History
Mission Statement
Opportunity House is a multi-service organization.. that improves the quality of life for children, adults and families who face various obstacles, and supports their efforts to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and well-being.
Agency Background
Since first opening its doors to the homeless in November 1984, the Shelter has witnessed a dramatic change in the make-up of the population it serves. Originally opened as a facility where a homeless man could get off the street on a cold winter’s night and receive a hot meal and a warm place to sleep, the Shelter is now a 24-hour multi-service facility serving more women and children than men, which focuses on improving the quality of life for those in need and assists them in breaking their cycle of welfare dependency.
Agency Description
Opportunity House provides a wide array of services to homeless, formerly homeless and low-income families and individuals with the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency. In addition to services that meet basic needs of the homeless (shelter, meals, showers, laundry) services are provided to help individuals become and remain independent, responsible members of our community. These services include: case management, life-skills classes, after care case management for individuals and families moving back into the community, short- and long-term transitional housing programs, and permanent housing for individuals with disabilities.
Community services available to both homeless and low-income families and individuals include: 24 hour a day, 7 day a week childcare services through the Second Street Learning Center for children age 6 weeks through 12 years, job-readiness training and placement for chronically unemployed and underemployed individuals through OPPORTUNITY HOUSE Job Quest, and primary health care services through the Reading Health Dispensary at Second Street (an on-site community health center operated by the Reading Hospital and Medical Center).
These comprehensive services have proven effective for homeless families and individuals who stay involved with the program for 90 days or more. Since 1998, 92% of families, 84% of single women, and 86% of single men have successfully transitioned back into the community with appropriate housing and a source of income to sustain it.
Program Descriptions
Emergency Housing - The Shelter, open twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week, provides emergency housing, three meals per day, and laundry facilities for up to 65 men and 44 women and children. Recently opened transitional shelter for families accommodates up to 10 families as they continue to learn skills needed to re-enter the community.
Case Management - Social work staff conduct intake assessments, jointly develop goal plans, liaison with other social service agencies, and provide individual and group counseling.
Financial Management – An in-house savings program for residents monitored by case management staff that provides assistance in money management and budgeting.
Day Program - Provides instruction and counseling in the areas of goal planning, money management, job readiness, addiction awareness, parenting, self-esteem, nutrition, and health education
Aftercare Program - This program is designed to provide community support for up to 70 individuals and families who have successfully moved out of the Shelter and back into independent living. A Case Manager meets regularly in the home with program participants and assists them with budgeting, financial management, transportation, and activities of daily living. This program has proven successful in assisting former residents reintegrate into the community.
Transitional Housing – This program provides four families with an opportunity to make a gradual transition back into the community. All families involved in this program have demonstrated the ability to make positive changes in their lives while engaged in shelter services, but are unable to maintain these changes once they re-enter the community. This program provides two years of supportive services in the home to these families and assists them in making the changes necessary to live independently in the community.
Permanent Housing – This program provides safe, affordable housing for up to eight formerly homeless individuals who do not possess the skills needed to live independently. With case management services available to assist them with activities of daily living and money management, they have been able to move out of the shelter and back into the community.
Child Care - The Second Street Learning Center provides on-site day care and educational experiences in a warm and supportive environment. Open to infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-aged children aged 6-weeks to 13-years living both at the Shelter and in the community, the center is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and currently serves 300 children. With the recent acquisition of two buses, the Center provides transportation to and from city elementary and middle schools.
After School Tutoring Program - provides school aged children with on-site tutors to assist with homework, improve social skills, and participate in a variety of recreational, educational, and cultural experiences.
2009 to Present (Expansion of the Second Street Learning Center)
Addressing critical community needs has, and continues to be, the driving force behind the growth of Opportunity House. Whether it be feeding and sheltering the homeless, providing quality, affordable and flexible child care, operating supportive housing programs for disabled adults and families, or caring for victims of severe child sexual abuse, Opportunity House has become a catalyst for change in our community.
Changing lives is what Opportunity House is all about, and the construction of a state of the art technology center for inner city children living in poverty certainly is consistent with this mission. When combined with the fact that this facility will be constructed in a neighborhood once rife with crime and urban blight, not only are we changing the way these children learn, we are changing the neighborhood in which they live and play.
By investing in our youth today, we are securing the future for our children and grand children.
Children’s Alliance Center of Berks County/CASA – CAC, A child-friendly place for sexually abused children to give them a comfortable place to relay the incident to the proper authorities, receive a medical exam from a specially trained pediatrician and receive needed counseling to heal from such a tragic event. CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate program is a partnership with the Foster Home Services in Berks County. Volunteers are professionally trained to act as an advocate for the children in the Foster Program. The volunteers visit during court sessions and make professional third party suggestions to help better place the children.
On Site Collaborations - Opportunity House partners with many other successful organizations in the Greater Reading area to change lives for the better.
Opportunity House Timeline
Started in 1984 as an outreach of local churches, utilized church basements to provide warm, safe place to sleep and a meal. Services offered: safe shelter and meals. Program of Reading Urban Ministry
1986
Permanent location purchased and renovated at 430 N 2nd St. (former battery warehouse) Services offered: safe shelter, meals, showers & laundry.
1994
Services added to teach independence (lifeskills classes, money management, case management)
1996
Aftercare (extended case management for families and individuals after they leave OPPORTUNITY HOUSE)
Second Street Learning Center opened. 1st shift program for 18 kids, including a few slots open for community children. (United Way Funded Program)
1997
Second Street Learning Center space expanded and added 2nd Shift care. (licensed for 63 children per shift)
1998
Second Street Learning Center added 3rd Shift care.
Long-term transitional housing opened. Four apartments, 2 year program
1999
Permanent housing for adults with disabilities. Two houses for up to 8 single adults.
2000
Second Street Learning Center added Weekend Care and student transportation to and from Reading elementary and middle schools and is the only 24/7 community childcare center in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Second Street Beech Playground opens (for childcare, shelter and neighbors)
2001
Infant Childcare (licensed for 108 children per shift in SSLC, nearly 250 children now enrolled)
Short-term housing for families
Job Quest/Reading STRIVE opens (job-readiness and placement program to help chronically unemployed individuals—both homeless clients and community residents)
Reading Health Dispensary at Second Street opens in December to meet primary health care needs of our clients and neighborhood residents. Operated by the Reading Hospital and Medical Center.
2004
Children’s Alliance Center (CAC) – A child-friendly environment that provides many different services to help children and their families cope with the impact of sexual abuse. Focusing on children with immediate attention by specially trained professions and medical staff.
2010
In 2010 the United Way of Berks County requested that the CAC accept responsibility for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program.
2010 – the CAC/CASA moved to 4th and Washington Streets in down town Reading.)
Technology Center – ground breaking took place and the construction of a one story (six classroom and multipurpose room) began. Scheduled to open by Fall 2011.