“The only people seemingly being allowed to stay were those with disabilities because they had constant income,” said Granke, who also sits on the board of the West Rehoboth Community Land Trust.

Granke thought state officials, facing declining revenues, were considering selling the well-situated property at the entrance to Rehoboth Beach. The Delaware State Housing Authority owns the development, which houses hundreds of residents in 51 units – housing that sits on prime real estate property.

“We can’t lose what little affordable housing we have in the state,” Granke said.

Granke said she contacted Sen. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, and House Majority Leader Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, to make sure the development was staying put.

“We are not selling the property. In fact, we’re putting federal stimulus funds into the development,” said Delaware State Housing Director Anas Ben Addi.

Christina Hardin, chief of community relations for the state housing authority, said when Congress in February passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the housing authority received $13,000 to replace and upgrade smoke detectors in Burton Village.

She also said officials applied for a second round of federal funding – nearly half a million dollars – slated for Burton Village.

“We’ve requested about $400,000 to replace hot water heaters and refrigerators to make them more energy efficient. But, we still have not heard,” said Hardin.

Burton Village was not included in a Thursday, Sept. 24 funding award, said Hardin.

“We don’t know that it will be, but we are not selling that property,” she said.

Granke said she was relieved because affordable and low-income housing remains scarce in Sussex County. “That sounds encouraging because that land is considered very valuable. That’s what the state wanted to do a couple of years ago,” said Granke. “We need to protect the affordable housing that we have left.”