COVID relief not waning in Delaware

Programs statewide helping with housing, food, bills

By Craig Anderson
Posted 8/8/21

DOVER — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and Delawareans grapple with associated concerns, many programs to ease the stress remain in place.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already a member? Log in to continue.   Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in

COVID relief not waning in Delaware

Programs statewide helping with housing, food, bills

Posted

DOVER — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and Delawareans grapple with associated concerns, many programs to ease the stress remain in place.

Unemployment benefits remain a lifeline to pay bills, and there are sources that can mitigate food insecurities. The need for social services remains, as well.

The financial strain of paying rent and mortgages continues, though President Joe Biden’s recent reinstatement of a temporary ban on most evictions is a relief for many.

Earlier this week, Delaware’s renters received additional support when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the reinstatement of an eviction moratorium for areas hardest hit by the pandemic. Qualified renters can submit a CDC declaration to landlords to stave off evictions.

On Friday, the White House released an update, reviewing recent eviction-related meetings with landlords and tenant advocates.

“Administration officials communicated the need for landlords to accept rental assistance before pursuing evictions,” according to the White House statement. “They also received feedback on strengths and weaknesses of state and local rental assistance programs as well as ways the Administration can work with governors and mayors to expedite the release of rental assistance funds.

“In both meetings, Administration officials reiterated the commitment made by President Biden that his Administration will not rest — nor should state and local governments — until emergency rental assistance dollars reach Americans in need.”

Rental assistance is available through the Delaware Housing Assistance Program, which the state said was one of the first of its kind created nationally following COVID-19’s arrival.
After two earlier phases, the initiative was relaunched in late March 2021 and fueled by federal funding through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Help for income-eligible renters experiencing financial struggles is available here.

As of last week, the Delaware State Housing Authority said 6,166 applications had been received for DEHAP since the relaunch. Of the applications, 45% were approved or disbursed, bringing $16,431,738 in funds to applicants. Also, another 34% have been reviewed and are awaiting a response from the applicant or property manager.

The application portal will reopen Wednesday following a system upgrade. New features include utility assistance for renters, security deposit assistance and the ability to request forward rent, DSHA said.

“This new system upgrade will offer eligible renter households the additional benefit of utility assistance, as well (as) a more simplified application process, which will lead to faster, predictable processing,” DSHA Director Eugene Young said.

“However, we understand problems with the old application system caused frustration and, for some, a lack of confidence in our ability to deliver this very necessary assistance. We understand that many Delaware renters are in the midst of serious need and fear the possibility of potentially losing their homes.”

Mr. Young urged Delawareans to review the checklists currently available at decovidhousinghelp.com and be prepared Wednesday to either complete their previously submitted applications or initiate a new one if they haven’t already applied.

From April 2020 to January 2021, DSHA disbursed $14.8 million in assistance for 4,188 households through the earlier DEHAP versions.

The Associated Press reported that, while eviction proceedings continued to be filed in Delaware, only a fraction have resulted in evictions so far. From January through May, Justice of the Peace Courts issued 1,619 judgments in landlord-tenant cases, resulting in landlords requesting 725 writs of eviction. Through June, however, only 468 evictions had been completed. Even without COVID-19, most landlord-tenant judgments in Delaware do not result in evictions. In 2019, 9,124 judgments resulted in 4,389 writs requested, with 3,045 evictions.

The impact of the federal moratorium on the First State “was hard to measure,” said Dan Atkins, executive director of Community Legal Aid Society Inc.

“The number of eviction cases filed in court has been significantly reduced during this time period, but the actual number of cases where the moratorium was actually raised as a legal defense is very low,” he said.

Mr. Atkins pointed to the moratorium and DEHAP funding as key factors in drastically lessening evictions during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic, he said, Delaware saw about 18,000 filings per year.

According to Mr. Atkins, Delaware’s three civil legal aid agencies — DEHAP, Delaware Volunteer Legal Services and Legal Services Corp. of Delaware Inc. — “are working on bolstering our eviction defense system, centralizing operations, upgrading technology and hiring more advocates to assist tenants with accessing DEHAP and helping more people navigate the landlord-tenant court process.

“We are also continuing to work on a state law granting low-income renters a right to representation in eviction cases. Right now, not enough low-income tenants can get legal assistance, and that is not good for anyone — not tenants, landlords, the courts or the Delaware community at large. Legal representation matters. It reduces unnecessary evictions, levels the playing field and saves the state a lot of money in the long run.”

Food assistance

Assistance is available for those who are financially challenged and in need of food, as well.
According to the Food Bank of Delaware, multiple events are upcoming, including:

  • Aug. 13, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health food distribution at Boys & Girls Club of Greater Newark.
  • Aug. 18, Drive-thru mobile pantry at Caanan Baptist Church, New Castle.
  • Aug. 20, DSAMH food distribution at Crossroad Christian Church, Dover.
  • Aug. 25, Drive-thru food distribution at Glasgow High School, Newark.
  • Aug. 26, Drive-thru mobile pantry at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, Wilmington.

All events begin at 11 a.m.

Emergency food is available to the public through FBD’s Healthy Pantry Centers in Milford and Newark, as well. Participants may visit the pantry every 14 days.

The pantry at 1040 Mattlind Way in Milford is open from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. The pantry is closed from 12:30 to 1 p.m. for restocking. The phone number is 424-3301.

The pantry at 222 Lake Drive in Newark is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each third Thursday. The phone number is 292-1305.

A Delaware driver’s license or state identification is required. If the address on an ID does not match your current living address, bring a utility or other bill or your leasing agreement.

To find assistance closer to your home, dial 211.

Donated food can be dropped off at FBD warehouses in Newark and Milford between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

According to the Food Bank, urgently needed items include hot and cold cereals, peanut butter, canned fruits, canned meats (8 ounces), shelf-stable milk, canned vegetables and spaghetti sauce.

FBD can’t accept hard candy, lollipops, soda in cans and bottles, chocolate bars or pieces, gum or soft candy, such as marshmallows, caramels, taffy, licorice and gummy items.

More information is available here or email foodbank@fbd.org.

Regarding rising trends related to COVID-19, FBD spokesperson Kim Turner said, “We are concerned that cases are climbing. We don’t know what the fall/winter will hold in terms of demands for our services, but we are ready to meet the demand.

“Our community has been incredibly generous, so we are well-positioned to meet any increase in demand that could result from any new restrictions.”

According to Ms. Turner, “Demand has certainly decreased since the height of the pandemic.”

At its peak, FBD was serving around 2,200 households statewide. Ms. Turner said 610 households were served in Sussex County last month, 732 in Kent County and 577 in New Castle. While large-scale distributions continue to be held monthly, she said there will be no distribution in August.

From July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, FBD distributed 15.5 million pounds of food. Prior to the pandemic over the same length of time, Ms. Turner said 8 million to 10 million pounds of food was distributed.

“(Before) the pandemic, there were an estimated 105,000 food-insecure Delawareans,” she said. “At the height of the pandemic, Feeding America estimates that more than 140,000 Delawareans experienced food insecurity.

“Now in recovery, we estimate that there will be more than 114,000 food-insecure Delawareans in 2021.”

FBD has purchased 11.5 acres of land in Milford to build a new warehouse of approximately 60,000 square feet, she added.

“Prior to the pandemic, we were outgrowing the space, but COVID has really demonstrated that additional space is urgently needed,” she said.

Since the pandemic arrived, FBD has distributed more than 22 million pounds of food.

DHSS services

Help is available from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, as well.

Cabinet Secretary Molly Magarik said, “As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Delaware — and across the country — because of the contagious and virulent delta variant, we know how important the pandemic-related benefits and services that individuals and families receive through the (DHSS) are to maintaining a sense of stability in uncertain times.”

Ms. Magarik said DHSS encouraged anyone who is struggling to contact Delaware 211 or here.

Some of the social services-related benefits that have been expanded or created during the COVID-19 pandemic include:

  • Expanded emergency food benefits — Funded by the federal government, these pandemic-related benefits increase the monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allotment for eligible individuals and families. Visit here or call 866-843-7212.
  • Delaware Hope Line — During the pandemic, the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health established the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line to support individuals with mental health and substance use disorder-related concerns. Trained counselors are available at 833-9-HOPEDE or here.
  • Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace — The federal government provided for a special enrollment period and increased financial assistance for people who lost their health insurance coverage because of COVID-19. The deadline to enroll is Aug. 15. For more information, call 678-2205. Assistance is also available here.
  • Emergency housing benefits: The Division of State Service Centers offers emergency housing benefits for those eligible. Contact 866-843-7212 or any State Service Center.
  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program: Administered in Delaware by DHSS, LIHEAP is continuing to accept pandemic-related crisis applications for utility arrearages. Households that need help in meeting home energy costs and are struggling with past-due utility bills should contact Catholic Charities for the crisis benefit. Call 674-1782 in Kent County, 654-9295 in New Castle County and 856-6310 in Sussex County.
Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X