OVERVIEW OF CDC
  Pathfinder Services is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
corporation with the aim of fostering communities in which all people, regardless of their
abilities, are accepted, and have control over their own destinies. The organization
began in 1966 as an Association for Retarded Citizens, and has gradually expanded its
mission to include community development. It currently provides services in twelve
rural Northern Indiana counties. Some of the cities and towns served include:
Huntington (16,389), Roanoke (1,018), Wabash (12,127), North Manchester (6,383), Plymouth
(8,303), Knox (3,705), Culver (1,404), Angola (6,577), Fremont (1,476), Columbia City
(6,951) and Rome City (1,170).
 The unemployment rate in the region is around 3%, but
the average wage is $8-$10 per hour, leaving many families, especially single wage earner
families, without enough income to be self-sufficient. Pathfinder provides a variety
of services, ranging from early childhood intervention and child care to employment, and
assisted living services for people with disabilities. Homeless and welfare-to-work
services are also provided.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
 By becoming active in community development,
Pathfinder Services, Inc. is better able to advocate for the acceptance of the people it
serves, as well as improve their self-sufficiency. For those families with lower
incomes, finding ways to reduce their cost of living and increasing employment potential
can result in greater control over their lives. Pathfinder's first community
development venture was the building of Kid Kampus, a child care and early childhood
center that provides scholarships for high quality child care for those who cannot afford
regular fees but do not qualify for federal child care assistance. In 1997,
Community Connections was created as the housing division of Pathfinder Services.
Since then, over 100 families have become homeowners through the Rural Home Loan
Partnership with USDA Rural Development, the Indiana Housing Finance Authority and Rural
LISC. Pathfinder has provided extensive homeownership counseling, along with down
payment assistance. So far, none of the families have defaulted on their
loans.
Pathfinder Services is also involved in commercial operations that generate 45 jobs for
people it serves that need transitional employment. The organization provides
recycling for Huntington and is creating an educational product called Fraction
IslandsŪ. This educational product is distributed nationwide to enable elementary
children to learn fractions more easily.
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