Woman at podium standing before conference attendees

"One thread that runs through all that we do at CCRS related to homelessness and housing has been to provide a hub for stakeholders on these issues to meet, to disseminate ideas and information, and to build community and collaboration,” said Steve Metraux, CCRS Director and national homelessness expert, pictured here at the Homelessness in Delaware 2026: Housing Amidst Uncertainty Conference.

Turning data into solutions

Article by Sophonie Milord September 25, 2026

UD research helps shape housing policy and expand solutions for homelessness in Delaware

Housing costs are the primary driver of homelessness in Delaware, according to a joint survey by the University of Delaware and the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA). The findings reinforce what UD researchers have learned through decades of studying homelessness and housing insecurity: Solutions require understanding — and addressing — the factors that put people at risk.

That research-to-action approach is at the heart of the University’s Center for Community Research and Service (CCRS), part of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration.

Since 1988, CCRS has built expertise in homelessness and housing while connecting researchers, policy makers, service providers, healthcare organizations and housing developers. Its partnership with the Institute for Public Administration created a joint housing policy team that provides data-driven guidance and technical assistance to community and state leaders.

“One thread that runs through all that we do at CCRS related to homelessness and housing has been to provide a hub for stakeholders on these issues to meet, to disseminate ideas and information, and to build community and collaboration,” says Steve Metraux, CCRS Director and national homelessness expert.

That work includes the Eviction Data Response Network, a partnership between CCRS and Delaware stakeholders funded by New America. The network brings together academic, state, and nonprofit organizations to collect and use data to support more equitable outcomes for renters at risk of eviction.

UD researchers Erin Nescott and Annette Pic help drive policy through their strategic and data-driven insights

UD researchers, including Erin Nescott and Annette Pic, help drive policy through their strategic and data-driven insights, including eviction data compiled years ago and still being collected.

CCRS is also launching a Division of Public Health-funded survey to evaluate housing-insecure youth ages 13–24 and the service providers who work with them. The goal is to build a statewide Implementation Map to help the Interagency Collaborative to End Homelessness align state policy and strengthen services for vulnerable young Delawareans.

The impact of this work extends beyond research findings.

Alexander Modeas, a 2023 graduate, is now director of policy and planning for DSHA. In this role, he’s helping advance Delaware’s statewide response to homelessness, including efforts to expand the Hope Center model beyond New Castle County. The innovative model combines emergency shelter with services designed to address the underlying challenges that can keep people from securing permanent housing.

Attendees of the annual Homelessness Conference, pictured from left to right: Matthew Heckles, State Representative Sophie Phillips, Caitlin Del Collo, Dennis Culhane and Mimi Rayl.

The New Castle County Hope Center opened in 2020, and a Kent County Hope Center is now moving forward, with the goals of providing 150 rooms, along with access to a health clinic, job training, employment coaching and food areas by late fall or early winter.

For Mimi Rayl, CCRS housing initiatives coordinator and close collaborator of Metraux, the progression from research to policy solution is the point.

“Our research supports and feeds into efforts to mitigate and prevent homelessness,” she said. “We go beyond convening to cover the full spectrum of housing needs: prevention, intervention and support.”

About the Center for Community Research and Service

The University of Delaware’s Center for Community Research and Service (CCRS) works to create more just and equitable communities and enhance the well-being of underserved populations in Delaware and beyond. Through its work as a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, CCRS engages with communities and the health and social service systems, thereby contributing to identifying solutions and improving policy. It strengthens its partners' ability to enhance their well-being and builds and supports community leaders and researchers through professional development.

About the Institute for Public Administration

The University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) adds partners to the policy, planning and management team by integrating applied research, professional development and the education of tomorrow’s leaders. As a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, IPA collaborates with state agencies, municipal governments, nonprofits, communities and businesses to examine complex policy issues and improve quality of life in Delaware and beyond.

About the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration

Established in 1961 and named in 2018 for the University of Delaware’s most distinguished alumnus, the 46th President of the United States, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in research and public service to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Biden School faculty, staff, students and alumni create and use interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research, and empirically based analysis to inform effective decision-making and policy and to improve leadership and administration. The Biden School partners with organizations from all sectors to discover innovative and equitable solutions to the critical challenges of our time.

Follow and engage with @UDBidenSchool on Facebook and Instagram and connect on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest with research initiatives, academic activities and more.