Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How bad is Wilmington’s affordable housing gap—and what could fix it?

Happening soon: Natural Holiday Wreath-making on the Wilmington Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday December 12th Patch AM
Friday December 12th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey hey Wilmington! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How bad is Wilmington’s affordable housing gap—and what could fix it?
  • How Wilmington’s new rent escrow plan could change tenant protections
  • How a late-night I-95 chase in Wilmington turned deadly

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Day Bash! and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Wilmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Wilmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 37 and low of 24 degrees.
  • Saturday: Cloudy; breezy in the p.m., temps: high: 42, low: 27.
  • Sunday: Colder; a.m. snow, up to 1", with a high of 30 and low of 19 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

1. Habitat for Humanity CEO Warns Wilmington Rotary of Deepening Affordable Housing Crisis in Delaware (delawarelive.com) — Wilmington Rotary members heard a stark warning this week about Delaware’s worsening affordable housing shortage, with Habitat for Humanity’s local CEO estimating a need for 20,000 additional low‑income units. Speaking at the Hotel du Pont, he detailed zoning hurdles, NIMBY resistance, and policy imbalances he says are squeezing Wilmington families, while urging faster permitting, smarter land use, and a better balance between renter protections and landlord participation.
   

2. Wilmington City Council and Mayor in support of ordinance creating a rent escrow program (delawarepublic.org) — Wilmington tenants may soon get a city-run rent escrow option when landlords fail to restore vital services like heat or water within 48 hours. City Council has approved Councilmember Yolanda McCoy’s ordinance, and Mayor John Carney has until Dec. 15 to sign it, after which staff will have 120 days to launch the program.
   

3. Father charged in I-95 chase and crash that left baby boy dead (wdel.com) — Wilmington residents are learning more about a tragic I-95 crash after police charged a father in connection with a September pursuit that killed his 4-month-old son. Investigators say the chase began during a traffic stop in Wilmington and ended after a high-speed flight onto Marsh and Edgemoor roads. The man now faces serious charges and is being held on substantial cash bail.
   

4. Marie Graney, pastoral services coordinator at St. Ann's, Wilmington, helps you to your seat at Lincoln Financial Field (thedialog.org) — A longtime north Wilmington resident who coordinates pastoral services at St. Ann Parish also spends game days ushering fans at Philadelphia Eagles home games. Her story highlights deep ties to Wilmington’s Catholic community, a love for parish life, and the unique perspective she’s gained from 15 seasons helping fans through heat, rain, snow, and playoff runs.
   

5. Drexel Environmental Collaboratory Releases Cross-Sector Findings on Severe Weather Recovery Challenges (drexel.edu) — Wilmington’s city government took part in a major Drexel University-led report on how communities can better prepare for and recover from severe weather. The findings emphasize listening to vulnerable neighborhoods, improving warning systems, and coordinating governments, hospitals, and utilities—guidance that could shape how Wilmington plans for floods, heat waves, and other climate-driven emergencies in the coming years.
   

📸 Around Wilmington

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Wilmington

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Wilmington Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Wilmington PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • McVey Elementary Helps Set New World Stacking Record! —Christina School District Read on Patch
  • Meeting Notice: CSD Citizen Budget Oversight Committee Meeting —Christina School District Read on Patch
  • Christina School Board Listening Session - Dec 11 for Brennen Families & Staff —Christina School District Read on Patch
  • Honoring Achievement: Secretary Marten Presents Marshall Elementary the Sapphire Award —Christina School District Read on Patch
  • December Christina Board of Education Recap —Christina School District Read on Patch
  • Looking to get a puppy to keep me some company!
    Would love a breed that stays small. Any resources to help me out? Thank you! (Nextdoor Village at Fox Point)
  • There’s a guy driving around in a green ford focus with DE tags looking for packages that are left outside.
    Please be mindful when having packages delivered (Nextdoor Trinity Vicinity)
  • The Salvation Army Eastern Territory posted a job opening for Kettle Worker/Bell Ringer in Wilmington. Apply here.
  • Delaware Schools Consortium posted a job opening for SY 25-26 - Elementary School - General Art Teacher in Wilmington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Wilmington here.

Ok Wilmington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Wilmington