It was a cold day Saturday morning on January 14, 2023 when the residents of Tent City had to vacate the place that they called home. There were many meetings leading up to this exiting that resulted in a week extension on the date to exit. Arrangements were made for many of the residents to either go live with a relative or friend, some went into short term programs and others had no place to go. As we helped the last residents to move their items, we wondered how we could continue to help them being so dispursed.

We regrouped as an organization and created new relationships with service providers, counselors and other organizations within the community to create a mapping of services, help and support. We took a deeper dive into case management. We had always talked individually with people to find out their greatest needs; but often did not have the connections to help them with services they desperately needed. Through this exiting process, we connected with more groups, organizations and resources.

Where are the homeless today?

They are disbursed throughout Milford, mostly in small groups of 2-3 people and in areas where they are trying to go unnoticed. Yet, they still have a family bond. They check on each other, help to ensure they know someone is there and have their own communication methods to keep in contact.

How do we support them now?

Thanks to many donations and support, most now have cellphones. We have group texts, we call and check on them. We make drop-off points for food, clothing and other supplies. We focus on the individual needs, creating a plan and then working the plan to help them where needed. In-take is now done through forms and we track our activities and their progression. When we meet a newly displaced person, we connect them with Brandywine Drop-In Center, so that we can ensure that they have the basics: food, clothing, warming center, counseling and connection to social services. Then we start to work with them to create a plan for success and connect with them on a regular basis to track progress and overcome obstacles.

Today’s challenges

There is not much forestry left in Milford for them to set-up a tent. This means that they will seek out other places to stay. These may be abandon buildings, dumpsters, parks, sidewalks and other more public facing places. As a community, we have Code Purple until the middle of March and then will have no options for overnight stays. This is why having a warming center and eventually a pallet city or program type shelter is such a need.

What’s Next?

Last week, we were invited to our the Pallet City in Georgetown. We saw the small homes that the displaced will call home. Its a gated community where there is governance and expectations. The residents get support as they make their journey back into a home of their own with a job and a support unit. We are continuing conversations with the director of Springboard to find out where they received the funding, the governance, the program and all the details needed to mirror this type of city in Milford.

Once we have all of that information, we will be going to City Counsel to propose a partnership with the city to resurrect the same type of closed community with a program for Milford. The City Counsel has already been in conversations with Georgetown’s Mayor, had a tour of the Pallet City and are watching to see the success of the community.

The displaced in our community did not just disappear because the property was sold. They are a growing population as affordable housing along with lack of education, mental health and addictions continue to be at an all-time high in our state and in our country. Join us in supporting the displaced in our community by

(1) Coming out to community conversations about homelessness

(2) Volunteer to help

(3) Write your City Counsel, State Representatives and other officials

(4) Donate in-kind donations and/or financial donations

A BIG thanks to those individuals who helped during the exit of tent city, who provide food and in-kind donations and for places like Brandywine and Code Purple who provide daily support and services for those in need.