Consider a permanent homeless village at former Troop 7

When I first learned the tent city would be replaced by a salt barn structure, I wondered about the land-use and energy inefficiencies. Sussex is the southernmost part of the state, and in many years, it does not receive enough snow to necessitate the use of salt. Why should trucks from New Castle and Kent make a trip to Sussex each time they require a load of salt? How much energy is wasted? So, I was pleased to learn from this week's article that the salt barn is a temporary structure.

It seems to me that the state-owned former Troop 7 site could be much more effectively and efficiently used if the state were to allow tiny houses to be erected there for full-time use by homeless individuals and families. The land should already have access to water, sewer and electricity given that multiple buildings were on site for years. The location is convenient to public transportation and would be a safe area for school buses to stop. A quick Google search suggests that serviceable, fully functional tiny homes can be purchased in the $10,000 to $25,000 range. Obviously, many cost much more, but the point is that perfectly usable products can be obtained for much less. 

This area could be developed at no to low cost to the state and county. I imagine many local developers would be willing to make the site connect-ready for water, plumbing and electricity to the individual homes, particularly if the state were to offer some kind of tax credit or other incentive. Too, I suspect local businesses, organizations and with adequate tax credit, private individuals would willingly donate a home for the area. Concerns about unsightliness should be nonexistent, but the area is sufficiently large to permit appropriate landscaping, which once again could come from donated services. Professional management working with nonprofits like CRC, Family Promise, LRAC or Code Purple should not strain budgets and could arrange the logistics and ensure the occupants would be on a path to self-sufficiency when their tenure ended.

For several years, groups in the local area have known the location is a win-win both for the community at large and those needing housing services. It seems sad to settle for a temporary tent site on occasions throughout the year when a better and affordable option exists. Tents cannot offer families with children a stable environment, without which many of them will likely never arrive at that equal playing field. Tents also fail to provide adequate safety and sanitation to the men and women living in the elements and dashing to port-a-potties when necessary.