Councilmember Coby Owens

April is Autism Acceptance Month in the City of Wilmington

Come out on Tuesday

Join us for the 1st & 2nd District Budget Town Hall Meeting.

Tuesday, March 31 | 6 p.m. | Warner Elementary School

Hope to see you there.

🌟 Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 🌟 Today, Wilmington City Council proudly honors the life, legacy, and enduring vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community leaders, volunteers, and residents who braved the elements to serve others today. Your selfless dedication truly reflects the spirit of MLK Day as a day on, not a day off.

Through service, compassion, and unity, we continue the work of strengthening our neighborhoods, bridging barriers, and creating solutions that move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community, one rooted in justice, dignity, and love for all.

📌 City Government Offices are closed today, Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

ICYMI - At its Regular City Council Meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Wilmington City Council voted to pass Resolution 25-057, sponsored by Councilman Coby J. Owens, establishing a Homelessness Subcommittee under Council’s Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities (HEAD) Committee.

This action reflects Council’s commitment to a Healthy Wilmington, one where adult, family, and youth homelessness is met with compassion, coordination, and real solutions. With homelessness increasing statewide by 16% from 2024 to 2025, this Subcommittee creates a dedicated space to build on the recommendations of the City of Wilmington Taskforce on Homelessness, engage residents and stakeholders, and thoughtfully explore policies that meet people where they are.

The nine-member Subcommittee will include Wilmington residents with lived experience, community expertise, and representation from neighborhoods, businesses, and organizations serving unhoused populations. Its work will focus on expanding viable strategies, evaluating feasibility, and offering additional solutions to improve quality of life for individuals experiencing homelessness and for our broader community.

This is about listening, collaborating, and taking intentional steps forward, because addressing homelessness requires sustained attention, shared responsibility, and a citywide commitment to care.

To read Resolution 25-057, visit the linkhttps://www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Res.-25-057-0129-A-Resolution-Establishing-a-Subcommittee-on-Homelessness-Under-the-Health-Environmental-Aging-and-Disabilities-Committee-cjo.pdf

In response to Governor Matt Meyer's announcement that Delaware will fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for Delawareans on a week-by-week basis through November, Councilman Coby J. Owens issues the following statement: “I want to thank Governor Meyer for taking swift action to protect Delaware families. To every senior, parent, and individual affected, you are not alone. Wilmington stands with you, and we are working with our state and community partners to ensure no one is left without the resources they need.”

To read Councilman Owen's statement in full, visit the link https://www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/press-statement-councilmember-coby-j-owens-issues-statement-on-governor-meyers-snap-funding-announcement/

Residents in need of food, housing, or utility assistance can contact Delaware 211 by dialing 2-1-1, texting their ZIP code to 898-211, or visiting https://delaware211.org/ -19369539

To find resources from the State of Delaware, visit the link https://governor.delaware.gov/resource-page-federal-goverment-shutdown/

📚 Supporting our Wilmington Educators 📚 Ordinance 25-033 passed as Amended on October 2, 2025, sponsored by Council Member Coby Owens. This ordinance establishes an Education Workforce Down Payment and Settlement Assistance Program. In partnership with the City's Department of Real Estate and Housing, this first-of-its-kind effort is empowering educators to achieve homeownership and build their futures right here in Wilmington.

💰 The program provides eligible school employees to receive up to $15,000 in forgivable loans toward their first home in Wilmington. For full eligibility requirements and to read the ordinance and its accompanying floor amendment in full, visit the linkhttps://www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ord.-25-033-0071-An-Ordinance-to-Amend-Chapter-8-of-the-City-Code-W0129253x920B6-1.pdf

This initiative represents a big step toward making our city a place where educators can live, work, and thrive. 💙🏠

🏡 Protecting Wilmington Homeowners 🏡 Wilmington City Council has passed Ordinance 25-054, sponsored by Councilman Coby Owens, by a 12-1 vote, creating an 18-month moratorium on property foreclosures tied to sharp tax increases from the recent countywide reassessment.

During Council’s October 16 meeting, a floor amendment of 12-month to 18-month was passed to expand protections for residents and ensure fair relief for those most affected.

This ordinance pauses monition (foreclosure) actions for any property, residential or commercial, whose 2026 tax bill rose 25% or more from last year, as long as the owner is on a payment plan.

Council remains committed to keeping families in their homes, protecting neighborhoods, and ensuring fair and transparent taxation for all Wilmington residents.

The Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund is now available for customers!

With the support of Gov. Matt Meyer, Energize Delaware, and Exelon, this relief fund is here to provide assistance for limited and moderate-income households.

✅ Who qualifies?
• Active Delmarva Power residential electrics/gas customers
• Limited income households (qualify for LIHEAP)
• Moderate income households (income up to 350% of federal poverty level + $250 balance)
• All participants must complete the Energize Delaware Energy Checkup and Counseling program

📞 For questions, call 88-735-1510

📅 Ready to get started?
• Schedule your HEC2 appointment: https://energizedelaware.org/residential/in-home-energy-check-up/ or
• Visit the website for more information: https://energizedelaware.org/delmarva-power-customer-relief-fund/

Today, Council Members Coby J. Owens and Alexander Hackett stood with U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester as she announced her New Way Home Agenda, a bold housing policy vision designed to increase supply, improve affordability, and open the doors of homeownership to more families.

From streamlining the way we build “missing middle” housing, to breaking down red tape, supporting first-time homebuyers, and unlocking new investments in our neighborhoods, this agenda is about creating pathways to stability, opportunity, and generational wealth for our communities.

Wilmington’s leaders are proud to support this forward-thinking approach to housing that puts people first and strengthens the foundation of the American dream. 🏡✨