Code Purple Lewes Shelter Up and Running

Glenn Rolfe | Delaware State News | December 13, 2020

Senator López is photographed here, along with Speaker of the House, Pete Schwartzkopf, as Father Jeff Ross of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church gives a blessing of thanks for the efforts of volunteers and staff of the Community Resource Center, Love Inc., and other agencies, for their work in the opening of the former Troop 7 State Police barracks, which will serve as a Code Purple Shelter through April 1st. Photo courtesy of Butch Comegys and the Delaware State News.

LEWES — On Nov. 20, the five-member Commission on State Surplus Real Property cast unanimous approval to the temporary access agreement between Love INC and the state to utilize the former Troop 7 location as a Code Purple shelter.

That memorandum of understanding included a stipulation that the Lewes shelter would open on all nights, regardless of temperature, through April 1, Sen. López said.

A state-imposed temperature restriction was in place last season when the site came on board in January, meaning on nights above 32 degrees the shelter could not open.

Sen. López and Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, Delaware’s Speaker of the House, pressed for no restriction for this season.

Most Sussex Code Purple shelters run through mid-March. Sen. López said the agreement for the Lewes site runs through April 1, which would allow the building to be used “as they close down their Code Purple season.”

The Lewes shelter has supportive partners, including the Community Resource Center based in Rehoboth.

“They provide a very critical need because the Love INC Troop 7 location will simply be an overnight shelter. The Community Resource Center will be piggybacking off the overnight services by providing daytime services,” Sen. López said.

*Article edited for brevity.