Homelessness

Deacon Tate urged everyone to vote this year so their voices are heard, and pressed the city and state to do more for homeless people sleeping outside as cold weather approaches. He also invited everyone to the Powell Center senior activities and upcoming senior ball.

Williams commented on a Dover church shutting down homeless services, calling it a 'legislative infectious disease' spreading between councils, and invoked Wilmington's civil rights pioneers — Hicks Anderson, Herman Holloway, Louis L. Redding and others — as the model for addressing today's quality-of-life dilemmas.

A retired New York social worker newly relocated to the area, introducing herself and asking to be involved in homeless services and mental health work in Wilmington.

A volunteer serving the unhoused for six months, he warned that six-month Hope Center stays expire in January, hotel vouchers in two to four weeks, and the displaced will be back on East Front Street with still no long-term plan.

Urged support for Darby's ordinances, called for Council to withhold votes on the mayor's items until there's a humane long-term housing plan, backed a proposed tiny-home village before funding expires, and pushed to rehab dilapidated properties for housing.

Urged the city to provide real shelter for homeless people, suggesting the former shelter on I-95 and converting shipping containers into housing.

Made partisan historical claims about Lincoln and slavery, sided with the neighborhood complainant, and personally attacked Council Member Spadola before being gaveled to order.

Introduced herself as a housing task force member from Route 9, then yielded her three minutes to an 'entity that does have words,' saying she believes the city isn't listening.

Spoke for unhoused and working families, warning that development without community input becomes displacement.

Longtime gentrification critic said the homelessness burden shouldn't fall on the East Side and recalled seeing children on the street in winter.

Retired pastor invoked the Poor People's Campaign and Micah 6:8, asking council whether it will 'do justice' for the unhoused.

Accused the mayor of scapegoating and moral failure, criticized the Democratic Party's silence, and urged rejecting the budget in favor of rental assistance and a housing trust.