For years the Harriet Tubman Safe House in Wilmington has been a home for those looking for a second chance. Consisting of two buildings, it houses men convicted of crimes who are looking to reenter society.
It’s one of the only places in Delaware that takes in homeless registered sex offenders. It’s likely that will soon change however due to a Delaware law.
A few months ago, the Old Swedes Church, located across the street from the safe house, began leasing space for a daycare center. According to state law, sex offenders cannot live within 500 feet of a daycare center or school.
One Harriet Tubman building on the 900 block of East 7th Street is 365 feet from the daycare center. The other building on the 700 block of Buttonwood Street, is 493 feet from the center, meaning that all of the safe house’s sex offenders must be evicted.
So far 11 of the 16 sex offenders have moved out. 5 of them remain and have until August 19 to leave.
“We understand the situation and we’re sympathetic to all concerned but the city has to enforce the law,” said Bill Montgomery, the Wilmington Mayor’s Chief of Staff.
Earl Woodlen Jr., the owner and CEO of the safe house is fighting the city's decision. Woodlen, an ex-drug dealer and drug addict who turned his life around, claims that the city never notified him about a proposal to open the daycare center.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
“I have five guys that have nowhere to go,” said Woodlen. “They have no income so they will be in the street.”
Woodlen filed a lawsuit in federal court fighting the eviction order. He hopes to hear from the court sometime next week.
“If they don’t want us to live here, where are we to go?” asked 52-year-old Richard Paredes, one of the sex offenders who still hasn’t moved. “Give us something we can go to. There is nothing in New Castle County. I’m homeless because I have nowhere to go.”
The daycare center declined to speak with NBC10.
