New efforts revitalize Central Dover and Kent County

NeighborGood Partners offers pre-purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling, financial education, and DEHAP rental housing assistance in Kent County.

2024, " NeighborGood Partners offers pre-purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling, financial education, and DEHAP rental housing assistance in Kent County", 13 July, Accessed: https://healthycommunitiesde.org/news/f/advancing-environmental-justice-in-new-castle-county.

It was perhaps the best Christmas gift possible–a home for the holidays. In the fall of 2017, Tierea Chisholm was staying at The Shepherd Place shelter in Dover, having been displaced after her trailer was condemned. She happened to see Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity while attending a community event with her daughter and began to consider if homeownership might be a possibility for her. 

“I tell people my story is from homeless to homeowner in a year. With hard work and dedication, it is possible for anyone,” said Chisholm, who is now not only a central Dover homeowner but an advocate for her community.

Chisholm’s path to homeownership is part of a larger story of Restoring Central Dover, a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization adopted in 2014 for community empowerment, access to housing and inclusive economic growth. At that time, downtown Dover’s commercial corridor was struggling, and research showed that the predominantly Black neighborhood suffered from low levels of employment as well as a low homeownership rate.

Today, that work to revitalize downtown Dover continues, with an eye on ensuring all seven domains of the Vital Conditions for Health & Well-Being are met.

“Humane housing, reliable transportation, parks and green space, meaningful work, and the opportunity to participate in building a just society are all important elements of community-building,” said Kate Dupont Phillips, Executive Director of Healthy Communities Delaware. “A thriving community provides every individual the opportunity to reach their full potential, no exceptions.” 

This past spring, Trish Kelleher of NeighborGood Partners and Melissa Allaband of Central Dover Habitat for Humanity spoke on the topic of resident-led revitalization and multi-solving in Central Dover at Healthy Community Delaware’s Equity Action Summit.

It can be challenging work to transform an area, Kelleher recognized, sometimes feeling like progress means not taking two steps forward, one step back but one step forward, one step back. Illegal activity and violence may leave one neighborhood block only to appear on another. Communities in Dover and surrounding towns like Magnolia are also still facing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelleher added, which disproportionately affected low-income families and communities of color, and created educational and social skill gaps for children.

Whereas Habitat builds and rehabilitates housing in partnership with homeowners, NeighborGood provides community development services and is the lead agency for Restoring Central Dover. The current housing market poses significant challenges for new homeowners, with soaring interest rates and limited inventory making it difficult for first-time buyers, preventing access to humane housing. Together, NeighborGood Partners and Central Habitat for Humanity are identifying city blocks for redevelopment with a goal of fostering a mixed-income community.

Collaborative partnerships and community leaders like Chisholm are essential for such growth. As Chisholm said, “I want the ideal community that I always dreamed of. The only way to do that is to help build it.”

Shortly after moving in, Chisholm found herself exercising her civic muscle by organizing a community cleanup event. Today, she is a community engagement specialist with NeighborGood Partners and a graduate of the Community Leadership Institute through NeighborWorks America. This initiative aims to empower residents to step forward and take active roles in community development creating a deep-rooted sense of belonging.

Since the inception of Restoring Central Dover, addressing the lack of activities for kids in the area has been a primary concern. As a result, NeighborGood Partners has sponsored local youth to attend a leadership camp at Delaware State University, and engaged children and teens in arts activities like mural painting and decorating traffic boxes.

The Scoop on Loockerman is another program catered toward youth that builds community. The ice cream shop employs teens to learn about customer service, handling money, ordering supplies and taking responsibility. It’s located next door to The Service Hub, a place where central Dover residents can connect to stabilizing services. Both were created through a partnership between NeighborGood Partners and the state’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Up next for improved resources and activities for youth: expansion of a local park, with input from the community. Residents are encouraged to submit feedback on desired amenities during community events. There will also be a youth trip to visit parks developed by Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation in Wilmington. “It’s good to empower them,” Chisholm said of involving youth in the planning process.

“To let them know that your decisions can come to fruition, and that you can be impactful in your community.”