Mayor Eddie Morán is calling on Reading City Council to reconsider its recent rejection of $2.9 million in HOME-American Rescue Plan Act (HOME-ARPA) funds that would have supported the development of affordable housing on South Fourth Street. The funding would have assisted Opportunity House’s plan to provide permanent, stable housing for working adults transitioning out of the shelter system. Watch the full press conference here.
The decision, made in a 4-3 vote earlier this week, has sparked strong reactions from local leaders and advocates. At a press conference held Thursday at Opportunity House, Mayor Morán urged council members to hold a special meeting and revisit their vote.
“Earlier this week, city council voted against a proposal that would have helped 20 families — real people — move from shelters, tents, and cars into safe, stable homes,” Morán said. “It was a vote that stunned many of us in our community, including me.”
During the press conference, Opportunity House President and CEO Modesto Fiume addressed concerns raised by council members regarding the property’s valuation. The building at 100 South Fourth Street was professionally appraised at $3.3 million by Fleetwood Bank as part of a loan application. However, some council members questioned the appraisal’s accuracy, instead citing the property’s tax assessment.
“An appraisal is conducted by a professional appraiser to determine a property’s market value, often used by lenders for mortgage applications,” Fiume explained. “A tax assessment, on the other hand, is a figure used by local governments to calculate property taxes. The two are not interchangeable.”
Fiume criticized council members for disregarding the professional appraisal, noting that the bank’s evaluation had not been disputed by any other qualified source.
The conference also featured personal testimony from Opportunity House residents, including Michael, a veteran currently living at the shelter with his wife.
“The way I look at it, we can take more people off the street,” Michael said. “We have to have this house. This is not just a problem in Reading, but in every city across the nation that’s suffering from homelessness.”
Mayor Morán echoed Michael’s sentiments, sharing the stories of other shelter residents, including Ed Henry, a school bus driver and cafeteria worker who cannot afford rent, and Paula Whiteley, a student at Reading Area Community College who faces the prospect of sleeping in her vehicle when the Code Blue shelter closes.
“These are the people directly impacted by the choice council made,” Morán said. “Economic development and housing go hand in hand. A strong downtown is not just about businesses — it’s about people.”
Morán expressed his appreciation for council members Jamie Baez Jr., Vanessa Campos, and Rafael Nunez, who voted in favor of the funding. He also urged the four council members who opposed the measure — Council President Donna Reed, Wesley Butler, Chris Miller, and Melissa Ventura — to reconsider.
“I stand before you as someone who believes deeply in the power of local government to deliver hope, dignity, and fairness to the people we serve,” Morán said. “We still have time to do what is right. Let’s not forget those we serve.”
Fiume reinforced the need for immediate action, emphasizing that the South Fourth Street property is move-in ready and could provide stable housing for 20 families.
“This project is merely a drop in the bucket compared to the actual need, but it’s a necessary first step,” he said.
As the city awaits council’s response, Morán encouraged residents to make their voices heard.
“I ask you to make some phone calls to those four individuals,” Morán said. “Together, we can do more.”