Friends Housing Cooperative, Inc.

In the mid-1940’s two Quaker Organizations, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Friends Neighborhood Guild (FNG) were both concerned about urban housing.

Based upon the foresight of Mr. Francis Bosworth, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Friends Neighborhood Guild (FNG) began to explore a possible joint venture with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the newly created Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.

The new 1949 Housing Act gave promise of a new era in urban housing. After long and extensive delays because of Federal and Municipal reluctance to support an integrated housing attempt, material shortages, etc., The American Friends Service Committee and the Friends Neighborhood Guild formed the Friends 'self-help' Housing Corporation (now called Friends Housing Cooperative, Inc.) in 1952, with the mission of creating affordable, urban housing for a diverse community.

The Friends Housing Cooperative is an incorporated body and as such is governed by a Board of Directors. This board is composed of fifteen members, ten of whom are stockholders and are elected each year for a two-year term, and who may be reelected for a second term. The other five members are appointed by the sponsoring agencies, the Friends Neighborhood Guild and the American Friends Service Committee. The Board has regularly scheduled monthly meetings to discuss matters pertinent to the administration of the cooperative.

Today, the Friends Housing Cooperative is located in the Northern Liberties and consists of a city block of 1850s brick townhomes.

From the guide to the Friends Housing Cooperative, Inc. records, 1948-2009, (Temple University Libraries Special Collections Research Center)