Help in Delaware
For people starting over after prison, foster care, treatment, homelessness, abuse, or trafficking
We've verified 25 places in Delaware, most of them in Wilmington and Dover, plus 19 that serve the whole state. The most help we've found here is for people after prison or jail (13) and leaving homelessness (13).
Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Statewide coalition that publishes Delaware's 24-hour domestic violence hotlines. New Castle County callers dial 302-762-6110; Kent and Sussex callers dial 302-422-8058, with a Spanish-language line at 302-745-9874 (Abriendo Puertas).
Delaware 211
Free, confidential information and referral line for the whole state covering shelter, food, utilities, mental health, substance use, legal help, and transportation. Dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
Delaware Correctional Reentry Commission / DOC Office of Planning, Research, and Reentry
The DOC's reentry arm and the state Reentry Commission site, which collects housing, employment, ID and birth certificate, expungement, and probation guidance for people coming home from Delaware prisons. The site routes shelter requests to Centralized Intake (1-833-346-3233) and lists each housing authority.
Independent Living Case Management and Transitional Living Services
State program for youth 14 and older in foster care and young adults who exited care after 18 but are under 21. Provides life skills training, mentoring, tuition help, transitional living support, and needs-based ASSIST stipends; Education and Training Vouchers are available up to age 26.
Life Lines
Case management and housing in Wilmington for youth ages 16–23 who are in or aged out of foster care, unaccompanied youth 18–23, and LGBTQ+ youth. Parenting youth qualify for case management but not Life Lines housing.
Independent Living Program
DFS-contracted independent living preparation, skills training, and case management for current and former Delaware foster youth ages 16–23 in New Castle, lower Kent, and Sussex counties. Young adults 18–23 can self-refer.
Delaware Hope Line / Help is Here Delaware
State-run 24/7 line offering free coaching and connection to addiction treatment, mental health care, and crisis services, plus a searchable list of state-vetted treatment providers that accept patients with or without insurance. Also arranges free naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and transportation to treatment.
atTAcK addiction Resource Center
Grassroots recovery organization with a walk-in Resource Center in Newark that connects people to treatment, Narcan training, family support meetings, and recovery residences. Housing admissions are handled at 302-485-0702.
Centralized Intake / Homeless Helpline
Delaware's coordinated entry point for emergency shelter; most shelters in the state accept referrals only through this line. Call or text 1-833-FIND-BED, call early in the day, and call back daily if no bed opens.
Sunday Breakfast Mission
Wilmington's long-running emergency shelter with separate men's and women-with-children shelters, an evening community meal, monthly food boxes, a medical clinic, and the long-term New Life recovery program. Overnight Guests complete a registration form and follow shelter policies.
Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing
Central Delaware shelter operator running the Walt Bagley Men's Shelter and the Interfaith Pathway Women & Children's Shelter in Dover, with support toward self-sufficiency. Call the men's shelter at 302-380-0331 or the women's shelter at 302-736-3600.
Home-Life Management Center and Community Housing
Emergency shelter, SCHE transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and homeless prevention for women and families in Wilmington, with domestic violence case management, life skills, and culinary and custodial job training. Shelter entry runs through Centralized Intake.
SARC – Sexual Assault Response Center
Statewide 24/7 crisis helpline for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking age 12 and up, with medical and legal accompaniment, trauma counseling, support groups, and aftercare case management. Centers in New Castle, Wilmington, and Georgetown.
SAFE – Shelter, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment
Confidential emergency shelters, 24/7 hotline, transitional housing, safety planning, transportation, and housing and employment help for survivors of domestic violence, family violence, and human trafficking in Kent and Sussex counties. Spanish-speaking advocacy through Abriendo Puertas.
Domestic Violence Services
New Castle County's 24-hour multilingual domestic violence hotline and live anonymous chat, with shelter and advocacy for victims and their children. CHILD, Inc. also runs a 24-hour Runaway and Homeless Youth line at 302-762-6373.
Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI)
Delaware's oldest civil legal aid firm, free to people with low incomes, people with disabilities, adults 60+, and victims of violence and crime. Units handle housing, domestic violence, immigration, public benefits, family, disability, and elder law; no criminal or personal injury cases.
Legal Services Corporation of Delaware
Nonprofit law firm for low-income Delaware families focused on landlord-tenant and eviction defense, consumer debt, and unemployment matters. Call the county intake number to find out if you qualify.
Delaware Center for Justice
Wilmington nonprofit offering reintegration, restoration, and victim services for justice-impacted adults alongside policy advocacy on sentencing and collateral consequences. No walk-ins; call to be referred into a program.
Refugee Integration Support Effort (RISE)
Delaware's contracted refugee resettlement provider. RISE case managers help newly arrived refugees and other immigrants find housing and jobs, learn English, and get oriented, and JFS is the state's named partner for Refugee Cash Assistance.
Refugee Cash Assistance
Federally funded cash and medical help for people granted refugee status during their first eight months in the U.S., using TANF eligibility rules. Social services such as job help, ESL, and case management can continue for five years after arrival.
Delaware ASSIST – Apply for Benefits
Delaware's online application and screening tool for Medicaid, SNAP (Food Supplement Program), TANF cash assistance, child care, LIHEAP, WIC, and long-term care. Create an account to apply, check status, report changes, or renew.
Office of Vital Statistics
Issues Delaware birth, death, and marriage certificates at walk-in offices in Newark, Dover, and Georgetown or by mail to the Dover office. Online orders go through VitalChek or GoCertificates for an added fee.
Identification Cards
State ID card for Delaware residents, valid eight years from the next birthday, issued at the Wilmington, Delaware City, Dover, and Georgetown DMV offices. Applicants must present documents from the DMV Required Documentation Table.
Human Trafficking Resources
The state Attorney General's trafficking page explains sex and labor trafficking, Delaware prosecutions, and how to get help or report, pointing to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 and the BeFree text line. Available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Haitian Creole, and French.
ContactLifeline Crisis Helpline
Delaware's 24/7 crisis helpline for depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and other emotional crises, plus counseling for sexual assault survivors and their families.
National lines that work in Delaware
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential treatment referral for substance use and mental health. Finds local programs that take your insurance or none.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 confidential hotline for survivors of trafficking and people who suspect it. Connects to vetted local services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential help for anyone affected by domestic violence. Advocates connect you to local shelters and legal help.
Start right where you are
Each program has a step-by-step checklist for the first 72 hours, 30 days, and 90 days, so you always know your next step.