About New Pathways

Margaret Burns and Cheryl Gray established New Pathways, Inc. in Cambridge, Minnesota in 2000 as an all-encompassing resource for families experiencing homelessness. The Cambridge Day Center was established in 2002, and New Pathways began partnering with area churches where homeless families could eat and spend the night. The house in Cambridge was purchased with the assistance of government funding and provided a place where families could search for housing and employment, get connected with community resources, do laundry, and take a shower. Staff was hired, including a Licensed Social Worker for family case management, which gave the program stability so it could provide the best service possible to the family participants.

In 2006, the program expanded to Little Falls before moving its second location to Brainerd. This location followed the same model as Cambridge, with families staying at churches in one-week rotations. New Pathways had been a part of the Brainerd community for over 10 years, providing shelter and services to 386 families in need. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the program abruptly stopped in 2019 due to rental space and funding loss.

The Cambridge location serves Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties.

The shelter program is now called the “Path to Home Program,” since it works with each family to create a plan for their unique path to housing stability. New Pathways has 40 church partners who volunteer at least 300 hours per week to make the program work.

In 2010, New Pathways expanded to provide supportive housing services to long-term homeless families. New Pathways partnered with MetroPlains Management to provide support services to six long-term homeless families at Normandy Townhomes in Cambridge. In 2013, services expanded to cover four additional units at Heritage Townhomes in Cambridge. An on-site case manager is available full time to provide assistance in developing a strong tenant-landlord relationship and to connect the families with resources in the community.