We're on a mission to provide shelter, support, and opportunities for those facing homelessness.

About Redemption City

At Redemption City, we aim to be a beacon of hope and empowerment in our community. We believe that homelessness should be met with compassion, understanding, and opportunity for transformation. Our mission is to provide shelter, stability, and access to essential resources that help individuals rebuild their lives and rediscover their potential.

Rooted in the belief that every person holds inherent value and dignity, we work to create pathways toward lasting independence through structure, connection, and care. Together, we’re not just providing shelter, we’re building a foundation for brighter futures.

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Why do we need another shelter in Sussex County?

Over the years, after meeting probably 1,000 people experiencing homelessness and hearing their stories, I grew to see the urgent need to have more shelter space for Sussex County. There never seems to be somewhere for people to go when they need it. Organizations like Code Purple are a great way to meet the crisis needs of winter, but then there are the other eight months of the year. People need a safe space to figure out the next steps in their lives. A place that provides them the tools, mentorship, and chance to try. - Founder, Nikki Gonzalez

What makes Redemption City different?

With a strong focus on developing job skills and a comprehensive self-sufficiency plan, our goal is to break the cycle of homelessness for our participants. Redemption City is more than just a shelter; it's a nurturing community and a safe haven for those seeking a fresh start. Our program places a strong emphasis on personal responsibility and active engagement through a variety of life enrichment classes. Additionally, we forge vital connections to established community resources that prioritize mental health and overall well-being, fostering an environment where individuals can truly thrive.

Our Mission

Redemption City seeks to help people experiencing homelessness find shelter while providing comprehensive and holistic care. We are rooted in a deep conviction that every human being has incredible value, worth and dignity. We want to help restore that dignity. We strive to impart skills so they may thrive in life rather than simply housing and turning them back out to repeat the cycle.

Meet the Founder

Nikki Gonzalez has dedicated the past 15 years of her life to walking alongside individuals experiencing homelessness. Her journey began through direct outreach, meeting people where they were, on the streets and in the woods, where her love for humanity was deeply shaped and strengthened. It was there that Nikki learned to see people not through their circumstances, but through compassion, dignity, and worth.

When Code Purple Sussex County was formed, Nikki stepped into the role of Director, helping build the ministry from the ground up. Over the years, she has overseen emergency winter shelters, navigated the complex realities of addiction and mental health, and witnessed firsthand the gaps in services that too often prevent lasting change.

Out of those experiences, Redemption City was born.

Today, Redemption City operates two residential shelters, a day center, and emergency winter shelter services, each created to meet people where they are while providing pathways toward stability and transformation. Nikki continues to be deeply involved in the day-to-day work, not because it is her job, but because it is her calling.

For Nikki, this work has never been about programs or positions, it has always been about people. She lives, loves, and breathes this mission, believing that everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and given the opportunity to rebuild their life with dignity and hope.

Governing Body

  • Jay Duke

    DIRECTOR MEMBER

    Jay Duke has been involved with volunteering for Code Purple for several years where he transported laundry and supplies, kept the shelters stocked, and slept there one or two nights a week to ensure the safety of the overnight guests. Jay spent many years leading a support group for families of addicted loved ones with his wife, Beth. He also shares in the tragedy of a loved one losing the battle of addiction. Jay is a hands-on worker who takes a no-nonsense approach to the predicaments occurring with the homeless.

  • Cecilia Gonzalez

    SECRETARY

    Being the daughter of the director of Code Purple, Cecilia Gonzalez started her volunteer work with the homeless at a young age. Torn between her passion for the homeless and her love for animals, Cecilia Gonzalez found a way to incorporate both into her life and made plans to integrate Pawprints to Home into Redemption City’s vision.

  • Andrea Warfel

    PRESIDENT

    Andrea Warfel is a Delaware native who has worked in the public service field for 20 plus years. She has helped Nikki at Code Purple over the years and has seen the need for a longer-term solution. She is excited to see Redemption City grow and be a permanent resource in Sussex County.

  • Beth Duke

    TREASURER

    Addiction, mental health, homelessness, and a host of other issues plague our people, our neighbors, our loved ones. Beth Duke carries with her a very sad experience with addiction in her immediate family. A support group for families of addicted persons was her passion for many years. Beth is a firm believer in a hand-up for those taking the necessary steps to improve their situation. Lives can be transformed

Advisory Board

  • Renee Parker

    GRANT WRITING & FUNDRAISING SPECIALIST

    For years, Renee has been an advocate for people involved in the legal system due to suffering from mental illness and/or addiction. In doing so, she also helped connect the homeless population to temporary housing--often falling short given the lack of resources. Her passion for helping others and experience in the field allows her to see when people need help, even when they aren't asking for it. Redemption City will provide a much-needed, longer-term, creative solution to those experiencing homelessness and hardships in Sussex County.

  • Dr. Eric Johnson, Ph.D.

    GENERAL MEMBER

    Dr. Eric Johnson, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and the owner and operator of Compass Mental Wellness Services, LLC. He founded CMWS, LLC, to bring a new level of mental health care to Sussex county, with the understanding that psychotherapy has approximately 60% positive outcomes overall. When you add any complexity to an individual case, the likely hood of positive outcomes decreases even further. Dr. Johnson has strived to build a model of psychotherapy that can be used with any therapeutic technique but uses neuropsychological principles to enhance treatment by working with the brain instead of against it. Dr. Johnson, Ph.D., also utilizes cutting-edge neurophysiological treatment techniques to enhance treatment and further enhance positive outcomes.

  • Horacio (June) Gonzalez

    GENERAL MEMBER

    June has worked every facet of sheltering people experiencing homelessness over the past eight years. He and Nikki are a true team. Whenever needed, he steps up to help. June has spent numerous nights, given multiple rides, loaded truck after truck to move shelter items from place to place, fed many guests, and most importantly, grown in friendship with those staying at the shelter. He sees the potential in the people that come through to find a warm place to be. He is excited to support Nikki in her dream of a year-round shelter.