Legislative Update

We're working hard to make Wilmington more affordable. The agenda tonight includes five pieces of legislation I'm sponsoring or co-sponsoring to address the rising cost of utilities and housing.

Are you interested in supporting this legislation or learning more about these issues? Join the City Council meeting tonight in person or on zoom starting at 6:30 PM:

https://www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/meetings/july-9-2026-wilmington-city-council-meeting-anchor-location-and-remote-participation/ 

Here's a run-down of the legislation that will be voted on tonight:

HOMEOWNER REPAIR

Find legislation here.      

What It Does: This program will provide funds to help low- and moderate- income homeowners pay for needed repairs they cannot afford.

Who Qualifies: Low- and moderate-income homeowners in the City of Wilmington.

Why It’s Needed: Many low- and moderate-income homeowners cannot afford costly home repairs. While the City’s highly successful Homeowner Repair Lottery has made a big impact, having a standing City program with a waitlist will make it easier for homeowners to plan.  

Program Design: The Department of Real Estate and Housing will design the program, including the kinds of repairs it will cover, the maximum amount per household, and other program details based on the needs they see in the community. The legislation also enables the Department of Real Estate and Housing to subcontract the implementation of the program to a local non-profit. 

Reporting: The legislation requires the Department of Real Estate and Housing to provide an annual report to City Council by March 1 each year that includes information about how many families have been helped and average cost per family. 

How Will It Be Funded: This year, the program could be funded through funds in the Housing Support Block Grant. In following years, the amount of funding for the program, if any, could be decided through the budget process. This program does not have any ongoing costs.  Funding level can be decided every year.

VACANT PROPERTY REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE

Find legislation here.      

What It Does: This program will provide funds to help owners of vacant properties fix them up. 

Who Qualifies: Owners of vacant properties in the City of Wilmington.

Why It’s Needed: Sometimes people want to fix up a property they own, but they don’t have all the money they need to make the repairs. This is especially true for people who inherited a family property. Right now, the City’s only policy to get vacant properties back into use is to fine the owner. By providing assistance to owners in return for a commitment to stay in the home for 10 years as a homeowner or rent it to a family with an income of less than 80% AMI, this program can help bring vacant properties back into use, stabilize neighborhoods, preserve generational wealth, and expand access to housing that’s affordable to people with regular jobs.

Program Design: The Department of Real Estate and Housing will design the program, including the kinds of repairs it will cover, the maximum amount per household, and other program details based on the needs they see in the community. The legislation also enables the Department of Real Estate and Housing to subcontract the implementation of the program to a local non-profit. 

Reporting: The legislation requires the Department of Real Estate and Housing to provide an annual report to City Council by March 1 each year that includes information about how many families have been helped and average cost per family. 

How Will It Be Funded: This year, the program could be funded through funds in the Housing Support Block Grant. In following years, the amount of funding for the program, if any, could be decided through the budget process.

EVICTION PREVENTION

Find legislation here.

What It Does: This program will provide funds to help settle eviction cases, such as paying off back rent or water bills, so that people can avoid getting evicted. 

Who Qualifies: People facing eviction who are represented by lawyers or advocates at legal aid agencies funded by the State of Delaware through the state’s Right to Representation program.

Why It’s Needed: While the state’s Right to Representation program pays for legal representation, most eviction cases have some amount of money that the tenant owes the landlord that the tenant doesn’t have. By providing the funds to pay off these bills, which average around $1,200, this program can help families stay in their homes.

Program Design: A Memorandum of Understanding will be set up with the legal aid agencies, who will administer the program. 100% of the funds will pay for eviction settlements. None of the funds will pay for administration.

Reporting: The legislation requires an annual report to City Council by March 1 each year that includes information about how many families have been helped and average cost per family.  

How Will It Be Funded: This year, the program could be funded through funds in the Housing Support Block Grant. In following years, the amount of funding for the program, if any, could be decided through the budget process. This program does not have any ongoing costs. The funding level can be decided every year.

PREVENT WATER SHUT-OFFS FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES

Sponsor: CM Darby

Co-Sponsor: CM Willauer

Find legislation here     

What It Does: Prevents the City of Wilmington from shutting off water of a household with a senior, a person with a disability, or a child under 5 to collect an overdue water bill.

Who Qualifies: Households that include a senior, a person with a disability, or a child under 5 with incomes less than 350% the federal poverty level. (Approximately: $56,000 for 1 person family, $75,000 for 2 person family, $95,000 for 3 person family, $115,000 for 4 person family).

Why It’s Needed: Protecting vulnerable populations from water shut-offs is crucial for public health and safety. Many states and municipalities offer specific safeguards to prevent disconnections for households that include the young, the old, and the disabled.

Program Design: Customers qualify by filling out forms provided by the Department of Finance. To reduce the barriers to participation, customers can qualify that they meet the criteria of the program by affidavit.

How Many Shut-offs Happen a Year: 

2023: 60

2024: 57

2025: 48

Why It's Important: This law is needed even if it protects just one person who is elderly or disabled or one family with young children from going without water.  But the impact is potentially much bigger. According to the City, as of March 2026, over 10,000 residential customers owe more than $12 million in overdue water bills, including water, sewer, and stormwater. We need to put protections in place now to protect vulnerable residents from losing access to water if the City of Wilmington decides to step up its collections efforts in the future.

Read the legislation here: https://www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Sub.-No.-2-to-Ord.-25-017-Ordinance-to-Amend-Chapter-45-to-Exempt-Residents-from-Water-Disconnection-W0132988x920B6.pdf

UTILITY BILLS

While the State has taken action to offer assistance to Delmarva customers experiencing financial strain, the impact of impending rate increases and data centers are rendering costs increasingly unsustainable. This Resolution respectfully urges the Governor of the State of Delaware and the honorable members of the Delaware General Assembly to develop a long-term strategy for affordable energy that addresses the root causes of the problem.

Read the resolution here: https://www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0234-Rev.-1-A-Resolution-Encouraging-the-Governor-and-DGA-to-Develop-a-Long-Term-Affordable-Energy-Strategy-Willauer.pdf