“I’m not what people believe homelessness is.” — Arianna When you meet Arianna, her confidence and determination stand out. She’s focused on her studies, works hard, and has big dreams for her future. But behind her bright smile is a story of courage, perseverance,...
Category: Success Stories
Building a Foundation for a Bright Future: Parker and Ray’s Story
Parker and Ray’s story shows the realities of homelessness—and how love, resilience, and support from Valley Youth House helped them rebuild their future.
Ed’s Story Of Resilience and Renewal–Opportunity House
Ed's Story: A Journey of Resilience and Renewal Ed worked at a cough drop factory, carefully monitoring the machinery that wrapped each drop. After his long 12-hour shifts, he returned to the mobile home he shared with his aging mother. “I moved in to help her as she...
Alvin’s Story: From Despair to Gratitude –Opportunity House
Alvin was never afraid of hard work. After growing up in Douglassville, Alvin began his career at Gudebrod in Pottstown. When the plant closed, he began working at Stanley Flagg. Eventually, he got a job loading trucks at Boscov’s Department Store. Alvin always...
Addiction Lead to Homelessness and Redemption–Opportunity House
“When is the bus stopping? I need a cigarette.” You'd expect to hear that from people who have an addiction to cigarettes. They don’t sound like life-saving words, but they were. When Terrance left Atlanta to return to Pennsylvania, he had no plans. His girlfriend...
A Fighting Spirit to Overcome Homelessness-Opportunity House
“My mom taught me how to keep fighting and not to give up. My dad taught me to dream.” Those traits are part of her DNA that has helped her survive abuse, homelessness, and despair. Today, as Crystal is rebuilding her life, her internal motivation drives her while her...
Seeing Herself as a Homeless Woman–Opportunity House
When Amy* came to Opportunity House, she was looking for far more than shelter. She was looking to change her life. The biggest challenges she faced were her perceptions of homeless people. That’s what happened to addicts and lazy people—it wasn’t what she ever...
From Chronic Homelessness to Chronically Hopeful-Opportunity House
“I wanted to come to a shelter and get myself right on my own terms.” This has been the guiding light for Joey’s journey from chronic homelessness to stable housing. For Joey and his sibling, chronic homelessness was a way of life for nearly a decade. After...
Finding Hope and Growth with the Help of Opportunity House
Opportunity House has a profound impact on the lives of homeless and low-income families in the greater Reading and Berks County areas of Pennsylvania. We provide emergency shelter, meals, and housing to support to men, women, children and Veterans who are homeless....
A Bridge from Homeless to Home–Opportunity House
"I felt like a bad mom," said Sally* who who initially left an abusive relationship, and relied on her family and friends for housing. She and her boys would spend a month or more with a family member or friend until the living situation became chaotic, and they would...