Local Service Providers

​

The Real Deal 610, staffed by returning citizens and serving Reading area youth, recently released inmates and convicted felons, and those struggling with mental health issues. 645 Penn St, Reading, 484 731-7808

​

Connections Work, direct services to individuals with justice involvement and individuals

with similar barriers and to their families. 19 N. 6th St, 4th Floor, Reading, 484-260-3860

 

New Journey Community Outreach, essential food and clothing services for low and moderate-income people in the Reading area. 138 South 6th Street, Reading, 610 375-2662

​

Opportunity House, emergency shelter for unhoused men, women, families, and Veterans. 430 N 2nd St, Reading, 610 374-4696

​

Easy Does It, Inc., housing and support for individuals recovering from the effects of substance use disorder. 1300 Hilltop Road, Leesport, 610-373-2463

​

Hope Rescue Mission/Lighthouse, emergency shelter, housing and case management services for unhoused men, women and children.​

Hope Rescue: 645 North Sixth Street, Reading, 610 375-4224

Lighthouse: 715 North Sixth Street, Reading, 610 484-4495

​

Street Medicine, primary and preventative care to the unsheltered homeless, shelter residents, and anyone who is at high risk of experiencing homelessness. Access via local shelters.

​

Safe Berks, a safe haven and ongoing support system for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. 255 Chestnut Street, Reading, 610-373-1206

​

Berks Coalition to End Homelessness, representing more than 60 agencies, businesses, and individuals, working toward preventing, reducing, and ending homelessness in Berks County. 600 Penn Street, Reading, 610 372-7222

​

​

Justice Advocates

Vera Institute of Justice seeks to end the overcriminalization and mass incarceration of people of color, immigrants, and people experiencing poverty.

​

Prison Policy Initiative produces cutting edge research to expose the broader harm of mass criminalization, and then sparks advocacy campaigns to create a more just society.

​

The Sentencing Project advocates for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justice.

​

​

Additional Reading

​​

Punitive Policies Will Never Solve Homelessness: The Evidence is Clear. Criminalization harms people experiencing homelessness through displacement, loss of destruction of possessions, fines, fees, arrest records and/or incarceration.

​​

The Little-Known Reason Counties Keep Building Bigger Jails: Architecture Firms, The Intercept, "The real way to reduce jail overcrowding is through policy."

​

Pretrial Justice Reform: closing the door to mass incarceration, Vera Institute Beyond Jails Initiative, Communities across the country can deliver public safety and justice without using county jails as a first response to every social challenge.

​​