Profile: Friendly House

The History of Friendly House

Established in 1920, Friendly House was part of a new national settlement house project of the federal government to assist both new immigrants to the United States and the poor. Founded by the Phoenix Americanization Committee the goal was to teach English and citizenship to foreign-born clients. The movement was geared to hasten the assimilation of America's immigrant population by promoting programs designed to make them legal, loyal, English-speaking United States citizens.

From the 1920's to mid-1960, Friendly House maintained a program of teaching immigrants English and citizenship and placing women in jobs as domestic workers. During the mid-1960's, Friendly House experienced it's first fundamental change since it's founding. The war on poverty and the nationwide civil rights movement had a profound effect on social service programs throughout the United States. Friendly House began to broaden it's focus with programs for senior citizens, establishing a social work department, training women for jobs other than as domestics and expanding its youth programs.

While programs of Friendly House continue to expand addressing the needs of it's constituency, the emphasis is still on the education of our youth, employment and training, social services and adult education. Annually, Friendly House serves 40,000 families, youth and children building success and independence for a better America.