 PATH began when Margaret Wyckoff Wells spearheaded a mission to help
homeless families with children in 1987. At the time, the only shelter
was one operated by the Salvation Army, and the shelter was exclusively
for men.
Wells and other members of Church Women United worked
to find a solution. They discovered the New Bethany Ministry's
transitional housing program in Bethlehem and gained information and
advice from David DeRemer, the organization's executive director.
A board of directors was formed, and the organization was incorporated in 1989. The vacant parsonage of St. John's Lutheran Church was provided as a location. The Builders Association and the Henning Family came forward and donated supplies and time to create the first PATH house. In June of 1990 the following year, the first family moved into the PATH house. This location now houses the program's main office and some of the residents of the program.
In October of 1994, PATH opened a second home at 120 Park Ave. This home was made possible through the generosity of East Stroudsburg Savings Association (ESSA).
With the two facilities PATH can house a maximum of 8 families/20 people at a time.
But the need is great. More than 200 families could not be admitted to PATH last year for lack of space. In 2006 the Board of Directors committed to expanding the Park Avenue home.
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