There’s now a housing program in Sussex County for young adults who are homeless or leaving the foster care system.
West End Neighborhood House officially celebrated the opening of Life Lines South on June 9. This is southern Delaware’s only supportive housing program for youth ages 18 to 23 who are homeless or exiting the foster care system.
The West End Neighborhood House’s Life Lines South opened on June 9, 2025. The site is the only supportive housing program of its kind in Sussex County for youth ages 18–23 who are homeless or have aged out of foster care.
Located northeast of Greenwood, the renovated former bed and breakfast is a new home that features 10 private efficiency units and on-site case management to guide youth on a path toward stability, independence and success, according to a statement from Greg Munson, West End’s director of development.
“Life Lines South is a milestone for Delaware – bringing critical housing and support services to young people in Sussex County who have aged out of foster care or are experiencing homelessness,” said West End’s Executive Director Paul Calistro. “Without the help of our federal delegation, this project would never have come to fruition. We’re incredibly grateful for their leadership and for the many public and private partners who made this vision a reality.”
This expansion was made possible thanks to more than $2.5 million in capital support from generous funders, Munson said in a statement.
More: Housing for young adults out of foster care system, LGBTQ community expands in Wilmington
The need
Each year in Delaware, more than 65 youth age out of foster care, according to West End. Many of these youths leave the system with no stable homes, income or support networks.
Life Lines South builds on West End’s broader Life Lines program, which supports more than 100 youth statewide through case management and wraparound services, along with 33 housing units in Wilmington.
While Life Lines has a strong track record in Wilmington, this new Greenwood site helps close a long-standing regional gap: only 16 youth beds previously existed across Kent and Sussex counties. West End officials said there is already a waiting list for this type of housing in southern Delaware and no comparable program integrates housing with trauma-informed, individualized support.
West End, a nonprofit organization based in Wilmington, hosted a grand opening ceremony on June 9 that drew more than 150 people, including Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester and Rep. Sarah McBride.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Young adults without homes can now find one in Sussex County