WILMINGTON - Mayor John Carney on Wednesday outlined the City’s priorities for addressing and supporting Wilmington’s unhoused population. This announcement comes after a noticeable increase in unhoused residents, resulting in the mayor’s convening of a city-wide Homelessness Task Force earlier this year.

The mayor attributed the recent influx of unhoused residents to other nearby cities and towns, specifically citing $270,000 worth of one-way bus tickets paid for by the City of Philadelphia.

“We will do our part to serve our residents. But let me be clear: the constant influx of people from other cities and towns makes it harder for us to care for our population. Most importantly, it’s unfair to Wilmington residents who live with the consequences of these actions,” said Mayor John Carney.

“I directed the task force to consider proposals that balance compassion for the challenges faced by unhoused individuals with the rights and expectations of the broader community. The task force helped us identify major steps in the right direction. I’m grateful for their dedication to this issue, and we will continue to evaluate our progress and build on these solutions together.”

While some city residents face housing insecurity, the mayor underscored that the following short-term strategies apply explicitly to the unsheltered homeless:

• Temporarily utilize Christina Park as a city-sanctioned unhoused community site

• Provide outdoor stand-alone restroom facilities and 24/7 access to clean water

• Open a new dining room at 600 4th Street in partnership with the Wilmington Housing Authority and the Ministry of Caring

• Establish a dedicated online webpage to keep the public up to date on implementation

The City intends to ban camping in other public areas but will evaluate whether an additional unhoused site is necessary to meet community needs. The City will work with substance use, mental health, and homeless service providers to coordinate this change.

Long term, the Carney Administration intends to build on progress already underway in affordable housing development, expand the 4^th Street dining room location to house a day center, and evaluate changes to zoning classifications.

About the Homelessness Task Force
Convened by the mayor earlier this year, the group consisted of non-profit leaders, law enforcement officers, and other professionals who work directly with the unhoused. The Task Force hosted a series of 10 meetings featuring over 300 hundred participants and ample opportunity for public comment. The Task Force hosted alternating meeting locations with virtual options to allow for broader participation. The group concluded their work in September, culminating in a list of recommendations that were sent to the mayor’s desk for consideration.

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