Delaware

NLIHC has estimated a need for no less than $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and broke down the need and cost for each state (download Excel spreadsheet). 

In response to COVID-19 and its economic fallout, many cities and states are creating or expanding rental assistance programs to support individuals and families impacted by the pandemic, and NLIHC is tracking in-depth information on these programs.  

You can use the interactive map and searchable database to find state and local emergency rental assistance programs near you. You can also see the latest news on rental assistance programs through the state-by-state news tracker. Note that this is not a comprehensive list of all rental assistance programs as we continue to update frequently. If you are aware of a program not included in our database, please contact [email protected]. 

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Programs

Across the country, homeless service providers are struggling to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to follow public health guidelines and help ensure people’s safety, some shelters are being forced to reduce services, restrict admittance, or close entirely. The loss of these critical resources puts people experiencing homelessness at even higher risk of illness. Check NLIHC's cumulative list of shelter closings.

Below is a list of shelters that have had to majorly alter services or completely close:

No information at this time.

The Delaware State Housing Authority announced on April 21 that eligible renters can now receive up to 18 months of rental and utility assistance through the Delaware Housing Assistance Program. Previously, the program provided 15 months of assistance. Applicants who have already met the prior 15-month limit can reapply for the additional three months of assistance via an online portal.

Updated on May 23, 2022

The Delaware Housing Authority says it is working to streamline the state’s emergency rental assistance (ERA) program to speed the distribution of aid as evictions rise across the state.

Updated on December 13, 2021

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) launched a Community Navigation Program, which will make up to $5 million in Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program funding available to ERA-eligible households to maintain or obtain housing. Of these funds, $1 million will support rapid rehousing, $1 million for homelessness diversion, and $3 million for homelessness prevention and intervention. DSHA will host a public information session about the Community Navigation Program on Monday, November 8 at 1 pm ET.

Updated on November 8, 2021

After being temporarily offline for a software system update, the Delaware Housing Assistance Program (DEHAP) application portal reopened on Thursday, August 12. More information on the update is available here. There are also FAQs about the update and information about what landlords and tenants can do to get ready for the new portal. 
August 30, 2021

The Delaware State Housing Authority is working with a group of community partners who can help tenants submit applications for the Delaware Housing Assistance Program. A list of partners is available on the Application Assistance page.

June 22, 2021

Delaware relaunched the Delaware Housing Assistance Program (DEHAP) after receiving $200 million in federal rent and utility assistance funds. The Delaware State Housing Authority says that 95% of people who have received DEHAP funds are still in their homes, even though 70% of those individuals were facing eviction.

April 17, 2021

Renters and landlords are encouraged to sign up for email updates from the Delaware State Housing Authority to be notified when the application portal for the Delaware Housing Assistance Program is live. 

March 08, 2021

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is working to reopen the Delaware Housing Assistance Program (DEHAP), which will receive about $200 million in federal rental assistance funds. DSHA is developing a web portal for applicants and working to ensure they have the capacity to review and process payments to landlords.

March 01, 2021

The New Castle County Council voted unanimously on October 26 to authorize the county to bid on a Sheraton hotel for sale by auction. The county is seeking to use a portion of the $322.8 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars it received to purchase the 192-room hotel to use as an emergency shelter and temporary housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. As many as 634 families are currently housed in a dozen motels in the county while nearly 200 individuals are in emergency shelters. 

November 4, 2020

Governor John Carney and the Delaware State Housing Authority announced the reopening of the Delaware Housing Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance for renters, and announced that emergency mortgage assistance is now available for homeowners who have missed payments. Delaware and New Castle County will contribute a combined $40 million in CARES Act funding to the rental and mortgage assistance programs. 

August 19, 2020.

An opinion piece in Delaware Online makes the case that civil legal aid should be part of Delaware’s front-line response to preventing eviction, domestic violence, and poverty during the public health and economic crises, citing that legal representation for tenants reduces homelessness.

June 22, 2020.

The Delaware Does More COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund released $163,000 in community investments to help 11 local organizations across the state provide services for low-income residents and people experiencing homelessness.

The Delaware State Housing Authority is offering eligible households up to $1,500 in direct housing assistance payments through the Delaware Housing Assistance Program. Applications are available here.

Homeless shelter providers in Wilmington are urging officials to provide additional assistance to the area’s homeless shelters and service providers.

No information at this time.

Federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums are rapidly expiring and the CARES Act supplemental unemployment benefits will end soon; at that time, millions of low-income renters will be at risk of losing their homes. The NLIHC estimates at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance is needed to keep low-income renters stably housed during and after the pandemic. This tracker links to news reports of the growing evictions crisis in various cities and states. Check NLIHC's cumulative list of eviction updates.

New eviction fillings can commence as of July 1, but the governor has ordered all eviction proceedings be stayed so that each case can be individually reviewed to determine how to best proceed, with emphasis on identifying sources of rental assistance and diversion into an Alternative Dispute Resolution process. Law enforcement officials have been asked to continue to refrain from enforcing evictions. Evictions can still be carried out in cases of emergency or "in the interest of justice." 

August 1

In the third week of July, 1 in 5 adults in Delaware reported they had missed their previous housing payment or had little confidence they would make their next one on time, according to a weekly survey conducted by the Census. In the same survey, 33,321 renters reported they had not paid their previous rental payment. 

July 29

According to a weekly survey by the Census, 23% of adults in the state either missed their last housing payment or have little/no confidence of being able to make next month’s housing payment.

July 16