Delaware County continues to see an increase in need for homeless services as forewarned by field experts last year and with cuts being made, at least one shelter is uncertain about its future here.
County officials say Delco is experiencing a rise in demand for homeless services. Current waitlists to get into county shelters hover around 180 single individuals and 367 families, with varying wait times.
There are counts called coordinated entry assessments, which evaluate the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of it and connect them with appropriate housing and supportive services. These assessments increased from 1,376 last year to 4,351 this year.
The coordinated entry assessment is a critical component to a community’s crisis response system and ensures that resources are allocated equitably and efficiently, prioritizing those with the greatest need.
One organization at the forefront of this issue is the Delaware County Housing Coalition.
In addition to documenting the need, they provide a network of services for those homeless or on the verge of it by working with existing organizations. They also provide a guide to dealing with homeless services at https://delcohomelessservices.org.
Last year, the coalition gave a report on homelessness in Delaware County. At that time, they identified more than 300 individuals as homeless with more than 100 families on the shelter waitlist.
During that presentation, The Foundation for Delaware County also noted that the county was one of the top in Pennsylvania with regards to evictions with 7,381 households a year, or 20 renter households a day facing eviction in Delaware County.
These challenges are compounded by restraints being felt at all levels of government, which are then passed onto the providers themselves.
Breaking Bread initially received a federal grant to purchase 107 Long Lane but $1 million-worth of renovations are needed. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
Breaking Bread crisis
One of those providers is the Breaking Bread Community Shelter in Upper Darby.
Breaking Bread had been operating a shelter in Philadelphia for 12 years when it was relocated to 107 Long Lane in 2022 at the invitation of county council to open a low-barrier shelter in Delaware County.
The shelter was able to purchase the building with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds to house 17 adults.
However, Luke Stivala, Breaking Bread’s executive director, said they didn’t know that they were responsible for needed $1 million renovations at the site.
“We wouldn’t have signed a contract,” he said. “We would’ve stayed in Philly.”
That combined with a deep cut in county funding, Stivala said Breaking Bread isn’t sure what the organization will do.
While the renovation situation is being figured out, the shelter found a temporary home across the street. However, there, the cost is $12,000 a month in rent.
Since their county funding was cut, the landlord gave them two months free rent but Stivala says options are becoming limited.
He spoke about the cut in county funding.
Luke Stivala, left, looks after the Breaking Bread shelter pets while residents are working. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
“What are we supposed to do with a 28% operating budget?” he said, explaining that the county cut their funding to $246,000. “We’re a county shelter. The township has luckily saved us.”
Stivala said even if all the salaries were eliminated, it still wouldn’t be enough.
“We’re not going to find donors to pay an operating cost of $500,000 every single year,” he said. “The rent alone is $12,000 a month.”
Despite the frustration, he said he understands the situation, especially as they own the 107 Long Lane building.
“Only two buildings met the zoning requirements and HUD said it had to be near 69th Street,” Stivala said. “We were never told we were responsible for all of the renovations. That’s $1 million. I don’t have $1 million so now, that’s in limbo.”
Residents can keep possessions at the Breaking Bread shelter. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
At 107 Long Lane, the first floor and basement that house the kitchen and case management areas are complete, but the upper two floors that contain the sleeping areas have not been finished.
“Gov. Shapiro is amazing. We did get the RACP grant but … you have to have the money first and then get reimbursed,” Stivala said. “I don’t expect the county to have $1 million either. I’m not pointing the fingers at the county either.”
Tightrope walk
In the meantime, he’s considering the options for Breaking Bread.
“We will have to close if the funding goes any lower or if we lose the township or the county’s support,” Stivala said. “We try to keep things cordial but we also have to finish the building but none of us have $1 million. We thank the county and we desperately look for other funding sources in the meantime but we need something. Right now, we’re set to close in April.”
When they were in Philadelphia, they operated from November to April.
“If we operate like that, at least they have somewhere to go most of the year and they’re not going to die of the cold,” he said.
Stivala said they are also considering going back to Philadelphia or going to a night-to-night shelter. Right now, residents are enrolled and stay from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. but with a night-to-night, it’s first come, first serve.
“We need to offer some kind of stability,” Stivala said, adding that enrolling residents allows for staff to develop relationships with them and connect them to services. “It’s the same people so I can keep working with them.”
It also allows for residents to stabilize with employment as well.
“My priority isn’t getting to Wawa on time if I’m like, ‘Oh shoot, I’ve got to get in line for the shelter,’ ” Stivala said.
He noted that staff are awake and there are cameras everywhere.
Another characteristic that makes Breaking Bread unique is it’s policy for partners, possessions and pets, all of which are welcome at the Upper Darby shelter.
“Most shelters do not take pets,” Stivala said, adding that he wasn’t judging them. “Like a Philly shelter with 200 beds. Where are you going to find room for a dog?”
He added, “Pets are part of your family and pet shelters are equally as overrun … It’s not the owner’s fault and it’s not the pet’s fault. You can’t yell at them, ‘Watch your dog all the time’ plus, ‘Go to work and pull yourself together.’ Some of my guys have three jobs.”
Stivala shared the story of Beka, one of his first clients in Delaware County. She had a husky named Belladonna. She, like the other residents at Breaking Bread, had a working plan towards stabilization. She left the shelter in August 2023 and comes back to volunteer.
“She’s still housed, working at Target,” he said.
Stivala said Breaking Bread assisted 128 people from everything from avoiding eviction to job support from October to June.
“We thank the county for everything that they’re doing,” Stivala said. “It really is trump. We’re devastated. We’re trying our best. We’re desperately calling for anybody out there who can help us. Even a $2 donation, that’s a bus pass to get them to work.”
Mkasafari Grace cuddles her kitty, Dots, at the Breaking Bread shelter where they live. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
A grateful resident
One Breaking Bread resident spoke of what the shelter meant to her.
Mkasafari Grace found herself knocking on its door with her 2-year-old kitty, Dotts, on one of the county’s Code Blue nights, when the temperature is under 32 degrees.
“Breaking Bread took me and my cat in,” Grace said. “I was out in the streets … We really need a shelter like this because there is no other animal shelter.”
As she described her cat, she beamed with joy.
“He’s just adorable,” she said. “He’s such a well-behaved cat. He’s clean. I love him so much.”
She was appreciative of what Breaking Bread offers.
“I’m very grateful for Breaking Bread,” Grace said. “The fact that we’re not on the street, especially my cat, Dots, because during the day, I’m still looking to find us a house … We need help a little bit.”
County comments
Delaware County Department of Human Services shared a response to the situation with Breaking Bread.
“Breaking Bread opened with an unusually high level of County support to help it get established, including both the purchase of the property and supplemental operating funds,” it said. “Those supplemental dollars came from retained earnings in Delaware County’s Human Services Block Grant, a funding source the state allows counties to carry over up to 5% from the prior year to meet urgent needs.
“Those retained funds were never guaranteed to be available every year. In recent years, the closure of Prospect and the loss of Crozer services created significant new costs to stabilize the local human services system, leaving no surplus to reallocate in the current budget cycle.
“Importantly, Delaware County has not cut funding to Breaking Bread or to services for people experiencing homelessness.
“Instead, the temporary supplemental dollars that helped the shelter launch are no longer available because the Human Services Block Grant is now fully committed to its core programs, including mental health, intellectual disabilities and emergency supports.
“Breaking Bread remains an important partner in the county’s efforts to support residents experiencing homelessness, and the county continues to fund the shelter at a level consistent with other long standing programs.”