Springboard executive updates Georgetown council

GEORGETOWN — A facility that provides transitional housing is back on firm financial ground, with several new initiatives and a name change, its leader says.

Launched in January 2023 as “Springboard Collaborative Pallet Shelter Village,” the 40-cabin site will be known as “Springboard Delaware” starting Oct. 4, to avoid confusion with a Philadelphia nonprofit.

Executive director Judson Malone provided an update about the location’s Resident Steward Program and its funding during a Sept. 23 mayor and Town Council meeting.

He said the fiscal support Springboard had anticipated did not pan out.

“We had a fairly significant grant that we depended on. (It) wasn’t a given, but because it was a second round of funding, and we had done an excellent job of achieving our goals, we expected to get news of that funding,” he said, not disclosing the amount of the grant. “Part of the reason it didn’t happen was (because) our long-term strategic plan (involved) state funding.”

Near the end of the Delaware General Assembly session in June, a bill was introduced describing Springboard’s operation “as a low barrier navigation center,” which would have garnered the shelter an undisclosed amount of funding. But, Mr. Malone said, there were a lot of unanswered questions and not enough time left in the session to answer them.

“It never made it out of committee,” he continued. “Our plan going forward is to really move to get the state to recognize this type of operation, not only in Georgetown, but to replicate the program in other towns.”

Ultimately, financial support was secured, solving Springboard’s financial concern, Mr. Malone said. He did not provide specifics about where the monies came from or how much was provided but noted that details could be forthcoming.

Springboard’s strategy is to also seek contributions via online and email campaigns, as well as fundraising events, he continued.

Initially, the town of Georgetown provided $500,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act funding for the purchase of the cabins, located on a Kimmey Street property owned by First State Community Action Agency.

But, Mr. Malone noted, Springboard did not ask for any money from the town during its financial strain.

Resident Steward Program

The executive director went on to explain that professional security has been ditched at the facility, which is now monitored through its Resident Steward Program, enlisting responsible shelter clients who have committed to be drug-free with testing.

“We substantially reduced our overheads by eliminating the site coordinator position and moving to a Resident Steward Program, which is basically going to the residents themselves,” Mr. Malone said. “We’re having them perform the duties of former site coordinators.”

These staffers do receive a stipend for their duties.

In response, Councilman Penuel Barrett noted that, when Town Council approved this project, one of the stipulations was that the main entrance would be “monitored by staff during the day and professional security overnight.”

Mr. Malone said “professional security was a disaster” but did not elaborate.

By the numbers

Mr. Malone supplied the following data for 2024 so far:

• The average stay is five months.
• 80 people have been served.
• 31% have transitioned to permanent housing.
• 20% are receiving benefits.
• 20% are employed.
• The current population is 42, including several couples.

Additionally, he said, Springboard has had “very good results” with clients seeking out substance abuse disorder or mental health treatment.

Homeless population increasing

“We do have a rising population of unsheltered homeless (in Georgetown),” Mr. Malone continued. “We don’t know why they are here. We don’t have accurate data.”

He added that an outreach team has been formed, which provides seven-page questionnaires and interviews for the homeless population in the area.

“So far, (in) an initial survey, we have counted 75 people are homeless in Georgetown,” Mr. Malone noted.

The information being gathered is confidential and will only be shared with organizations that can provide services.

“We’ll do what we can to improve their lives and also understand better what is causing them to come here and what we can do to remedy that situation,” Mr. Malone said.