Our History

History

The Friends Rehabilitation Program (FRP), Inc., which is an outgrowth of the services of the Friends Neighborhood Guild (FNG), a settlement house/neighborhood center, was formed in 1961. FRP represented an expansion into housing development and it became independent in 1982. The organization has stood true to its purpose to provide housing, related facilities and services for the elderly, special needs residents, families, and homeless persons on a non-profit basis; to plan, construct, operate, manage, maintain, and improve housing and to combat community deterioration by engaging in the redevelopment or rehabilitation of residential property in Philadelphia.

Friends Rehabilitation Program management is based in the Quaker community, whereby at least 51% of the Board of Directors must be members of the Religious Society of Friends. The balance of the Board is made up of members of the community at large with expertise in affordable housing.

FRP is one of a few citywide non-profit developers of affordable housing in Philadelphia. The West Poplar neighborhood is FRP's original service area where FRP's first two HUD-funded Section 202 projects are and where FRP's corporate offices are located. FRP provides housing for the elderly, people with disabilities, families and homeless individuals. FRP owns or has controlling interest in five HUD Section 202 properties: Guild House East, Guild House West I, Guild House West II, Sarah Allen and St. George. FRP has controlling interest and/or manages three Low Income Tax Credit developments. FRP prides itself in not only being good neighbors in the communities where it manages property, but in working to involve residents of the neighborhoods in the day to day operations of the properties. FRP staff and residents regularly attend community meetings and market vacant apartments in the local community.

FRP recognizes the need to provide expanded housing opportunities to all segments of the population. Toward this objective, the organization has expanded its development activities to include construction of affordable homeownership housing. It has additional homeownership development planned for the Belmont and Strawberry Mansion areas of the City.

FRP began administering the City of Philadelphia Transition Housing Program (THP) in 2001. The THP provides supportive services to homeless families as they move from homeless shelter to independent living. It provides intensive case management and employment counseling to support these families toward a stability and permanent housing.