Delaware’s state housing authority will pay more than $11 million to purchase dormitories from Delaware State University and convert them into the Kent County Hope Center, a government-run homeless shelter serving one of the state’s most underserved regions.
Gov. Matt Meyer and the Delaware State Housing Authority announced the purchase on June 11, 2026, roughly one month after Spotlight Delaware reported on ongoing negotiations over the DSU property. The 132,000 square-foot building currently houses DSU students and sits about a mile from the university’s main campus. A final contract is still pending, meaning the $11 million purchase price is not yet locked in.
“We must provide Delaware’s most vulnerable with safe, stable shelter with dignity, providing real hope for a brighter tomorrow.”
Gov. Matt Meyer, press release, June 11, 2026
Kent County has no government-run emergency shelter comparable to what exists elsewhere in the state. The new facility is modeled after the New Castle County Hope Center, which advocates point to as the state’s working model for government-run emergency housing with wraparound services. Housing advocates have repeatedly flagged the absence of comparable services in Kent County.
The purchase will be funded by federal grant money Delaware received to expand rural healthcare access, not general state funds. That federal funding stream ties the shelter’s financial foundation to rural health equity priorities, not the state’s standard housing budget.
Dover, Delaware’s capital and Kent County’s largest city, has spent months in public dispute over how to respond to a growing homeless population. The Kent County Hope Center is intended to address root causes of homelessness, not just provide overnight beds.
DSU is Delaware’s second-largest higher education institution. The state’s decision to repurpose campus dormitory space reflects how scarce suitable facilities are for shelter development in the region.
What You Can Do Now
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Call Gov. Meyer’s office at (302) 744-4101 and ask his staff for a public timeline on when the final purchase contract will be signed and when the Kent County Hope Center is expected to open. A pending contract means delays are still possible.
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Contact your Kent County state legislators. Find your Delaware state representative at legis.delaware.gov/Lookup/FindMyLegislator and ask them to support operational funding for the shelter in the next state budget cycle. Buying the building is only the first cost.
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Email the Delaware State Housing Authority at [email protected] and ask for a public comment process on shelter services, staffing levels, and community input before the facility opens. Residents and advocates in Dover have not yet had a formal voice in shelter design.
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Submit public comment to Kent County government. Contact the Kent County Levy Court at (302) 744-2300 and tell commissioners you support the Kent County Hope Center and want county-level coordination with the state on wrap-around services including mental health and substance use treatment.
Sources
- Delaware officials pick DSU dorms for new Kent County homeless shelter — Delaware Spotlight (2026-06-15)
Spotlight Delaware: Delaware Officials Pick DSU Dorms for New Kent County Homeless Shelter
New Castle County: Hope Center Overview and Model
Delaware State Housing Authority: Agency Homepage and Contact Information
Spotlight Delaware: Kent County Lacks Homeless Services, Advocates Say