it’s an emergency for everyone in the county, as well. — Will Garfinkel

• These homes are taxed, right? — Beth Gallagher