Former Sheraton hotel opens as emergency homeless shelter in Delaware - 0 views
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The former Sheraton hotel off I-95 near New Castle started its second life as an emergency homeless shelter Tuesday, a day before a severe snowstorm is forecast to hit northern Delaware.
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New Castle County purchased the hotel in a November auction for $19.5 million. The county made the deal using part of the $322 million of coronavirus relief money it received from the federal government, which is set to expire at the end of the year.
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Statewide, most emergency homeless shelters have operated at about half-capacity since the pandemic began, to allow for sufficient distance between beds.
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The hotel now has capacity for about 400 people and offers 24/7 access through the county’s Code Purple operator, Friendship House.
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, government officials have used hotels and motels to house those who are either experiencing homelessness or have nowhere to distance from family members who have been exposed to COVID-19.
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In announcing the purchase in November, officials said front-line workers have found hotels to be an effective place to isolate and quarantine vulnerable populations while allowing workers to bring resources directly to a large group of people and learn more about their needs.
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On varying scales and with varied results, states and municipalities across the country have launched programs to buy hotels and motels to convert to homeless shelters for use during the pandemic and beyond.
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Long term, county officials envision the hotel serving as a place for social services. The state’s mental health and substance use services team will be at the hotel at all times.