About House of Hope
House of Hope is a community-based emergency shelter providing safe, temporary housing for single women experiencing homelessness in Kent County, Delaware.
Our Mission
“To provide temporary, safe, quality, person-centered care for single women experiencing homelessness — and connect them to local resources.”
Our Vision
- Decrease homelessness in Kent County
- Improve access to services and resources for our residents
- Create a self-sustaining organization
- Maintain a committed staff and volunteer base supported by our board
The Organization
Legal Entity & Tax Status
House of Hope is a program operated by Central Delaware Housing Collaborative, Inc. (CDHC), a Delaware nonprofit corporation founded in 2018. CDHC is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 83-0589199). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Donors can independently verify our status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search or browse our public filings on ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer.
How We Work
House of Hope occupies a property at 801 W Division Street, Dover, DE 19904 — acquired from the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) under a long-term emergency-shelter use restriction. CDHC was formed specifically to operate the shelter, and the partnership with DSHA reflects the program’s roots in state-supported affordable housing.
Women come to House of Hope through referrals from the Delaware Housing Alliance and the State of Delaware. While in residence, they receive case management and access to basic living necessities while working toward long-term stability.
Since opening, House of Hope has served more than 200 women.
Leadership & Board of Directors
House of Hope is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors. None of our directors receive compensation for their service.
LM
Larry Merchant
Board Chair
Serving since 2020
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PW
Paulette Winkfield
Vice Chair
Serving since 2019
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PK
Patricia Kelleher
Board Member
Serving since 2019
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HK
Herb Konowitz
Board Member
Serving since 2019
[Bio placeholder — 1-2 sentence professional/personal background goes here]
CB
Cristal Brenneman
Board Member
Serving since 2019
[Bio placeholder — 1-2 sentence professional/personal background goes here]
PC
Phyllis Collins
Board Member
Serving since 2022
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DH
Debbie Harrington
Board Member
Serving since 2024
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Placeholder notes for board section:
- Each board member’s bio (1-2 sentences) will replace the yellow placeholder text in their card
- Photos will replace the navy initials circles (the “PHOTO” badge in the corner is just a visual marker, will be removed when real photos are uploaded)
- Confirm Herb Konowitz’s current title — he was Treasurer in earlier 990s; current 990 lists him as Board Member, but title may have rotated
- Confirm board roster is current as of today (990 reflects FY ending June 30, 2025)
- Confirm any board member who prefers not to be listed publicly
Our Team
Behind the scenes, our staff makes the program run day to day.
TM
Terrant Morrison
Project Manager
LB
Linda Bazemore
Adult Protective Services Supervisor
Still to add to About page when info is available:
- Founder name(s) and brief founding story
- Annual report or budget summary (most recent 990 shows ~94% of expenses going to programs — strong figure worth highlighting once verified)
- Press / media coverage if any
- Photos of staff at work, group photos, etc. (with appropriate permissions)