On Saturday and Sunday, temperatures in the area dropped to the mid-teens. With 25-35 mph northwest sustained winds and gusts up to 60 mph, wind chills in some locations were 13 below zero. When temperatures drop that low, being outside for even a half hour can be extremely dangerous. For those who are dealing with homelessness, a warm place could be the difference between life and death.
“Due to the forecasted weather conditions and concern for our neighbors who are unhoused or without adequate heat, Milford Advocacy for the Homeless reached out to our ongoing partner with House of David to open a temporary warming center Saturday from 2:30 to 6:30 PM,” Martha Gery, President of MAH, said. “This came together quickly through ongoing relationships and a shared commitment to ensuring no one is left out in the cold when temperatures become unsafe.”
Although there are Code Purple shelters in Milford, they do not open until 6:30 PM. Gery was thankful for House of David for graciously opening their doors and helping MAH provide a safe, warm space where people can rest, get out of the elements and be treated with dignity and care. Christ Episcopal Church also offered shelter on Sunday.
“MAH worked most of the day to pull together food, snacks, supplies, volunteers and warmth items that are needed to support this pop-up group of warming centers,” Gery said. “These kinds of partnerships are critical during weather emergencies and reflect the strength of our community when organizations come together with compassion and urgency.”
Brandywine Drop-In Center, the Milford Library, the Milford Senior Center and several churches also opened their doors to those who had nowhere to stay or didn’t have adequate heat in their home.
“This is an emotional time for me because hypothermia is not just something that we talk about,” Gery said. “It is something that actually happens. On the night my brother came out of the cold to start his journey back from homelessness, he left a friend who was living with him next to the railroad tracks in Pennsylvania there because he would not come in. When he went back the next morning, his friend had died of hypothermia.”
The statistics on homelessness are staggering. Many believe that people who are homeless are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Some think they are just “lazy and need to get a job.” However, this is not accurate. Only about 13 to 15 percent of the homeless have substance abuse problems. A survey conducted by Point-In-Time in 2025 found that there were 1,585 people experiencing homelessness in Delaware, an increase of 16 percent from 2024. Children under 18 account for 27 percent of this population. Research also shows that 39 percent of homeless people are working full- or part-time jobs but cannot afford housing in the area.
“In Milford, we have a growing population of individuals who are older, meaning 50 or above, who are experiencing homelessness,” Gery said. “Our data supports that we saw the biggest increase in that population in 2025. These are individuals with low income, have medical issues where they cannot access some types of housing, cannot afford the cost of housing in the area or due to ongoing health conditions that cause them to miss rent and get evicted.”
Gery pointed out that Code Purple’s men’s shelter in Milford has been full almost since they opened this season.
“We need a second Code Purple for men,” Gery said. “Many of these individuals have income and just need a place to rest their head for a few months so they can save up enough money for a down payment and first month’s rent for a room. We do have people who have done this and are currently housed.”
On Saturday, MAH posted that they were getting constant calls for help.
“It is 8 degrees outside, and our phones are ringing with desperate calls from neighbors who cannot find shelter tonight,” Gery said. “Our Men’s Code Purple shelter is full. That means there are still people facing the bitter cold with nowhere safe to go. Even a simple overnight warming room, a place to sit in a chair and stay warm through the night can be the difference between safety and life and death.”
Gery stated that they were also receiving requests for filling propane tanks for gas grills as people were trying to heat spaces in unsafe ways just to avoid hypothermia. She requested gift cards for propane tanks to help save someone from hypothermia.
“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how dangerous these conditions are and how real the risk is right now,” Gery said. “While our daytime warming centers are helping, nighttime remains a critical gap in our community’s response. Cold like this is life threatening.”
MAH is seeking churches, organizations or community groups who are willing to explore the option of becoming a Code Purple site for men or for couples. She pointed out that many couples rely on each other for survival.
“Some would rather face the cold together than be separated,” Gery said. “Keeping people safe means keeping them together. We are deeply grateful to live in a community where so many step up with compassion and courage. Let us continue to meet people where they are and walk alongside them through this crisis.”
MAH and Code Purple accept donations of food and gift cards that they can use to support warming centers and Code Purple shelters. They also accept gloves, scarves, hats and socks. For more information about how to assist MAH, visit them online, send an email, or call 302-217-3106.
