The Delaware County Housing Coalition is confronting a critical challenge–Delaware County counts 300 homeless people here, with 20 renter households facing eviction notices daily.

Families are “a paycheck away” from losing their homes, and a holistic approach to solving the problem of the unhoused is needed, said Delaware County Human Services Director Sandra Garrison.

The coalition presented a housing status report to Delaware County Council last week, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

Garrison listed some solutions, including creating temporary and transitional housing in unused buildings like closed schools.

County land could be used to build low-income housing.

Centers could be set up in key areas like Upper Darby and Chester/Eddystone to connect people with behavioral health, financial education, and other specialists.

A landlord coalition could work on solutions other than evictions.

Jordan Casey of The Foundation for Delaware County recommended that tenants, landlords, developers, municipalities, and the county Planning Department work together on solutions.

“This is just a start,” Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor said. “This is not the end. This is just the beginning. We have a lot of work to do.”

See what other problems people face regarding housing and other solutions being considered in the Daily Times.