Latest news with #OpportunityHouse
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Newsmakers for June 1
OPPORTUNITY HOUSE Opportunity House has announced the appointment of Adrian Perez-Roman as the new program director of S.M.I.L.E. — Skills to Master Independent Living and Empowerment. Adrian Perez-Roman (Courtesy Opportunity House) A Reading native, Perez-Roman brings a personal connection to the community he now serves. Raised in the Oakbrook neighborhood after being born in Puerto Rico, Perez-Roman has witnessed firsthand the challenges facing the city, particularly homelessness, addiction, and mental health struggles. These experiences have fueled his passion for community service and his commitment to creating pathways for healing and hope. A graduate of Kutztown University, he holds a bachelor's degree in sociology. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Perez-Roman offers a bridge between cultures and communities, ensuring that language is never a barrier to the support people need. As the S.M.I.L.E program director, Perez-Roman's goals are to lead with compassion. Perez-Roman lives in Reading with his fiancée and their four children. He also serves as the current Berks County Poet Laureate, a role that reflects his creative spirit and passion for storytelling. Perez-Roman uses poetry to inspire healing and empowerment — tools he plans to bring into his work with S.M.I.L.E. CONCERN CONCERN has announced the addition of two new members of its senior leadership team. Wendy Wait has been named the new chief financial officer; while Michele Gutshall has been named director of quality assurance. Wendy Wait (Courtesy CONCERN) Wait is an accomplished financial executive with more than 35 years of experience specializing in nonprofit leadership in all aspects of the behavioral health and human services field that directly correlates to the services CONCERN provides. She has experience in change management related to the implementation of financial systems, software, and payroll along with experience with electronic health records and specifically the organization's new software Netsmart. She has a proven track record working with senior leadership teams including strategic planning and collaborating with the board of directors. Wait is a graduate of Penn State. Wait is replacing Glenn Miller who is retiring as CFO, but staying on part-time to do marketing and fundraising. Michele Gutshall (Courtesy CONCERN) Prior to joining CONCERN, Gutshall was a chief compliance and privacy officer. She comes to the organization with a wealth of experience working in all things quality and compliance along with many years of experience in program services. She has worked in the human services field since she graduated from Juniata College. She has experience in behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, foster care, CRR, and substance abuse prevention programs. Gutshall is also certified in health care compliance and privacy and has the Open Minds Executive Leadership Certificate. Gutshall replaces the retiring Cheryl Reeling. SUZYRAE DESIGN Erica Caceres has joined the team of Suzy Rae Design LLC. Caceres brings a background in marketing and communications and now supports the studio's creative efforts with her skills in content strategy, multimedia storytelling, and brand communication. Erica Caceres (Courtesy Suzy Rae Design LLC) Before joining Suzy Rae Design, Caceras served as communication manager at Berks County Community Foundation, where she led content development across multiple platforms and managed the organization's media outreach and digital communications. Her previous experience also includes marketing roles with Naylor Association Solutions, the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, and The Yocum Institute. A graduate of Penn State Berks with a B.A. in communication arts and sciences and a minor in professional writing, Caceras is a detail-oriented storyteller with a passion for learning and staying current with design and media trends. BARLEY SNYDER Barley Snyder partner Jill Sebest Welch has been named a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient by the Manheim Township Alumni Association. Jill Sebest Welch (Courtesy Barley Snyder) This annual award recognizes Manheim Township High School graduates who have made significant contributions to their professions and communities. The award also serves to inspire current students, alumni and staff by highlighting the positive impact of former graduates. A 1983 MTHS graduate, Welch distinguished herself both academically and athletically. She was a member of the National Honor Society, student council and served as class vice president, in addition to participating on the softball, field hockey and swim teams. Welch went on to attend Wittenberg University, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a minor in biology. There, she was a member of the Wittenberg College Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and a four-year softball team student athlete. Welch later earned her Juris Doctor with honors from Rutgers University School of Law, where she served as a State Constitutional Law Editor for the Rutgers Law Journal, the university's student-run state constitutional law review. Welch is a partner in Barley Snyder's Employment Practice Group, where she counsels companies in handling workplace challenges, helps clients resolve disputes, and litigates claims and cases in all aspects of labor and employment law. Welch served as chairwoman of the firm's Employment Practice Group from 2020 to 2024 and has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer 11 times, underscoring her commitment to legal excellence and client service. Welch currently serves as council president of the Pennsylvania Dutch Council Scouting America, having been a member of the board of directors since 2018. She has volunteered in various roles with Scout Troop 99 as both of her sons earned their Eagle awards. In addition, she has served in past roles with the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board, the Lancaster Family YMCA, the Lancaster Bar Association Employment Law Section, and as a member of the Lancaster County EDC Center for Regional Analysis advisory committee. Welch is a frequent speaker on the topics of legal ethics and employment law. Welch, and two other 2025 award recipients will be honored at a breakfast reception on June 5. As part of the celebration, honorees will also address the 2025 graduating class during commencement rehearsal following the reception. Email your news to money@ and attach a recent (high-resolution) photo. Include a contact name and phone number with your submission. Deadline is the Tuesday prior to publication.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opportunity House opening new food pantry in Reading
A new food pantry set to open Thursday in Reading will help provide nutritious food to individuals and families in need. Opportunity House has announced the opening of its Beacon House Food Pantry at 821 Schuylkill Ave. 'The Beacon House Food Pantry is an important step in expanding our services to ensure that individuals and families in our community have access to fresh, healthy food,' Alyssa Bushkie, COO of Opportunity House, said in a statement. The pantry offers essential food assistance to anyone experiencing food insecurity, she said. Much of the food distributed by Beacon House is sourced from Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, a partner of Opportunity House since 1984. As part of this long-standing collaboration, Opportunity House also operates a food pantry at its main campus, 430 N. Second St., and uses food provided by Helping Harvest to prepare meals and snacks for clients residing in its emergency shelter. 'We are grateful for the continued partnership with Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, whose generous support enables us to provide high-quality food to those in need,' Bushkie said. Opportunity House's Emergency Food Assistance Program follows guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eligibility is determined based on household size and annual income. The Beacon House pantry also addresses a critical need in the area: limited access to full-service grocery stores. This condition, known as a food desert, makes it difficult for many residents to secure fresh, affordable and nutritious food. In neighborhoods throughout the city, particularly in low-income and underserved areas, residents are often forced to rely on costly corner stores with limited healthy options, the organization said. Transportation barriers, mobility issues and limited financial resources further prevent individuals and families from accessing the quality food they need. The Beacon House Food Pantry will be open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about receiving food assistance, contact Kim Long, director of case management, at klong@ or call 610-374-4696 ext. 238. Opportunity House relies on volunteers and community support to operate the food pantry and continue its mission of empowering individuals to improve their lives. To donate, visit To volunteer, contact Stacy Perlaki at sperlaki@ or call 610-374-4696 ext. 231.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City mayor calls on council to reconsider funding for affordable housing
Mayor Eddie Moran is calling on City Council to reconsider its decision to deny funding to Opportunity House for an affordable housing project. 'Earlier this week, council voted four to three against a proposal that would have helped 20 families, real people, move from shelters, tents and cars into safe, stable homes,' Moran said during a press conference Thursday, emphasizing the impact the project could have for working families in need. Moran asked council to hold a special meeting to reconsider the funding. Council on Monday voted 4-3 to turn down the nonprofit's request for $2.89 million in HOME-American Rescue Plan Act funding to buy a 20-unit apartment building at 100 S. Fourth St. Councilors Jaime Baez Jr., Vanessa Campos and Rafael Nunez voted in favor of the resolution. Council President Donna Reed and Councilors Wesley Butler, Chris Miller and Melissa Ventura voted no. Moran said he was stunned by the decision. 'It was a vote that was made despite dozens of stories from people who bravely showed up and spoke out, hoping that their voices will lead to a better future,' the mayor said. More than a dozen clients of the shelter spoke to council during the public comment period Monday and at earlier meetings. Many shared their personal struggles and implored council to approve the allocation. Several told of working at low-paying jobs or living on Social Security or disability insurance income and struggling to make ends meet. Michael Wood, a veteran who lives at Opportunity House with his wife Kelly, speaks on the importance of permanent housing during a press conference on Reading City Council's vote to deny funding for housing at 401 S. Fourth St., on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Opportunity House, 430 N. Second St. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) One shelter resident, Michael Wood, a veteran, reiterated his appeal Thursday. Market-rate housing is out of reach for Wood and his wife, Kelly, he said. Unable to find affordable housing, the couple turned to Opportunity House, he said. 'Since I've been here, I've seen veterans come through that door, myself included,' he said. 'I've seen women and children come through that door.' Wood also asked council to reconsider. A resident holds a sign during a press conference on Reading City Council's vote to deny funding for housing at 401 S. Fourth St., on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Opportunity House, 430 N. Second St. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Opportunity House provides the resources and support its clients need to become self-sufficient, he said. But with so little affordable housing available, they are stuck in the shelter. Council members have said they were led to believe the South Fourth Street apartments would be market-rate housing by the owner/developer of the building, Dream Ventures PA II LLC. Some also have expressed concerns about the possible removal of the apartment building from the tax rolls and the value of the property compared with the asking price. The mayor and Modesto Fiume, executive director of Opportunity House, dismissed these concerns, saying the property would remain taxable. Fiume also said a commercial appraisal of the property came in at $3.3 million, more than the purchase price of $2.89 million. Modesto Fiume, CEO of Opportunity House, speaks during a press conference on Reading City Council's vote to deny funding for housing at 401 S. Fourth St., on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Opportunity House, 430 N. Second St. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Fiume criticized council's decision, accusing those who voted against the funding of undermining the project and not operating transparently. 'Council President Reed keeps saying there are questions that need to be answered, but they (council) have repeatedly ignored our request to provide us with those questions,' Fiume said. 'There are clearly hidden agendas these four council members have.' If there are no hidden agendas, Fiume said, the only conclusion is that they care little about providing affordable housing to individuals and families on fixed incomes who are stuck living in the shelter. Reed and others opposed to the project have said they are sympathetic to the plight of the homeless but believe the money could be used more effectively in a different location or by spreading it around to multiple organizations. The latter is not an option under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's guidelines for HOME-ARP funds, city administrators said. Fiume emphasized the critical need in his plea to council for reconsideration. 'We have been averaging 87 people per evening,' he said, noting 32% are diagnosed with a permanent disability and 29% are senior citizens. Opportunity House also operates Eckert House, a temporary shelter for use in extreme cold weather, in a former convent at 1500 Eckert Ave. The building, also owned by Dream Ventures, is set to shut down next month. 'At Eckert House, we are averaging 65 people per night,' Fiume said, noting since the facility opening in November, 119 homeless individuals, including 64 children sought shelter there. Of those clients, he said, 31% have been diagnosed with a permanent disability and 24% have a chronic health condition. Fiume said few families at either facility have been able to return to independent living due to the shortage of affordable housing.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City Council turns down funding for Opportunity House affordable housing
City Council has turned down Opportunity House's request for funding to buy a 20-unit apartment building for affordable housing for working adults. Council at its regular meeting Monday voted 4-3 against allocating $2.89 million in HOME-American Rescue Plan Act funding to the nonprofit to purchase the property at 100 S. Fourth St. After tabling the motion three times over the past six weeks, Councilors Jaime Baez Jr., Vanessa Campos and Rafael Nunez voted in favor of the resolution. Council President Donna Reed and Councilors Wesley Butler, Chris Miller and Melissa Ventura voted no. The vote came after numerous community members and clients of Opportunity House spoke at a series of meetings, sharing their personal struggles and imploring council to approve the allocation. Opportunity House clients ask City Council to support affordable housing project in Reading Council members said the owner/developer of the building, Dream Ventures PA II LLC, an entity of Heights Advisors, Brooklyn, led them to believe the apartments would be rented at market-rates. They raised concerns about the removal of the property from the city's tax rolls should it be bought by the nonprofit. At a meeting earlier this month, Modesto Fiume, executive director of Opportunity House, said the organization would pay taxes on the property. The nonprofit, which owns and operates a shelter at 430 N Second St., also owns five rental units on which taxes are paid, he said. Opportunity House also operates Eckert House, a temporary code-blue shelter, in a former convent at 1500 Eckert Ave. that also is owned by Dream Ventures. Several residents of Eckert House said they will be forced to live in their cars if the facility closes at the end of April as scheduled. Prior to the vote, council approved an amendment by Baez that would have required Opportunity House to pay the full amount of the property tax on the South Fourth Street building and eliminated a requirement for an independent appraisal. Council members have expressed concern about the value of the property compared to the asking price. Fiume said the building was appraised as part of the nonprofit's application for a swing loan from Fleetwood Bank. The appraised value was $3.3 million, he said, more than the purchase price of $2.89 million. During council's committee of the whole meeting earlier Monday, council solicitor Michael Gombar said the county's reassessment of the renovated building is $461,100. An assessed value is not the same as fair market value, he explained. However, Gombar said, there is a state-recognized formula, known as a common level ratio, which can be used to calculate a possible fair market value and is sometimes used for legal purposes. Using the formula, he said, would result in a potential fair market value of $1,268,025, a figure far less than the purchase price. 'That is not a reflection of what the fair market value really might be for the property,' Gombar said. 'I'm just throwing it out there as something that can be used in the legal world.' With the new assessment, Gombar said, the annual property tax income for the city would be about $8,400. City Managing Director Jack Gombach read a statement from Mayor Eddie Moran in support of the resolution. The mayor reaffirmed his administration's commitment to building more affordable housing and addressing the blight throughout the city. Following Monday's meeting, Moran issued the following statement: 'My vision for our city is rooted in progress—neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming, housing that meets the needs of all our residents, and a downtown that's alive with energy, growth and opportunity. 'While I'm disappointed in tonight's vote, I remain focused on that vision. This project was one step in a broader effort to revitalize our city—to create housing that brings people back into our neighborhoods and supports the small businesses that make our community special. 'We will continue to pursue bold ideas, form strong partnerships, and push forward with purpose. The path to revitalization is never easy, but my commitment to this work—and to the people of this city—remains strong. Together, we will build a brighter future, and together, we can do more.' Reading City Council tables a $2.89 million grant for housing for shelter clients The city received $3.5 million in HOME-ARP money about three years ago and has until 2030 to allocate the funds. The federal funding is earmarked to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability. Baez said failing to approve the resolution could have broader consequences. 'Right now, we cannot deny that we have an erratic individual who is currently in the White House and whom we cannot trust,' he said. 'I wake up every day asking, what's next, and therefore this is funding that I feel that we just can't have an opportunity to lose. We can't miss it.' Reed and Butler said they could not support the resolution due to the purchase price. 'When you look at this full amount, there are monies that could be further used by Opportunity House for properties that are maybe dispersed throughout the city, that give a better sense of community to the folks who are in need of it,' Reed said. 'I'm not uncomfortable with finding a place for people to live, but I'm uncomfortable with a great deal involved here.' Reed did not elaborate on her discomfort and did not respond to a request for further comment.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opportunity House leader announces retirement
After more than three decades at its helm, Modesto Fiume has announced he will be retiring as president and CEO of Opportunity House. Fiume informed the board of directors of the Reading shelter about his plans to retire in May, and a statement issued by Opportunity House revealed Thursday that he will leave the post on June 30. Alyssa Bushkie, Opportunity House's current chief operations officer, will replace Fiume as president and CEO. Fiume said in Thursday's statement that he informed the board about his planned retirement early in order to provide ample time for a successor to be found, later adding that he is pleased with the selection of Bushkie. 'Alyssa was the COO of Opportunity House,' he said. 'Since joining us in 2022, she has been instrumental in the growth and expansion or our programs and services.' Fiume was hired to lead Opportunity House in October 1994, and has guided it through a transition from a homeless shelter for single adults to a multiservice agency. 'The board of directors expresses its gratitude to Modesto Fiume for his leadership, hard work and many years of service as the president and CEO of the Opportunity House as he retires at the end of June 2025,' Thursday's statement said. 'He has led the organization through 30 years of strategic growth, moving the Opportunity House from only a shelter to the many life-changing programs such as the housing program, case management, the early learning center and the OppShop, to name a few. 'These programs have had and will continue to have a lasting positive impact on the lives of the people Opportunity House serves.' Fiume expressed gratitude for being able to play a lead role in Opportunity House's growth. 'It's amazing to look back and see the impact this organization has had on the thousands of men, women and children who have benefitted from walking through our doors,' he said in the statement. One of the biggest addition Opportunity House saw under Fiume's leadership was the creation of the Second Street Learning Center. Responding to a need in the community for child care, the center was opened in October 1996. 'That expanded Opportunity House's mission to include the needs of low-income families in the community,' Fiume said. 'Today, the Second Street Learning Center is a Keystone 4 STAR facility that recognizes the highest quality of our early learning programs, and houses three PreK Counts classrooms.' Fiume said he has also been proud of Opportunity House's work to address a need for more affordable housing in the community. The Linkages program, Opportunity House's first supportive housing program for families, began in 1997, followed by the New Beginnings program the following year. In 2012, Opportunity House began a partnership with the Oregon-based St. Vincent DePaul Society of Eugene to open an online retail business selling clothing and books. The success of that program led to the creation of the OppShop thrift store. 'The program created jobs, reduced waste in the landfill and generated revenue to reinvest back in the organization's mission,' Fiume said. Bushkie will look to build on Fiume's legacy and continue to move Opportunity House forward, Thursday's statement said. Bushkie is a Berks native who holds degrees from Penn State Berks University and St. Joseph's University. Before joining Opportunity House she served as director of operations for the YMCA of Reading and Berks County. 'I am confident that Opportunity House will continue to grow under Alyssa's leadership,' Fiume said.
