Dear Friends
As you know, Pathway of Hope is a Salvation Army initiative that offers highly personalized case management to individuals and families who are seeking to break cycles of intergenerational poverty. Through this work, people are supported to create positive change in their lives, find community, and build a sense of self-worth. The Pathway of Hope framework intentionally surrounds each person and their family, with holistic care, which includes spiritual and emotional one-on-one support to explore spiritual growth and development.
In this newsletter, you will meet people whose lives are being transformed. They come from different backgrounds, communities, and life circumstances, with different starting points and goals. This diversity is a beautiful thing. Pathway of Hope is not a linear process, and life can be messy, yet the gentle empowerment at the heart of this initiative helps people move toward their goals and calls us to take Jesus at his word when he said, “I have come that you may have life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).
I would also like to express my deep gratitude to the officers, employees, volunteers and Pathway of Hope teams across the territory. Over the years, you have offered more than 80,000 hours of dedicated support to participants, walking alongside individuals and families with compassion, patience, and hope. Your commitment, professionalism, and care are central to the impact of this initiative and a powerful expression of our mission in action.
Sincerely yours,
Lt.- Col Les Marshall Territorial Secretary for Mission
Service Delivery
Across the Territory, each Ministry Unit plays a pivotal role, working collectively to provide vital support, foster hope, and create a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and families in Canada and Bermuda.
70% of the ministry units actively involved in Pathway of Hope are Corps/church based community service providers. Pathway of Hope can be utilized across all modalities of service provision, with 30% of ministry units implementing through shelter and/or transitional housing settings.
Hope Grows
Pathway of Hope was officially launched in Canada and Bermuda in 2018. Since then, it has continued to grow and achieve success across the territory.
This year, we proudly celebrate a milestone: more than 1,600 enrollments, which represents lives touched, families supported, and individuals empowered to carve a path towards a brighter, more hopeful future.
Between 2021 and 2025, the number of households supported through POH increased by an
1,610 Households served
2,709 Individuals
80,000+ support hours
Breaking Barriers
To break the cycle of poverty, we partner with individuals and families to develop a customized plan and take action to address root-cause issues and barriers.
As part of the intake process, participants complete the Client Self-Sufficiency Matrix . This assessment tool has been tested for both validity and reliability, and it helps the team to identify the barriers that prevent progress, as well as how different issues may be interconnected.
In 2025, the most significant obstacles for Pathway of Hope participants at enrollment were:
Impactful Achievements
Pathway of Hope encourages participants to establish measurable and attainable (SMART) goals to create positive changes in their lives.
Goals have been achieved across all four divisions of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, reflecting participants' hard work and the meaningful progress made in overcoming barriers.
3,296 goals have been set Through Pathway of Hope:
As we enter 2026, active participants continue to work on 500 goals, striving to achieve meaningful progress in their journeys.
1,876 goals have been achieved
Community Integration
Pathway of Hope is rooted in collaboration. Lasting change happens when individuals and families are supported by community partners working together. Through strong relationships with service providers and local organizations, Pathway of Hope connects participants to essential supports while strengthening communities.
Since its launch, more than 13,409 referrals have been made to community partners. The following represent the top five referral categories, demonstrating a shared commitment to housing stability, employment, health, and wellbeing.
1 Housing Support – 1,613
2 Employment Support – 1,515
3 Mental Health – 1,042
4 Substance Abuse –
5 Health Care – 715
By working together and sharing responsibility, we reduce barriers, build trust, and create stronger pathways toward stability, connection, and hope.
Participant Snapshot
Pathway of Hope supports individuals and families at many stages of life, each bringing unique experiences, strengths, and goals.
By meeting participants where they are, Pathway of Hope helps people build stability, confidence, and a sense of belonging within their communities.
Measuring Transformation
Developed by Dr. Kaye Herth in 1992, the Herth Hope Index is a validated and reliable tool used across clinical, research, and educational settings to measure hope. Path way of Hope applies this tool, along with the Client Self-Sufficiency Matrix, every three months to track participant progress.
Pathway of Hope fulfills The Salvation Army’s mission by providing holistic support, help ing participants explore connections, meaning, and purpose. Using the Assessment , spiritual progress is tracked as participants move from crisis to stability.
Faith Growth
69% of participants report their faith grew stronger through Pathway of Hope.
58% more connected to a faith or spiritual community. of successfully completed participants identified they experienced increased 67%
Nurturing Faith Connections
While faith and spirituality are considered important to people, often they are not well connected to a faith or spiritual community/group.
83% of Pathway of Hope participants have a faith or spiritual belief that is of importance to them.
Pathway of Hope presents the opportunity for intentional conversation and relationship building that can lead to corps (church) and community integration.
