Forty years ago, College Park Quarterly Meeting established the Friends Association of Services for the Elderly (FASE), which in turn established and governed Friends House, a senior living community in Santa Rosa, California. After functioning for decades as an independent organization in a highly regulated market (retirement communities / senior-care facilities), which posed continual managerial and financial challenges to FASE, Friends House was acquired two years ago by a like-minded organization running senior-living communities known as “Front Porch.”
Front Porch is a non-profit corporation that owns and operates nineteen Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) for middle- and upper-income seniors. It also runs thirty-three affordable housing communities and other programs serving less advantaged folks in a way that Friends House on its own could never afford to do. Front Porch has been able to bring financial stability and a positive future to Friends House.
Sean Kelly became the new Chief Executive Officer of Front Porch in April 2023. He came to Front Porch after seven years as CEO of Kendal, a Quaker non-profit corporation that operates retirement communities on the East Coast. Sean speaks fluent Quaker, talking about “waiting for the way to open” and “standing aside” if you are the only one who doesn’t quite agree with the group.
Other lead Front Porch staff members are also enthusiastic about learning from Friends who live at Friends House. They like the gathering silence before and after business meetings. They like the informal, simple-living style of the buildings and grounds. They are impressed with the way Friends House residents modify their own environment and run their own programs with consensus-driven committee endeavors.
“It’s really an intentional community with support services added in,” a visitor said, observing our optional meals, housekeeping, medications management, and property maintenance. The nineteen-bed assisted living section is open to the public as well as Friends House residents. Hospice services are often provided there.
The doors of Friends House first opened on March 15, 1984. We will celebrate our Fortieth Anniversary on Friday, March 15, 2024. Scores of current residents and staff will join in this celebration, along with alumni of all sorts – prior staff, family members, residents – as well as current neighbors and service providers.
You are invited! Come to Santa Rosa and celebrate with us on March 15! Former members of the FASE board will be particularly welcome.
Elizabeth Boardman was the original Executive Director of Friends House and is now a resident. She is a member of Redwood Forest Friends Meeting in Santa Rosa, CA (PacYM).