Pocono area transitional housing
You come home. He beats you. You wake up and he beats you. You begin to feel like you have nothing left to give. You have nothing to give your children. You have nothing to give to him. Worst of all, nothing left to give yourself. You grab the courage one day to get your children and escape the danger you face every day from the man you once felt safe with. Where do you turn?
This situation is common here in Monroe County. Two out of every three women that are victims of violence know their attacker. This can be a struggle when trying to break free from the oppression faced. The Pocono Area Transitional Housing Program, commonly referred to as PATH House, serves as a safe haven for the women and children of Monroe County. Every year, thousands of people are displaced due to domestic violence. This organization provides shelter, safety, and counseling for all those who are in need.
For an organization to be so great it must have a great people behind it. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Ms. Sharon Taylor, the executive director of PATH House. According to Taylor, who has worked for the organization for 18 years, the PATH House was incorporated in the fall of 1989. The program began in June 1990 when the first family moved in. The organization was created by the Church Women United Group. The first facility opened on Ninth Street and in 1994, another home was opened on Park Avenue. Finally, in 2008 the organization doubled the size of its home on Park Avenue which now holds 10 families.
When asked what sets PATH House apart from other shelters.
Taylor says, “The most important thing is we work directly with every family.” Many shelters give room and board, a stipend and send them on their way. Taylor recalls a woman who was battered by her husband. She was a mother with two children and expecting a third. Through the help of Women’s Resources of Monroe County and the PATH House this woman was able to escape an abusive situation, enroll in classes at Northampton Community College, and get her own place. Taylor adds that she received a card from this mother praising the PATH House for being her shelter from the storm. She adds how her young son can now focus on playing football rather than trying to protect his mother, and her young daughter can now admire the color of ribbon in her hair rather than being afraid that she or her mother will be hurt. This woman came for healing, and she learned how to be independent and provide for her family.
The PATH House has certain steps to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance in the program. For those who are experiencing any abuse in the household or feel like they will potentially become displaced from their home in the near future, Taylor recommends calling as soon as possible. Many of the cases come from referrals from other agencies. As space becomes available PATH permits other families to move in. The applicant must call in and apply over the phone, and Taylor suggests calling every Friday to speak to a caseworker. Persistent calling shows that the family is in dire need of attention and keeps them active on the waiting list. Taylor says, “Once space becomes available, [PATH] reviews who has called the most and who called first.”
The facilities are set up similar to boarding houses. PATH House currently has two houses: one on Ninth Street, which houses three families, and the newly expanded and renovated house on Park Avenue, which now houses ten families. The structure of the homes is communal. The living room, bathroom, and kitchen are shared spaces. Mothers and children are housed in bedrooms together. All families are responsible for purchasing and cooking their own meals. The reason behind this is because the people behind PATH House want the program to mimic real life. By coaching them into financial and domestic independence, the families are ready for the real world.
PATH House is successful because of the key players in the operation. Sharon says that “volunteers are vital” to keep the cost of paid employees down. It has two shifts-- Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Any monetary contributions are welcomed either via the website, www.pathhouse.org, or by sending a check made payable to PATH House. The organization sponsors annual community events to raise awareness and funds to sustain the program. Every year it sponsors basket bingo and a PATH House walk. In the Fall, it sponsors a golf-tournament.
One of the biggest events, which began my personal relationship with PATH House, is the Presbyterian Soup and Salad held the first Saturday in October. All of the proceeds from the event go to PATH House to further its mission. When asked what the community can do to raise awareness of situations that make the PATH House a necessary entity in the community, Taylor strongly urges the community to “be aware.” She also encourages people who are seeking internships to apply.
I asked Taylor, “If you could sum up the mission of PATH House in one phrase, what would it be?” She ended by saying, “PATH -- it’s simply people helping people to help themselves.”
For more information on how to help or to learn more about the PATH House visit their web site or contact Sharon Taylor, 120 Park Avenue, Stroudsburg, PA 18360, stpath@ptd.net.
Minette Corretta Wilson is a Sophomore at ESU. She is originally from East Orange, NJ. She is majoring in communications with a concentration in public relations. She has a minor in Pre-Law. Minette is the current Vice President of the University’s African American Student Alliance and the treasurer of the Voices of Triumph Gospel Choir. Minette wants to earn her master’s degree in public policy and public administration. She then plans to pursue her jurisprudence doctorate. Minette spends her spare time writing poetry, making a difference within her campus community, and spending times with her loved ones. She currently resides in Effort, PA with her family.
