The Georgetown Pallet Village has proven to be more than a temporary shelter—it is a low-barrier navigation center designed to stabilize lives, connect people to services, and transition residents toward permanent housing. Its rapid delivery, built on strong partnerships with local contractors, volunteers, funders, and the Town of Georgetown, has become a model for statewide replication.
Here’s a detailed, continuous text narrative of how Springboard built the Pallet Village in Georgetown, Delaware.
Origins and Early Planning (2020–2021)
The vision for what became the Georgetown Pallet Village began in May 2020, when Jud Malone and Jeff Stone collaborated to launch a GoFundMe campaign in response to visible encampments and persistent homelessness in the Georgetown area. That September, the initiative was formalized by incorporating as The Springboard Collaborative (TSC), laying the groundwork for structured fundraising and project development.
In May 2021, Springboard received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation, enabling access to philanthropic grants and public funding streams. Later that year, in September 2021, after assessing shelter models across the country, the organization selected Pallet Shelter as the preferred provider for its planned low-barrier, service-rich navigation center. The Pallet model promised durability, rapid assembly, climate control, and privacy—critical to attracting and stabilizing people who had been living unsheltered for extended periods.
Securing Funding and Site Control (2022)
The first major capital commitments arrived in April 2022, when Springboard received pre-approval for a $998,000 State CIRF (ARPA) grant. The following month, the Town of Georgetown approved an ARPA allocation of $500,000 toward the project. By June 2022, the Longwood Foundation awarded Springboard an $800,000 grant, significantly strengthening the funding base.
Simultaneously, Springboard secured site control through a lease with the First State Community Action Agency (FSCAA) for approximately two acres at 411 Kimmey Street, located behind FSCAA’s existing facilities. This site offered proximity to in-town services while providing space for a secure, purpose-built campus.
By July 2022, Springboard had hired initial staff focused on outreach and developing a by-name list of prospective participants—many of whom were already living in informal encampments nearby.
Site Preparation and Assembly (Fall 2022)
With permits and engineering plans in place, site work began in September 2022. The start of construction was briefly threatened when CIRF funds were delayed, but local developer Preston Schell stepped in with $365,000 in bridge funding, allowing work to proceed without pause.
Thompson and Sons graded the property and poured concrete pads to serve as foundations for the cabins. On October 17, 2022, Springboard hosted a large-scale volunteer build day. Crews from Ocean Atlantic, Nickel Electric, and George & Lynch, mobilized through the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) network, joined the effort. ABC leaders Ruth Briggs King and Charlie Timmons helped organize and recruit skilled labor for the event.
Flat-packed Pallet cabins arrived on-site, each bundle containing walls, roofing, windows, and hardware. Pallet Shelter representatives provided on-site training to volunteers, ensuring safe and efficient assembly. Teams divided tasks into exterior construction, interior finishing, and pre-electrical coordination, with Nickel Electric aligning power hookups. Interior work—including climate control installation and final fixtures—was completed quickly after shells were raised.
The volunteer–contractor partnership compressed the build schedule significantly, enabling Springboard to complete the bulk of cabin assembly within days of delivery.
Winterization and Opening (December 2022 – January 2023)
In late fall, crews installed underground electrical service, trenching between cabins and connecting to a new Delmarva Power transformer. Rain delays pushed some grading and finishing into December, but by January the site was energized and fully operational.
In January 2023, the Georgetown Pallet Village officially opened, welcoming 40 initial residents into private, climate-controlled cabins within a secure, service-supported environment.
Growth and Community Integration (2023–2024)
Springboard continued to invest in site improvements. In July 2023, the “Paint the Town” event brought 125 volunteers to repaint cabins in vibrant colors, raising $50,000 for ongoing needs.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed in August 2023, attended by state and federal officials, including Senators, the Congresswoman, and the Lt. Governor, with approximately 150 people present.
Throughout 2024, Springboard advanced plans for a permanent Community Center on-site, funded partly through Town ARPA allocations. This facility will include a kitchen, multipurpose space, telehealth facilities, and offices for case management and supportive services. Updated site plans were submitted in September 2024.
Impact
The Georgetown Pallet Village has proven to be more than a temporary shelter—it is a low-barrier navigation center designed to stabilize lives, connect people to services, and transition residents toward permanent housing. Its rapid delivery, built on strong partnerships with local contractors, ABC volunteers, funders, and the Town of Georgetown, has become a model for statewide replication.