The strength of people coming together to address a need has been the history of Pathways for Children, Youth and Families. This agency is a reflection of what community members value and fought for as they saw needs in their communities go unanswered.
The 1980’s were a time of growth and expansion in Social Services in Ontario. Many new programs and initiatives recognized and responded to the growing needs of people living in what were then the comparatively small communities of York Region. Two programs were created: one for families with young children, and the other for adolescents who had nowhere to go as a result of their inability to live at home.
1988 – New Beginnings
The Markham Neighbourhood Support Centre was developed to respond to the needs of young families with children. Our society was changing--women were entering the work force and the informal neighbourhood get-togethers that were so supportive of young families, disappeared. Young adults moved far away from their extended families. Our neighbourhoods transformed, as people no longer knew the folks next door and the informal supports of community neighbourhoods slowly eroded. It left a gap for many young parents and caregivers. Without the support of their families and friends many young families were seeking alternative ways to learn about childrearing--the most difficult task most of us will undertake in our lifetime.
Youth Housing Markham opened its doors in 1988 to youth who could no longer live at home. A volunteer committee worked to create two group homes for 13 homeless youth. Many things have changed over the years, but the goals of the program continue to be to provide a safe and caring environment while youth get back on their feet, to teach them skills to assume responsibility for their behaviours and to support them to grow and mature towards being responsible adults.
The 1990’s- A Shared Future
Youth Housing Markham and Markham Neighbourhood Support Centre started out together. As new agencies they shared an office space and receptionist. By 1996 government cutbacks brought them even closer together. Pathways for Children Youth and Families was the result of the amalgamation of the two agencies. This ensured the future of services and programs the community had worked so hard to establish.
Growth and Change
Once more the needs of homeless youth were recognized in York Region and in June 2000, Pathways opened Home Base in Richmond Hill, a drop in centre for homeless youth. It quickly outgrew its space as youth returned to York Region from the streets of downtown Toronto. Within two years the program was open seven days a week. The high demand for this program quickly established the reality of homeless youth in the 905 belt and awakened everyone to the needs for this service in more York Region communities.
Here and Now—Meeting the diverse needs of many communities and cultures.
Communities change and so does their need for services. Markham has become one of the most diverse communities in Canada. Pathways now delivers services in seven languages, as we reach out to a variety of communities to offer programs and services. We serve over 5000 people a year from every corner of the world. Our staff represent many cultures and experiences and they have a reputation for offering quality and innovative programming to the people we serve.
Pathways is about people and everyday we seek to provide well managed, economically sound, client centered, services that are responsive and proactive in their development and delivery. Our vision is to create pathways to success for children, youth and families.
