As winter temperatures drop, the City of Reading, in close collaboration with Opportunity House and multiple community partners, is prepared to activate its annual Code Blue response to protect unhoused individuals and families during dangerously cold conditions.
A Code Blue is declared when temperatures fall to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, including wind chill. During these periods, agencies across Berks County ensure that individuals without housing have access to safe, warm places to stay.
Based on 2024 data from the 2-1-1 system, approximately 74% of all housing and unhoused assistance requests in Berks County originated from Reading ZIP codes. With countywide demand estimated at 160 Code Blue beds, the City of Reading prioritized securing 100–120 beds within the city to meet the greatest concentration of need.
“This is not new work for Reading,” said Mayor Eddie Morán. “We have always understood that addressing the needs of unhoused individuals, especially during life-threatening weather, is a shared responsibility. The City, Opportunity House, the County, and our nonprofit partners have a long history of working together, and this year is no different. When temperatures drop, our priority is simple: make sure people are safe.”
Identifying appropriate Code Blue facilities remains one of the most challenging aspects of the response. Ideal locations must be safe, available, affordable, accessible by foot or public transportation, and supported by both property owners and the surrounding neighborhood. In addition, Code Blue operations require organizations capable of providing intake, supervision, security, counseling, and housekeeping—roles that few organizations in the city are equipped to fulfill.
For single adult males, Hope Rescue Mission has offered the use of its chapel and agreed to lower barriers to meet urgent needs. This portion of the Code Blue response will be funded entirely by the City of Reading.
Providing shelter for single adult females required a more complex solution. After evaluating multiple sites and consulting with the City Fire Marshal, Opportunity House stepped forward to offer space at its main campus, allowing for the accommodation of up to 50 single women. The space formerly served as classroom space for children at the Second Street Learning Center. With the addition of cots, this space will provide a safe and warm space for women this winter. This operation will be funded through a collaborative mix of support from the City of Reading, Wyomissing Foundation, Janssen Foundation, United Way, and Berks County.
“At Opportunity House, we serve unhoused individuals not only from the City of Reading, but from across Berks County and the surrounding areas,” said Alyssa Bushkie, CEO of Opportunity House. “The challenges facing people without housing do not stop at municipal boundaries, and neither does our commitment. This Code Blue response reflects what is possible when local government, nonprofits, and funders work together to meet people where they are and ensure their safety during extreme conditions.”
Housing families continues to be the greatest challenge this winter. Opportunity House will continue to provide shelter for families and will offer additional resources for short term stays throughout the Code Blue period.In addition, the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness (BCEH) has identified several churches willing to host individual families, allowing for an estimated three to five additional families to be sheltered during Code Blue activations.
The City of Reading emphasizes that Code Blue planning is an ongoing, collaborative effort that builds on years of partnership among municipal, county, nonprofit, faith-based, and philanthropic organizations.
“Our community is strongest when we work together,” Mayor Morán added. “This effort reflects our shared values—compassion, dignity, and responsibility—and our continued commitment to protecting our most vulnerable neighbors.”
For more information about Code Blue activation or available resources, residents are encouraged to call 2-1-1.
