DOVER, Del. (WBOC) - A new facility in Dover is helping men transition out of homeless shelter and into something better. The Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing recently dedicated its newest building on Walker Road.
Walter Bagley Hall is not a homeless shelter but transitional housing.
Ivey Wilson is the supervisor for the facility.
"Basically my job is just to make sure everything runs smoothly," Wilson said.
He knows what it's like to be homeless.
"When you go through something as serious as I did, you need someone to believe in you again. I needed a chance. Dover Interfaith Mission gave me that chance."
The mission has had a shelter a short distance away on Forest Street for about eight years. The idea for the new facility stemmed from the original one.
"What are we going to do with these men after they've been here, and they have a job, and they're standing on both feet?" Herb Konowitz explained.
Walter Bagley Hall can hold 30 men. Right now it has 20. DIMH expects to have the facility at full capacity by mid-winter.
The men are employed or on disability and can live there for up to two years. They pay rent of $400-600 a month, which covers meals, too.
"It's kind of like a dormitory to tell you the truth. Everybody is expected to pick up behind themselves," said Konowitz. "They have chores they have to do."
There are rules, like no drugs or alcohol and no women in the rooms.
"This is for guys to be focused and to be serious about getting on to the next step," said Wilson.
And from his perspective on that front, so far, so good.
"Everybody seems to be happy here. They thrive here. That's the most important thing."
Men have been living in the building since the summer. But there was still work being done on the building. So, it wasn't officially dedicated until just last week.
