Inspire Others. Make an Impact.

We honor our dedicated volunteers who truly make a significant impact on our community. Take the next step to help Chester County Neighbors in need. Love to cook? Love to set up a home environment? Volunteer today!

Every Family Deserves A Home

Friends Association believes that opportunity begins when people are rooted in a safe, healthy, and affordable place to call home and it grows with access to good schools, jobs, transportation, and healthcare.

Your Gifts Are The Reason Our Roots Are Strong

Friends Association believes that opportunity begins when people are rooted in a safe, healthy, and affordable place to call home and it grows with access to good schools, jobs, transportation, and healthcare.

Don't miss People's Light Production of Lettie!

Lettie is newly released from prison and eager to regain custody of her teenage children. This surprisingly funny play follows the heartbreak and hope of a family trying to mend amid harsh realities. June 17-July 13, 2023.

Panel discussion with the cast and CEO Jennifer Lopez,  June 25 after the performance.

We know that the journey home starts with stable housing, but that's just the beginning.

At Friends Association, we build family well-being by providing opportunities and meeting the needs of children and their parents together.

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what we do

PREVENT HOMELESSNESS

Through our Eviction Prevention Court Program, Homelessness Prevention Program, Housing Navigation Services, and as a provider of funds through the Emergency Rent & Utility Assistance Program, Friends work is focused on preventing the trauma and lasting impact of homelessness from happening in the first place.  Families have access to legal, financial, and relocation assistance, as well as case management to transition from a housing crisis to housing stability.

PROVIDE EMERGENCY HOUSING

Housing is a basic human right. Our Family Center Emergency Housing and NIA House Diversionary Reentry Home for Women provides this most basic human right – a home that becomes a sanctuary on a family’s journey to permanent housing.  The Family Center is the only low-barrier family shelter in Chester County to provide housing for entire families, including single moms and dads, two-parent, multi-generational, grandparent, LGBTQ+ families and families with adolescent boys.  A critical component of NIA House is reunifying women with their children or grandchildren after incarceration.  These programs offer a holistic solution to homelessness and our housing model guarantees a right fit for a family.

PARTNER WITH FAMILIES FOR STABILITY

We know that support and programming after shelter help families remain housed.  The Home 2 Stay graduate program provides continued case management support, comprehensive guidance, and resources to empower families and reduce the risk of a family’s return to homelessness.  Our goal is to help families not only obtain housing but to keep it.

Our Peer Support Program helps our neighbors in laying the foundation for the four dimensions of recovery:  Health, Home, Community, and Purpose by providing mutually supportive services by a professional with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use.

PROMOTE SYSTEMIC CHANGE

We believe in the power of change on levels big and small, both within ourselves and our larger systems.  We are committed to leading the charge to end homelessness for our neighbors by raising awareness of the issue and mobilizing communities to address the root causes of family homelessness.

Over the last year…

Fathers, mothers, grandparents, caretakers and children were provided shelter and/or housing stabilization

Nights of secure shelter provided

Families prevented from experiencing homelessness

%

Families move to or remain in safe & stable housing

ANNUAL REPORT

View Our 2021-2022 Annual Report

View Our 2020-2021 Annual Report

View Our 2019-2020 Annual Report

The journey home starts with...you.