A Beacon of Light in the Depth of Darkness: The Power of Opportunity

The hum of the city fades as the sun slips behind the horizon, shadows stretching long over the streets of Vacaville. For some, the night is an afterthought—just another evening of winding down. But for others, it’s a reminder of the long, relentless road they’ve traveled.

Among them is Kyla Corey, a woman whose journey was never written in straight lines but in bold strokes of resilience, redemption, and raw determination.

Today, she manages over half a million dollars in grants, ensuring that the unhoused have access to vital resources. She balances a full-time college course load in psychology, a demanding career, and the joyful chaos of raising six children in a blended family. She is a leader, a provider, a success.

But just a few years ago, Kyla stood in a very different place.

The Crossroads of Despair and Hope

The weight of exhaustion settled deep in her bones as she sat in the cramped car, two small faces staring up at her, trusting, unaware of the silent war she waged within herself.

By 2017, Kyla had lost it all—her home, her stability, her confidence. She and her children’s father shuffled between motel rooms and their car, using every last dollar to stretch their time indoors. But eventually, that, too, crumbled.

With nowhere left to turn, they found themselves without even four walls to shield them from the world.

For three years, the cycle repeated—a battle of survival, of choices made in desperation, of a system that often felt rigged against her.

But opportunity knocked twice.

The first time, she wasn’t ready.

The second time, she answered.

A Door Opens

Opportunity House was never just a shelter—it was a promise, a foundation, a chance to rebuild.

“When I came back in 2020, everything was different,” Kyla recalls. “I had structure, accountability, a safe place to figure out who I was without the chaos.”

She stayed for 18 months—longer than most—immersing herself in the process, embracing the discipline of case management meetings, curfews, and the unfamiliar sensation of stability.

Each day, the small victories piled up. Morning groups turned into breakthroughs. A curfew transformed into a commitment to consistency. The walls that once felt restrictive became the scaffolding of a new life.

Her second chance had become her launching pad.

From Survivor to Leader

Three years later, the woman who once walked the streets without direction now runs the very programs that helped save her.

As the Street Outreach Manager for Opportunity House, Kyla oversees critical initiatives, including:

✅ The Street Outreach Team, where case managers reach out to unhoused individuals, offering tangible pathways to support. They work hand in hand with the Vacaville Police Community Response Unit and other county and city partners.
✅ The Shower Program, ensuring that dignity isn’t a luxury.
✅ Youth Outreach, working with high schools to prevent homelessness before it begins.

The grants she now manages—over half a million dollars annually—aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are lives in motion. They are second chances in action.

She’s not just succeeding. She’s lifting others up with her.

The Power of Opportunity

For those who’ve never felt the crushing weight of despair, it’s easy to overlook the true currency of change. It isn’t money. It isn’t policy.

It’s opportunity.

It’s what Kyla needed, and it’s what she now gives to others.

Today, her life is full—full of purpose, of family, of impact. She doesn’t just show up for work; she shows up for the fight to change lives.

This is what Opportunity House does.

It doesn’t offer handouts. It builds bridges.
It doesn’t just house people. It empowers them.
It doesn’t dwell on what’s been lost. It champions what’s possible.

For Kyla, for the hundreds who have passed through its doors, and for those still waiting for their chance, the mission is clear—

💡 Create opportunities.
💡 Transform lives.
💡 Change the story.

And now, we invite you to join us.

📍 Visit & Shop – Support our mission at the Fairfield thrift store, 1819 N Texas St
💙 Donate – Every dollar fuels another success story: www.opportunity.house/donate
🤝 Volunteer – Be the bridge for someone’s next chapter: www.opportunity.house/volunteer

The difference between despair and success is one open door.

Help us open it.

Written by: A. Haynes
For Opportunity House