Friendly House

Friendly House preschool provides individualized, early childhood education that focuses on each child's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. We provide an environment designed to support social interactions, and promote cooperation and problem-solving skills, with a focus on kindergarten readiness. It is a full-day (10-hour) educational program for children ages three to five. Children learn and play together under the supervision of experienced staff. The program offers meals and snacks during the day. Staff provide developmental screenings, assessments, and parenting support as requested or as needed. Preschool slots are available through a generous scholarship program, or on a sliding fee scale to ensure inclusion for everyone.friendly House before/after school program provides high-quality, affordable care during non-school hours (78am, 2:156pm, and full days on teacher in-service days). We offer generous scholarship opportunities and an affordable sliding scale for working families. After school engages children in age-appropriate enrichment activities such as art, science, homework help, sports, field trips and free-choice time. Children also have the opportunity to participate in clubs like photography, theater, gardening and music without additional cost for families. The program strives to maintain a 12:1 child to teacher ratio. After school and its qualified and dedicated staff are certified by the childcare division of Oregon's department of education. It serves 1/4th of the chapman school population. During the summer months, after school becomes a summer day camp. It operates from 7am to 6pm and is replete with hands-on projects, field trips, summer crafts and sports. Scholarships are provided for qualified families.

Volunteers are a critical component of our success over the past 9+ decades, and with support from local groups and businesses, faith-based organizations, neighbors and other community members, Friendly House hosts 100's of volunteers each year. Volunteers are instrumental in the academic success of children in our preschool, after school, and complete student support programs through tutoring and homework help. They are integral to supporting older adults living independently through our Friendly visitor/friendly caller programs. They serve on our board and committees, make improvements to our facilities, and support the planning and execution of our events, including our annual auction.

Community services: Friendly House serves marginalized community members through a variety of programming, support, and engagement. Our senior program takes a strengths-based approach to developing and accessing resources to assist older adults (60+) to live independently in their own homes. Our information & assistance specialists take inquiries over the phone or in person on topics such as how to navigate complex systems like public housing and medicare or medicaid, or to create appointments for legal assistance, tax help and transportation. Case managers work individually with clients to help reduce isolation (such as placing "Friendly visitor" volunteers with them or encouraging them to come in for an exercise class), provide housekeeping and bathing assistance, connect them to resources for food shopping and meal delivery, and encourage healthy living. Most case management services are provided in the homes and communities of the clients we serve. These services are available at no cost to the client.friendly House elder pride services (formerly known as sage metro portland) enhances the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (lgbtq+) identifying adults ages 60+. It provides a range of services, including education, advocacy, outreach, case management, information/referral/assistance, and transportation scheduling/coordination. The elder pride services housing committee developed a housing guide to help their peers assess the level of lgbtq+-friendliness of housing communities in and around the portland metro area. Elder pride services provides health and wellness classes, lectures and workshops, social events and outings, diversity trainings for the various professions that work with this population.during the pandemic, senior program and elder pride services staff pivoted to using remote and virtual platforms for all direct services, health and wellness programming, and community building activities. Friendly House has returned to offering in person services, programming, and activities while retaining some virtual activities and the associated flexibility in adapting to changing circustances. Offering hybrid supports also allows for individuals with health related or other limitations to engage in activities they could not access in person. The Friendly House community center (fhcc) features a gymnasium, fitness room, showers, and internet center. We offer a weekly schedule of activities and classes with a focus on supporting access for marginalized and underserved people. Activities and classes include community nights, music circles, lifelong learning and lectures, forums, wellness classes and opportunities for civic engagement for all community members, with a focus on older adults. Participation is free or on a sliding-fee basis. Activities include basketball, dodgeball, pickleball, yoga, tai chi, strength and endurance training, art classes and community building events and cultural celebrations such as pride month and dia de los muertos celebrations. Fhcc offers one of only a handful of public showering options for houseless friends and neighbors in portland. In addition to our robust offerings at Friendly House, staff coordinate health and wellness promotion at five home forward buildings in portland's urban core. Most classes, workshops and community building activities transitioned to virtual platforms through the pandemic.complete student support:initially developed in response to the covid-19 pandemic and community feedback, Friendly House developed complete student support (css), a remote support program that matches vetted, trained volunteers with kindergarten to 8th grade students needing extra focus and attention with academics and socialization. In addition to supporting students, the program also provides safety net services for struggling families. The intention is to equip local students and their caregivers with well-rounded support sytsems and meaningful relationships that promote their self-determination, utilizing a highly personalized and fully remote service model.covid-19 supports:early in the pandemic, Friendly House secured funding in order to provide food, rent, and utility assistance for households impacted by loss of income, and/or the financial impacts of quarantine and isolation. In addition to cash support, Friendly House provided outreach and community education on how to stay safe from covid-19, as well as how to access testing and vaccination services.