In response to Barbara Greenway’s recent letter calling the tent city at the old Troop 7 Post a travesty, I would like to offer a different view. While it is certainly not a solution to either the issue of homelessness or absence of workforce housing in our community, it is a step forward. Prior to the work of Mike Agnew and many others, the current guests at Troop 7 were hiding out in the nearby woods.
While they are still living in tents and not permanent homes, their needs are at least being recognized. I know some of the folks who have moved from the woods to this tent city, and have heard nothing but positive comments about their new setup. I agree with Barbara that the empty motels along Route 1 would be much better accommodations for the people in the tent city, but who is going to pay for that? Many local church and community organizations have put up unhoused folks in area motels during and since COVID, but the cost is astronomical, and therefore, unsustainable.
I agree that our community and our state can and must do better to address housing needs here in Rehoboth and Lewes, both for low-income workers and those who are unhoused but unable to work. The tent city at Troop 7 may be a baby step, but it is addressing some needs. Those of us lucky enough to have homes (or second homes) in this area need to work together to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.
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