-
December 2023 by Troy Jones
While this place does help "some" people, the overall rating is of low moral as there is much favortism and unfair treatment in and around the facility which is a shame because this shelter could be a great place for people to come and grow.
-
October 2023 by Alexis
This place should really be reported to the state of Pennsylvania. They as a non profit group receive founding from the government and refuse to help people of desperate need.
-
October 2023 by hahahaha nm
I’m a student who helped make food/serve people today. The staff were so sweet, especially Joe and he helped everyone know where to get things/what to do/etc. I made great conversations with some of the people staying at the shelter. I watched people donate food today and the staff gladly accepted it and used it (later on i think?) but your donations don’t go to waste. absolutely love volunteering here and would love to come back
-
August 2023 by Rob Minner (110car8s)
Don't get me wrong, you really do have to be grateful for for places like these. Especially if you're out on the streets and have no place to go. They need more shelters around this area. If you have to live here be aware that there is alot of shady activity going on there with the staff. Especially the big wigs that run it. Keep track of every cent you give them. So many people there who leave don't get their money back or all of it. I really do believe there is alot of illegal activity going on with the people who run this place. They need a registered nurse or Dr here, because the staff member on that shift is in charge of giving you your medications. That is illegal and I can't believe they're still getting away with it. Someone really should report that along with all of the other things they're getting away with. So keep a very watchful eye out if you have to stay here.In reference to the comments you've made: I was there over 15-20 years ago and I don't know how it is there now. I've written this a long time ago. But still anyone who needs a place to stay should do their research before they go, if possible. Hopefully the shelter has changed the way they operate. Because our area does need a lot more places for people who are homeless and are struggling to get by?
-
January 2023 by Kiki S
All the people who keep saying they're money hungry obviously dont understand how charity works. They dont get all the funding that they need from the govt, if they did it would be a govt run program. Non profits get some money from the govt if they qualify for a grant and if there are enough grants, if any, to go around. All the rest comes from donations of cash and items. Your random trash donations dont supply the things they actually need so just like goodwill and salvation army, they sell them and use that money to actually run the non profit business. Just because you didnt get what you decided they should provide you, doesn't mean theyre not doing a service. They do what they can with whatever funds they get, despite the way you think it should work.
-
October 2022 by Alice Williams
I called for info about making donations and they are very helpful and pleasant.
-
October 2022 by Stacy Perlaki
Opportunity House always goes above and beyond to make sure everyone gets what they need.
-
October 2022 by Lindsey Kistler
For anyone donating any of their clothes, blankets, etc for the shelter for the ones in need you’re better off taking it else where. I’ve personally seen how they operate their business do to my father working there and it’s quite sad. So money hunger. All the donations they get for shelter go directly to their ‘OppShop’ to sell. They have an entire warehouse STACKED to the roof and with the so call ‘shelter donations’.Oh! Also after my father was offered the position of helping/setting up the store. He used to work at VF Outlet as lost prevention security guard for 32 years before VF sold their property. So he has experience with running a long scale operation store.All summer he was there at the shop painting/setting up shelves/electric/ gathering supplies/ promoting whilst he was dealing with a bad knee, newly replaced other knee, spine fusing, etc. Once the shop was set up he took a small medical leave to get his knee replaced so he could be able to perform his task and keep up better in the shop. He returned to work once he given the clear and Opportunity House gave him the boot and told him ‘his position was no longer available’ and that was that. No other explanation. We then found out a lot of the people whom they originally hired to help with the shop were given the boot too. ??♀️
-
October 2022 by C. P.
I stayed there way back in the day when it was still called Reading Berks Emergency Shelter (R.B.E.S. for short). Initially they were great they actually allowed me to have my son in there illegally in the men's dorm believe it or not. Back then the basement had 130 men, and the first floor had 60, and the second floor had 50 women and children. I ended up getting a job and worked there as THEE maintenance "team"/staff member. Everything was donations, and part of my maintenance job was making runs every day to pick up donations. I had to keep a phone on me at all times, but I didn't mind being on call because of the help I had received from them and I actually enjoyed working there. Our head supervisor Valerie passed away and boy oh boy did the place really change... Unfortunately for the worst. A few women came in and decided they could get a grant for a million dollars which they did through a local politician that had grown up in children's homes and had a soft heart. First thing these women did was remove all the men from the basement, because they wanted to use that space to make money as a daycare center. That was the beginning of the end for the "emergency shelter". I actually made $5 for picking a name for the new program, it was, "The Second Street Learning Center". They then had me take all the bunk beds and replace them with single beds and put rooms in, to where there was only 40 men allowed... They packed up to 200 children per week in the basement... With the money they earned from that they bought various properties in the city and I was also responsible for taking care of them. After 4 years I moved on with my son, but I never got over the fact of how it used to be 40 churches that donated and kept that place afloat, and all us staff would stuff literally thousands of envelopes asking people for money... It worked beautifully... Then it became a business and the homeless shelter that it originally started as, when I left, it was sad in comparison to what it once was...
-
October 2022 by Madaline Taylor
I stay at opportunity house at the moment they are LGBTQ friendly and have given me a chance to reclaim my life and get back on my feet
-
October 2022 by Michael McGinn
Would rate them much lower but they don't give me that option.Tried to donate useable furniture, but they want brand new,total waste of my time
-
October 2022 by Gloria
I was ask to leave and I didn't mind but the way I was rushed out I had forgotten my glasses case I had a fever that day and I was trying my best to rush but I don't just want to throw my clothes in a bag I wanted to fold them I hate to rush so if you come here I suggest for you to leave your clothes in your suitcase or in your bag it takes some time to get you in but they want you to leave they want to rush you out I'm not speeding Gonzalez
-
October 2021 by Datchickmo
People there at desk are a lil rude and where no help .
-
October 2021 by Ashley Edwards
I remember going through a homeless faze and being on the street with my children. I called and got no answer so I decided to come down and seek availability. They had a place but would not assist me because of my work schedule. I did not want to lose a job I worked hard to get. Unfortunately being homeless or kicked out of a friends home wasn’t enough to get in. I had to separate my children and find a place for them. We’re still separated now. This organization may have helped some people but they push you away. I seen a mother in the same situation as me get in after they turned myself and my children down. I think if you know someone who works here your sure to get in. Being on the streets of Reading Pa most don’t care and there needs to more provisions made for women and children. There is a whole male shelter but nothing for women and children. Opportunity House, you should be audited and reported to the BBB for half of your staffs actions to homelessness. Expand and build so that no one is left behind. These people are sickening.
-
October 2021 by Candice Guthier
This shelter is so mine hungry. I had to stay here for a little while due to a severely abusive relationship and all they wanted for me was my son Social Security checks I couldn't even buy anything with the money for him. The owners and people who run it are too busy flirting with each other and wearing about hooking up then caring about the people who were there
