Delaware Housing Assistance for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

When One Bedroom Isn't Enough Anymore

You were living comfortably in a one-bedroom apartment or a small home on a fixed income. Now there are two grandchildren sleeping in your living room, and you need a bigger place — or at least help paying for the one you have. Housing is often the largest expense kinship caregivers face, and it does not come with the same clear application path that TANF or Medicaid does.

Delaware does not have a dedicated housing program for kinship caregivers. But there are several housing assistance pathways that kinship families can access, and having a child in the home can work in your favor for some of them.

Delaware State Housing Authority Programs

Delaware's five public housing authorities administer public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs. DSHA operates its Housing Choice Voucher program in Kent and Sussex Counties. Kinship families apply through the same channels as other households, but there are a few things to know:

Household size matters. If the housing authority approves a grandchild or relative child as a member of your voucher household, the larger household size can raise the income limit and may increase the size of the unit you qualify for. Adding a relative child to an existing voucher household requires PHA approval unless the child joined through birth, adoption, or court-awarded custody.

Waiting lists are long. Public housing and Section 8 vouchers in Delaware have waiting lists that can stretch months to years, depending on the county. Apply as soon as you know the child's placement is not temporary. You can apply even if you do not yet need to move — getting on the list early preserves your spot.

Local housing authorities. Delaware has five public housing authorities: DSHA, Dover Housing Authority, New Castle County Housing Authority, Newark Housing Authority, and Wilmington Housing Authority. A centralized online system lets applicants submit one application for any or all of the authorities.

Emergency Rental Assistance

If you are facing eviction or cannot make rent because of the sudden costs of caring for a child, Delaware has emergency rental assistance programs:

Housing Stability Program (formerly DHAP): DSHA stopped accepting applications for this temporary emergency rental-assistance program on May 7, 2025, and said it would end by May 30, 2025. It is no longer a current application option. Call 2-1-1 for referrals to other local resources.

Community and housing partners: First State Community Action Agency lists emergency assistance for rent, utilities, and evictions when funds are available and applicants meet its income guidelines. NeighborGood Partners (formerly NCALL) offers housing counseling and foreclosure-prevention services. Delaware 211 maintains a statewide directory of rent-payment, rental-deposit, and utility-assistance resources; call 2-1-1 for current referrals.

State Service Centers: Delaware's DHSS State Service Centers can connect you with emergency housing resources and may provide one-time financial assistance depending on available program funds. The 19 locations across all three counties handle in-person requests.

Utility Assistance

Higher utility bills come with a larger household. Delaware offers several programs:

• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): Helps pay heating and cooling bills for low-income households. Winter heating assistance is available October 1 through March 31. Summer cooling assistance is a one-time payment, and applicants must have applied for LIHEAP during the program year. Apply through ASSIST or a community partner agency.
• Weatherization Assistance Program: Provides free home weatherization (insulation, sealing, appliance upgrades) to reduce energy costs for eligible low-income households.
• Utility company payment plans: Delmarva Power and other Delaware utilities offer budget billing and hardship programs. Contact your provider directly.

What to Do Right Now

If housing is an urgent problem:

1. Call 2-1-1 for immediate referrals to emergency shelter, rental assistance, and local nonprofits.
2. Contact your local housing authority to get on the Section 8 and public housing waiting lists. Make sure to list all household members including the child.
3. Apply for the Kinship Care Program within 180 days of the child's move if your household income is below 200% FPL, the child's parents do not live with you, and you have or are actively pursuing guardianship. Apply at your State Service Center; the program covers immediate transition needs and can free up money for housing costs.
4. Apply for TANF child-only — the maximum payment for a one-child budget group is $241/month; it does not pay rent on its own, but it provides a predictable monthly income that landlords and housing programs recognize as a resource.

Housing is the area where kinship caregivers often feel most stuck, because there is no single-step solution. But combining TANF income, SNAP benefits (which reduce your food spending), and targeted housing assistance can close enough of the gap to keep a stable home.

For the full picture of every financial resource available to Delaware kinship caregivers — including programs that free up money for housing by covering other costs — the Delaware Kinship Financial Help Guide walks through each application step by step.

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