Housing Assistance for Single Mothers in Delaware

Where to start

Start with the problem that needs action first. A family sleeping in a car needs a different path from a family looking for a lower-cost apartment.

For broader housing basics, use the national housing assistance guide. For immediate Delaware programs, keep the Delaware emergency guide nearby.

Why housing help is tight in Delaware

The most recent statewide housing needs assessment found that about half of Delaware renters paid more than 30% of their income toward housing. The state housing assessment also found serious pressure on low-income renters across all three counties.

Quick housing help table

Shelter, motel, and homeless housing help

Housing Alliance Delaware runs Centralized Intake, the main referral path for many emergency shelter and homeless housing programs. You can call or text 1-833-346-3233 or email intake@housingalliancede.org. Tell the screener where you stayed, when you must leave, whether children are with you, and how they can reach you.

A State Service Center can help you contact Centralized Intake or ask about motel vouchers. Motel help is meant for a short emergency. Delaware says staff may first check whether shelter beds are full. Funding and available rooms can also limit help.

If you need food or supplies during a housing crisis, check Delaware food help and Delaware WIC help. Pregnant mothers and families with young children may qualify for added support, but these programs do not provide housing by themselves.

Eviction and emergency rent help

If a landlord files an eviction case, act quickly. Delaware requires landlords in residential eviction cases to take part in the court’s diversion process after filing. This may include online talks or mediation. It does not cancel the court case, so keep following every court notice.

The Eviction Defense Project may connect eligible tenants facing eviction or voucher loss with free legal help. Give the intake worker your hearing date, case number, landlord’s name, rent amount, and copies of all papers.

Ask a State Service Center about emergency cash assistance for rent, utilities, or shelter during an unexpected crisis. Approval is not guaranteed. The office may look at income, household details, the cause of the emergency, available funds, and whether one-time help can solve the immediate problem.

Do not withhold rent, change locks, or leave a court hearing based only on general online advice. This article is not legal advice. If the home has serious repair problems, contact legal aid before taking a step that could affect your tenancy.

Section 8, public housing, and waiting lists

Delaware’s five public housing authorities use one statewide platform for many Housing Choice Voucher and public housing applications. The participating agencies are the Delaware State Housing Authority, Dover Housing Authority, New Castle County Housing Authority, Newark Housing Authority, and Wilmington Housing Authority.

As of July 14, 2026, the statewide waiting list is open. The hub’s application instructions explain how to create an account, submit applications, and use a paper option. Special programs, project-based units, and referral-only programs may have different rules.

A voucher helps an eligible household rent from a private landlord that meets program rules. Public housing is tied to a housing authority property. Project-based assistance stays with a certain apartment. Income-restricted tax-credit apartments may have lower rents, but the tenant usually pays the full listed rent.

The housing authority checks final eligibility when your name reaches the top. Rules may include income, family size, identity, immigration status for federal assistance, background checks allowed by the program, and local preferences. Read our documents checklist before you apply.

Affordable apartments and rental search

Do not wait for a voucher before looking for apartments. DelawareHousingSearch.org is a free state housing search tool. You can search by county, city, ZIP code, rent, accessibility needs, and other details. For search help, call 1-877-428-8844, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The HUD Delaware page also links to public housing agencies, housing counselors, tax-credit properties, rural rentals, and other official tools.

When you call a property, ask four things: Is the waitlist open? What is the rent? What income range is required? What fees and documents are needed? Also ask whether the property accepts vouchers if you have one.

Utility bill and weatherization help

Utility help can lower the risk of losing housing. Delaware uses the Delaware Energy Assistance Program, funded through LIHEAP, for heating, cooling, crisis, and related help. The state utility page says income is generally capped at 60% of Delaware’s State Median Income. It also warns that the program may not pay the full bill.

Catholic Charities is a statewide LIHEAP administrator. Its energy assistance page has online applications, county contacts, and a document list. Heating help normally runs from October 1 through March 31, with applications starting in July. Cooling and crisis help may use different dates and funding.

Delaware’s weatherization program may provide no-cost energy-saving work for eligible renters and homeowners. Applicants go on a need-based waiting list, and not everyone is served in one year. Renters may need owner approval for work.

For more bill help, use the Delaware utility guide. Child care, food, and medical help may also free up money for rent. Check Delaware child care and Delaware health coverage.

Homeowner, repair, and rural housing help

Homeowners with an urgent health or safety repair can ask about Delaware’s Statewide Emergency Repair Program. The state repair program may help eligible owners with serious plumbing, electrical, heating, roofing, or accessibility work. The program is run through a partner agency, and funding and repair rules apply.

USDA Rural Development’s rural repair program offers loans to very-low-income homeowners for repairs and grants to qualifying homeowners age 62 or older for health and safety hazards. The home must be in an eligible rural area.

For buying a home, the Delaware home loan page lists current mortgage and down-payment options. These are loans or deferred second mortgages, not free houses. Income, sales price, credit, lender, and property rules apply.

Regional starting points

The statewide hub can route applications to Delaware’s five housing authorities, but local services still vary. Use this table to choose a practical first call.

The hub’s housing authority list shows the agencies and their contact information. For community agencies, food, clothing, and local referrals, see Delaware community support and Delaware transportation help.

Documents and information to gather

Do not wait to call for emergency help because one paper is missing. Ask what can be used instead. For longer applications, gather what you can from this list.

What to do if help is denied, delayed, or closed

Ask for the decision in writing. Save the notice, envelope, emails, and screenshots. Look for an appeal, review, grievance, or fair-hearing deadline. A phone call alone may not protect your deadline.

If a housing authority removes you from a list or denies assistance, ask which rule was used and how to request a review. If your voucher or public housing is at risk, contact legal aid. If a DSS benefit is denied, reduced, delayed, or stopped, ask about a fair hearing.

If a fund is closed, ask when it may reopen and what other program handles the same need. The benefits problem guide explains how to keep records and ask for the next step.

If you believe a landlord, lender, agent, or housing program treated you unfairly because of a protected trait, use Delaware’s housing complaint process. Housing complaints have deadlines, so do not wait for the problem to fix itself.