Find alternatives to calling the Wilmington Police Department.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
These resources may be obligated to call police in the case of an immediate risk of harm to the caller or another, child abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement or involve them beyond what is required by law, we acknowledge that in the listing.
These resources are not intended to cover all situations, only to provide the services described. If you are in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911.
Housing
- Housing Alliance of Delaware
- Centralized Intake (CI) is the process by which Delaware coordinates access to emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing for households experiencing homelessness in Delaware. Staff will assist you with locating available emergency shelter in all 3 counties in Delaware. Services for individuals and families.
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- 1-833-FIND-BED (346-3233)
- https://www.housingalliancede.org/centralized-intake
- Latin American Community Center
- This program is for everyone in New Castle County, Delaware. This program is meant to help those in need of food and housing and is meant to reduce homelessness. Helps people look for shelter and financially helps with a limited amount such as paying a portion of a hotel fee or an apartment’s rent. Emergency food is also offered via their Food Closet. This program runs throughout the year. Also offer utilities and rent assistance to those who qualify.
- 403 North Van Buren Street Wilmington DE, 19805
- (302) 655-7338
- United Way 211 Delaware
- Connects callers to a resource specialist. Connects Delaware residents with essential health and human services, including affordable housing, utility assistance, healthcare, senior services, food and other vital programs.
- 211 or 1 (800) 560-3372; Text zip code to 898-211 or chat online
- https://www.delaware211.org/
LGBTQ+
- Camp Rehoboth Community Center
- Offers LGBTQ Resources, Providers, Delaware Data, Transgender & Nonbinary Resources. Free, rapid, and confidential HIV tests, and counseling on HIV prevention options. Safe Haven for Youth & Families. Community center open 9-5. Can connect to other community resources, as well as the suicide hotline.
- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- 37 Baltimore Avenue., Rehoboth, DE 19971
- (302) 227-5620
- https://www.camprehoboth.com/
- PFLAG Wilmington
- Support for families, allies, and people who are LGBTQ. Education for ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges facing people. Advocacy to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ. Other Groups : PTK (Parents of Trans Kids), LGBTQ+ “Ask” Youth Group. Can connect LGBTQ+ youth to shelter.
- 13th & Rodney St. 1502 & West 13th Street Wilmington, DE 19806
- (302) 438-1545 for support groups
- (302) 654-2995 (Help line)
- https://www.pflagwilmde.org/home
Mental Health
- Bridge Clinic
- Offers walk-in help for substance abuse and mental health disorders. No fee for service. Open to all Delaware residents. Evaluations conducted by on site clinicians. Transportation can be provided by clinic. All services are free. Will refer to outside provider if ongoing inpatient services are needed. Police will be called if a person is violent. Cooperates with Mobile Crisis Intervention. Due to COVID, primarily operating telehealth, phone screening required prior to in-person services.
- 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- 14 Central Avenue, New Castle, DE 19720
- (302) 255-1650
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- https://www.thelatincenter.org/family-support-services
- Delaware Guidance Services Mobile Response Team
- Mobile Response call center dispatches a local crisis clinician. After initial intervention, will refer patients to one of the five Delaware Guidance Services locations. DGS is DE’s largest provider of non residential (outpatient) MH Services for children and families. Takes Insurance/meidcaid/has PVH funding. Will help you apply for and get PVH funding if you do not have insurance. No ages retrictions, but only does medication management for 18 and under (or up to 21 for students), inclusive, confidential. Will only call police if requested.
- Some services moved to Zoom during COVID
- (800) 969-HELP (4357) (24/7)
- https://www.delawareguidance.org/
- Help is Here
- Licensed clinicans provide free screenings, evaluations, referrals and peer support. Counseling, coaching, therapy, as well as links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services, free service
- 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
- 14 Central Ave. New Castle. De 19720
- (302) 255-1650 (Office)
- 833-9-HOPEDE (24/7 hotline)
- helpisherede.com
- Mobile Crisis Intervention Services, Northern Delaware
- Provides hotline support and mobile outreach. Staff are available 24 hours a day to assist people, 18 years and older, with severe personal, family, or marital problems. These problems may include depression, major life changes such as unemployment or loss of an important relationship, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, delusions, paranoia and substance abuse. Mobile team is psychiatric professionals. In the case of violence, callers will be directed to the police. If a person needs to be detained due to violence while mobile team is on site, police will be called. A government-run program. Serves all of New Castle County and greater Smyrma.
- (302) 577-2484 (24/7)
- Toll free: 1 (800) 652-2929 (24/7)
- https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsamh/crisis_intervention.html
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- CHILD, Inc.’s DV Response
- CHILD, Inc. advocates and employees are not first responders, meaning that they won’t go to the scene of an incident as the incident is happening. If you need immediate physical safety, you should call the police. Further, CHILD, Inc. advocates are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse & neglect. If, while participating in a service with us, we believe you are likely to hurt yourself or someone else, we would engage the help of the police and/or crisis workers. If we witness a crime in progress, we will call the police.
- CHILD, Inc. helps victims of domestic violence with a variety of needs including but not limited to crisis counseling, safety planning, help obtaining basic needs, court accompaniment, limited access to attorneys, emergency shelter, limited transportation, supervised visitation and exchange, 24/7 bilingual hotline (Spanish/English), financial literacy, victim’s therapy, offender intervention, therapy for children exposed to family violence, parenting education, and a parenting warmline. Most of CHILD, Inc.’s clients live in Delaware but some of them are moving to Delaware and are from nearby states.
- Main office address: 507 Philadelphia Pike Wilmington, DE. 19809
- Main office phone: (302) 762-8989
- DV Hotline: (302) 762-6110
- www.childinc.com
- Latin American Community Center – Domestic Violence Program
- Serves Hispanic women in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties who have been victims of domestic violence. The program coordinator meets with the client and the client can share what she is going through in a safe space. The program coordinator provides counseling for clients and education on domestic violence, safety plans, and assistance with filling out PFA (Protection From Abuse). The program coordinator can also provide company to clients going to court as a form of support. A full range of bilingual /bicultural services is provided at no cost for victims of domestic violence, including case management, therapy and legal services. Ages 18+.
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- 403 North Van Buren Street Wilmington DE, 19805
- (302) 655-7338
- https://www.thelatincenter.org/family-support-services
- YWCA Sexual Assault Response Center
- Helps women and their families live safe, without experiencing fear, or abuse by an intimate partner by providing crisis support, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and recovery services for adult victims of domestic violence and violence prevention services for youth ages 11-17. The Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) provides comprehensive, free and confidential rape crisis services to sexual assault survivors aged 12 and older and their non-offending family members, friends and partners throughout the State of Delaware. Police will be involved if caller is under 18 or was at time of assault. All services are free.
- 100 W 10th St #515, Wilmington, DE 19801
- (800)773-8570 (24/7)
- https://www.ywcade.org/what-we-do/sarc/
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- CHILD, Inc.’s Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
- The Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) program operates a 24/7 runaway hotline that serves as a link between runaways, their families, and Child, Inc. counseling services. A crisis counselor responds to hotline calls with intervention services. The RHY program offers short term emergency shelter care for runaway or homeless youth who are appropriate for services. Short-term individual and family counseling is also available to families experiencing problems that could precipitate youth runaway behavior. Ages 12-17.
- Main office address: 507 Philadelphia Pike Wilmington, DE. 19809
- Main office phone: (302) 762-8989
- Runaway Hotline: (302) 762-6373
- www.childinc.com
- Delaware Guidance Services Mobile Response Team
- Mobile Response call center dispatches a local crisis clinician. After initial intervention, will refer patients to one of the five Delaware Guidance Services locations. DGS is DE’s largest provider of non residential (outpatient) MH Services for children and families. Takes Insurance/meidcaid/has PVH funding. Will help you apply for and get PVH funding if you do not have insurance. No ages retrictions, but only does medication management for 18 and under (or up to 21 for students), inclusive, confidential. Will only call police if requested.
- Some services moved to Zoom during COVID
- (800) 969-HELP (4357) (24/7)
- https://www.delawareguidance.org/
Elders
- Senior Helpers Christiana
- Senior Helpers offer Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Parkinson’s Care, Companion Care, Personal Care, Transitional Care, VA Benefit Assistance, Respite Care , and Surgery Assistance (assist with transportation). When you call they will set you up with a required assessment and determine what you need. You can meet in person or over Zoom. While they do work with some “long-term care” insurance plans, they mostly charge out-of-pocket, $23-$26 an hour for personal care.
- 630 Churchmans Road.suite 107 Newark, DE 19720
- (302) 231-1504 (24/7)
- www.seniorhelpers.com
Crime
- Latin American Community Center – Victims of Crime Advocacy Program
- Connects victims with available resources and provides guidance with police reporting and judicial processes, assistance contacting the authorities and reporting the crime, information about victims’ rights under the law, referral to free legal services to obtain a special visa that you can qualify for as a victim of a crime, assistance filling out appropriate forms (VCAP) that may cover certain expenses such as medical bills, counseling services, and referrals to other support services in the community.
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- 403 North Van Buren Street Wilmington DE, 19805
- (302) 655-7338
- https://www.thelatincenter.org/family-support-services
Substances
- Bridge Clinic
- Offers walk-in help for substance abuse and mental health disorders. No fee for service. Open to all Delaware residents. Evaluations conducted by on site clinicians. Transportation can be provided by clinic. All services are free. Will refer to outside provider if ongoing inpatient services are needed. Police will be called if a person is violent. Cooperates with Mobile Crisis Intervention. Due to COVID, primarily operating telehealth, phone screening required prior to in-person services.
- 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
- 14 Central Avenue, New Castle, DE 19720
- (302) 255-1650
- Mobile Crisis Intervention Services, Northern Delaware
- Provides hotline support and mobile outreach. Staff are available 24 hours a day to assist people, 18 years and older, with severe personal, family, or marital problems. These problems may include depression, major life changes such as unemployment or loss of an important relationship, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, delusions, paranoia and substance abuse. Mobile team is psychiatric professionals. In the case of violence, callers will be directed to the police. If a person needs to be detained due to violence while mobile team is on site, police will be called. A government-run program.
- (302) 577-2484 (24/7)
- Toll free: 1 (800) 652-2929 (24/7)
- https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsamh/crisis_intervention.html
- Recovery Response Center, International (RI)
- a 23-hour crisis assessment and engagement program for individuals 18 years of age or older, with significant mental health and/or substance use challenges. People in crisis can come here, stay overnight (~23 hours), while the staff sorts out getting them access to the particular care they need. Will refer to other organizations, such as PACE incorporated. The goals of the Recovery Response Center are to prevent hospitalization, when possible, and higher levels of care by rapidly getting to know the persons needs, engaging in a voluntary recovery opportunity, and connecting people to the community services and support. The site is staffed 24-7 fors calls or drop-in. Accept referrals from police but state they would not call law enforcement on a caller. All accepted regardless of insured status. Confidential.
- Ages 18+
- 659 E Chesnut Road, Newark DE
- (302) 318-6070
- https://riinternational.com/
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Wilmington Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.