North Star Navigation Center

07/29/2026

A big thank you to Citizen's Bank for coming out yesterday to teach several financial literacy lessons to our participants. Everyone learned valuable information about managing their finances and planning for the future.

We appreciate your willingness to invest your time and knowledge in the people we serve, and we look forward to the next class!

07/29/2026

"I said what? That's right... I said, 'Please don't move out.'"

People are sometimes surprised to hear me say that. After all, isn't the goal to get people out of shelter?

Absolutely. But our goal isn't just to get someone housed. Our goal is for them to stay housed.

Recently, someone told me they were thinking about moving back in with an ex because they were now clean and sober. That immediately raised red flags for me. What if the relationship doesn't work out? What if the other person changes their mind? What if they're asked to leave? Suddenly they're back where they started, with nowhere to go.

I always encourage participants, whenever possible, to work toward housing that's in their own name or at least protected by a lease. I don't want anyone to be dependent on another person's goodwill for a place to live. A lease provides rights and a legal process if something goes wrong. That's a much more secure foundation than simply hoping someone won't change their mind.

I understand why people want to leave shelter as quickly as possible. I'd want my own space too. But sometimes the desire to move out is so strong that common sense gets pushed aside. That's when it's my job to slow things down and ask the hard questions.

Our classes, our structure, and our expectations aren't there to make life more difficult. They're there to give people the tools they'll need when they're living on their own. Budgeting, communication, employment, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, and accountability all matter just as much as having a roof over your head.

I've heard the phrase, "I should've listened," more times than I'd like to admit. Usually it's after someone left before they were truly ready. That doesn't mean people shouldn't move on. In fact, I'm constantly reminding everyone that the goal is to find permanent housing. But I also don't want anyone leaving before they've been given the best chance to succeed.

At Redemption City, we don't measure success by how many people move through our doors each year. We measure success by what happens after they leave. Are they still housed six months later? A year later? Are they managing their lives successfully and building a future they can sustain?

Sometimes the most caring thing I can say isn't, "Congratulations, you're moving out."

Sometimes it's, "Not yet."

I'd rather someone be frustrated with me today than homeless again a month from now.

07/26/2026

Join us tomorrow morning at 10:30am!

As disciples, we are called to be a BRIDGE to Jesus Christ, not a w...

07/24/2026

07/20/2026

Coming Up at North Star!

07/15/2026

We are open Monday through Saturday every week from 9am - 2pm. No appointments necessary.

07/15/2026

Just a reminder that sometimes it doesn't work out the way we hope.

Recently, we were able to bring a participant in from the streets and into our shelter. Unfortunately, she continued to use drugs while in the program. We offered her the opportunity to enter a blackout period—a time to step away from the people, places, and things that were contributing to her addiction and focus on recovery.

Not everyone agrees with that approach, but we've seen how difficult it is for people to succeed when they detox for a week and are then released right back into the same environment. Recovery often requires a period of separation and stability to build a foundation for lasting change.

In the end, she chose not to move forward with that option.

The ups and downs of addiction are difficult for everyone involved. We can provide shelter, support, resources, encouragement, and opportunities, but we can't want recovery more than the person does, and we can't do the work for them.

Our door remains open. We hope that when she is ready, she'll come back.

Until then, we'll continue doing what we do every day—meeting people where they are, believing in their potential, and offering hope whenever they're ready to take the next step.

07/10/2026

We are so fortunate to have our wonderful volunteer, Adrienne, available to provide haircuts for our participants.

Something as simple as a haircut can make a huge difference. A fresh cut can boost confidence, restore dignity, and help someone feel ready for a job interview, treatment, housing appointments, or simply face the day with renewed self-esteem.

Adrienne is available to help our participants as needed, and today she was able to give several people a fresh start. The smiles afterward said it all—many of them truly felt like new people.

Thank you, Adrienne, for sharing your time, talent, and kindness with our community. Your willingness to serve is making a difference, one haircut at a time.

07/09/2026

Busy day at the North Star Navigation Center!

Today reminded me why collaboration matters.

Thanks to our partnerships with the Community Collaboration of Delaware (CCD) and the Seaford Community Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Response Initiative (SCORI), we were able to connect three individuals to treatment today. CCD operates out of the North Star Navigation Center while remaining its own independent organization, and together we're able to meet people where they are and connect them with the resources they need.

Before heading to treatment, these individuals were able to shower and receive clean clothing. One of the things we hear often is, "I can't go to treatment because I don't have clothes." Whether it's a real barrier or a reason someone isn't quite ready, we're grateful to be able to remove that obstacle and help people take the next step.

We also met a young woman during outreach yesterday—outreach that is made possible through an ESG grant from the Delaware State Housing Authority. She had recently completed detox and was struggling to stay clean while living in a tent. She shared that she wants to continue moving forward, had just been hired by a local store, and hopes to reunite with her children.

As it happened, one of the women in our shelter had just moved into her own room-for-rent. We had an opening available, explained the structure and expectations of our program, and the young woman said yes. She moved in today.

We were also able to help a family staying in a hotel with laundry services, connect participants with case managers through Network Connect, and assist a family with food through our partnership with Cornerstone Community's food pantry. Whether someone is housed, in a hotel, or living outdoors, everyone deserves access to food and support.

Today, seven people were able to shower, several more completed laundry, and everyone who came through our doors had access to breakfast and lunch.

We were also honored to welcome members of Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester's team, who stopped by to see the work being done through our shelters and navigation center.

And one more exciting update: thanks to funding from the Longwood Foundation, we were able to hire our very first case manager!

A lot is happening behind the scenes at Redemption City. I know I don't post nearly as often as I should, but the truth is that sometimes the work itself takes priority. Every day, lives are being changed, barriers are being removed, and people are taking steps toward stability and hope.

Thank you to everyone who supports this mission. We couldn't do it without you.

07/09/2026

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