Survey Data on Homelessness in Sussex County, Delaware

• Isaac O'Neal, Public Policy, University of Delaware

• Stephen Metraux, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware

This study summarizes findings from a 2025 survey of 247 individuals experiencing homelessness in Sussex County, Delaware. The data was collected through personal interviews at sites clustered around Georgetown, where most respondents reported living. The purpose of this report is to describe the demographic makeup, living conditions, and contributing factors to homelessness in the region, while also comparing these findings with state and national data.

The results show that Sussex County’s homeless population is primarily male (69%) and disproportionately Black (27%), compared to only 10% Black residents in the county overall. A majority have lived in the area for an extended period, contradicting claims that most homeless individuals relocate to regions with more services. Nearly half of respondents reported sleeping outdoors the night before the survey, and over half had been homeless for over a year.

Major contributing factors included domestic conflict, substance use, and economic loss. 92% of individuals cited the lack of affordable housing as their primary barrier to permanent housing. Identification documents, health conditions, and limited income were also recurring issues. Despite this, 81% were in contact with a caseworker or service provider, indicating a strong local effort to help mitigate the effects of homelessness.

These findings suggest that homelessness in Sussex County is a largely local, structural issue, rooted in housing scarcity. It also suggests that this is a largely unsheltered population made up disproportionately of other vulnerable populations within the state.