Friendly House

Empowering Arizona Communities through Education and Human Services

Friendly House, Inc., is a (501)(c)(3), private, non-profit, community-based organization with extensive experience and expertise in the provision of culturally-competent family and community-based service to residents of Phoenix and Maricopa County. Friendly House is one of Arizona's pioneer social service agencies - first established in 1920 by the Phoenix Americanization Committee as part of a local initiative to assist immigrants in acquiring the citizenship, education and literacy skills necessary to acculturate into the United States. Our work builds on America's identity as a nation of opportunity by promoting and advancing a number of strategies to enable individuals/families to fully enter and participate in the American way of life. Currently serving 10,000 clients each year, Friendly House endeavors to align its work with the highest aspirations of all the people it serves in an effort to help them achieve their American Dream.

Friendly House serves Arizona families, new immigrants and citizens -- at work, school or home, and all stages of life -- through the following integrated program areas: Elementary Education, Adult Education/Workforce Development, Immigration Services, and Family & Emergency Services.

Elementary Education: Friendly House provides high quality early childhood education to children ages 3-5, K-8th grade education, and afterschool/summer programs to children/youth. Friendly House delivers these programs on the campus of its Academia del Pueblo charter school and other community facilities serving students and families in South/Central Phoenix. All programs align with Arizona's state education standards (e.g. early learning, AZ Merit/Common Core).

Adult Education and Workforce Development: Friendly House's state-certified Adult Education program provides quality educational services to adult learners (16 and older) not enrolled in a K-12 school to support higher education and employment aspirations. This program focuses on serving adult learners who need a second chance to complete their education and enter the workforce. Friendly House has provided integrated education and employment services for 100+ years, and its Workforce Development program has been affiliated with the Phoenix Workforce Connection (now Arizona@Work-Phoenix) system since 1999. The program provides assessments, mentoring, training, support services, job placement/retention and follow-up for over 1,500 adults and 200 youths annually. Friendly House's Immigration Services program provides legal advice, representation and assistance with immigration related matters.

Family & Emergency Services: The programs within this service area strengthen and stabilize the lives of individuals, children and families in their homes, communities and neighborhoods by addressing basic human service needs. Current programs include: Emergency Services (food, utility assistance), and Victim Advocate Services.

Testimonials

• Adult Education Student Quotes
"The GED program has been the best opportunity of my life. I am 28 years old, and I never graduated so to me I felt like I could never get more than a fast-food job. With the help and encouragement of this program I see that I was wrong. I successfully got my GED, I am enrolling in college to get a better job, and to show my children that no matter how old you are or no matter how hard it may seem that it's never too late to chase after your dreams. You only fail when you stop trying."
"To have started English classes with Friendly House a year ago it was a good decision for my life because they have helped me to have the practice of this language in this country, which it's needed for our daily way of life. I have increased my knowledge in all senses with Burlington programs in the lab and reading of interesting books in class, which it was established for Ms. Udell as our new teacher. There's a friendly and nice environment inside classes and I recommended to everybody who can take them. Thanks to Friendly House and all of the teachers we have had."