Introduced in May 2025, the Delaware House of Representatives’ Housing Committee considered House Bill 135 on April 21. According to its primary sponsor, Rep. Sophie Phillips, D-Bear, the measure aims to prohibit state and local governments from fining homeless individuals if they have nowhere to go.
- Rep. Phillips, does this mean that the money from the federal government sent to the state to aid in the cause is now going to be distributed to counties and municipalities? The money is earmarked for it. The state has always said that, because we are such a small state, they will handle it. So, is that going to change under your proposal? — Kay Marie
- Federal funds get distributed to both local and state governments. For example, the city of Dover can apply for Emergency Solutions Grants Program funding and Community Development Block Grants to help with housing instability. The Continuum of Care Program does this, too. Unfortunately, federal dollars are limited in many ways nowadays, including a movement away from the Housing First model, which helps get people clean and stable. We need the state to put up more funds, too. — Shyanne Miller
- It seems the high percentage is the result of a drug problem. Fix that. Then, help the people who want to get clean. Our tax money shouldn’t be used to facilitate drug use when they are not willing to help themselves. — Jeff Grzeszczak
- Democrats are hard at work giving away the money of the working class. It will certainly create good-paying state jobs, though, so it’s sort of a win-win, getting tax money funneled twice! I’m all for helping people who need the help, but if they don’t help themselves, it’s pointless. — Mike Bodine
- It’s the high taxes that the state has that are causing a lot of homelessness. — Howard Brobst
- Another move like California, huh?! With more state workers to service the homeless population, it’ll never get better because people would then lose their jobs! Homeless individuals need to be fined for panhandling at lights and in traffic. It’s not safe. Someone is going to get killed. — Richard Kerchevall
