Salvation Army's Pathway of Hope helps families break poverty cycle

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WKRC) — The Salvation Army is making strides in helping families overcome inter-generational poverty through its Pathway of Hope program.

Major Martha Bone of the Salvation Army explained that the initiative provides "intensive case management for families who are multi-generational in a household, to be able to increase hope, and ideally end inter-generational poverty within a family."

Bone emphasized that the program focuses on budgeting and goal-setting to change the family's trajectory. A significant aspect of the program is assisting families in achieving long-term, sustainable housing.

"Pathway of Hope is assigning a family to a full-time case manager. They have an opportunity to have intensive case management for a minimum of six months to two years," said Bone. "Housing is one of the top 3 goals our families set, in wanting to have a home of their own that their children can grow up in."

The DeJesus family in Middletown is one of the program's success stories.

"We came to the Salvation Army in Middletown. They helped us with food, clothes and everything," said the family. "That's when they approached us and told us about Pathway of Hope and talked about setting goals for us as a family and what we wanted for the future."

Their goals included education for the parents, purchasing their own home, and beginning to work and save. Now, they are living in their own home with their three children.

"There are resources and there are people willing to help you. We're just a means to an end, but it always feels good to see others succeed," said Bone. "But ultimately, we would love to see people, someday, not need us."