I don't always receive the same kind of, if any, assistance that I ask for and that is promoted / listed on their website! Their website has numerous references to assistance for low-income seniors (I'm 69) re: case mgmnt services, referrals and or "assistance" w finding housing, access to food ( when I inquired about receiving food I was given a sm plastic bag containing 3 cans of food; one of green beans, 1 can red kidney beans and a can of peas). When I call and or talk to staff members who say they work with seniors, I am always told that they are not really offering services to seniors right now except rhe occasional onsite elder LGTPQ+ parties (that staff also attend) and, zoom literary presentations (which are quite good but are these the extensive senior services that the website is referring to?) Plus I once brought in some of my nicer clothes, ( that no longer fit) freshly laundered and or dry cleaned to donate. Maybe 12 items, colorful and in excellent condition. The staff member who accepted them did not offer any appreciation or gesture of gratitude but held up each closely scrutinizing each one, in front of another staff person ( I don't know if the woman who did this is there any longer? I didn't catch her name ..?) They do have a nice fitness area, and classes ( I've always had to pay extra for) except for a brief art therapy session / wkshop which was wonderful! Also they have food donated ( which the staff also take) including sourdough bread and potted herbs from Trader Joe's. I think the place has a sound vision and philosophy as stated on their website. But it's not quite like this in reality. Plus the website says everything is offered free of charge. This is not true. They would not let me touch a computer or anything else for that matter, until I paid for a membership. I DO qualify for one that is subsidized so I appreciate that! Though now I am a bit afraid to visit very often because one of the last times I visited the front desk person and a houseless person seemed to be having an argument. The houseless person got violent and began swinging a large bat type thing. It was frightening to witness tho I've been in a few times since then. Also one more BIG thing to mention; the director replaced all of my keys that were lost there, paying for all of them! I will be forever indebted for her kindness!! And last but not least; Damien at the front desk is one of the kindest people I have ever met! Always, thoughtful, always gentle and ALWAYS friendly! read more

Lots of good things going on here for all ages, from kids to elderly folks. I met with Anna Walker, who provides support services for elders, and she was kind, efficient, and went above and beyond to assist me. My grandson and I plan to participate in many of the activities here! read more

Friendly, local gym doing good in the Portland community. Gymnasium is older but functional. I wish it was swept and cleaned more regularly though as the court is slippery. Bathrooms are typically clean. Parking is available on the street. Staff is friendly and chill. Patrons are welcoming. read more

Friendly House is awesome! They have something for everybody, from celebrations and block parties, to online fitness classes, to preschool and summer camp, to LGBT+ older adult socials and I know I'm forgetting so much else. Can't recommend Friendly House enough. read more

This place is such a great asset to NW Portland. I had a gym membership there for a few months before I moved out of the neighborhood. $35/month unless you buy in bulk or are a student or senior. I found out about this place through adult league dodgeball. We had games here every Monday night on the basketball courts. The exercise room is pretty minimal, but I never had to fight for a machine or weights. It's also a great way to avoid the meat markets that are 24 Hour, La Fitness, and other corporate gyms. Finally, I can exercise with people who don't think less of me for not wearing make-up and mid-driffs. And, I'm supporting a local non-profit that does a lot for the community. I hear they have a lot of great programs for kids and classes during the day for the elderly. What's not to love? read more

Things I've been needing to buy, but haven't: -Desk -Chair for desk I was driving by and you had a "free" sign outside your building with a big selection of desks and tables. I have never been inside this building, but I now have a free desk in my apartment thanks to you. Much appreciated. read more

Friendly House preschool provides a play based, safe and fun beginning school option for families in the area. My son attended FH for 2 years, and still talks about his days at preschool. The teachers are wonderful, caring people. And the life lessons he learned about making friends, sharing, treating others with respect, and working through his emotions have helped guide him as he grows and has new experiences. read more

This is a very nice local charity with a focus on assisting elderly low income and also Gay and Gray. It is located in NW Portland and has many different programs to help the needy as well as art classes, fitness classes and more. read more

I am writing specifically about the Friendly House preschool, which is wonderful. Both of my children attended from 3-5, and I couldn't have asked for more caring and experienced teachers. It was the perfect place for my children to grow, learn, play, and make friends. The teachers used a variety of pedagogies to support and encourage the students curiosity and interests, but the real stand out was the sheer warmth and emphasis on inclusivity. It used to make me feel happy just entering the school, and I knew that my children were safe, happy, and loved. Friendly house preschool is the gold standard by which we now evaluate all teachers! read more

A needed non profit for the NW neighborhood! A gem that provides a gammut of services to vulnerable populations. Sliding scale services and no one turned away for lack of funds! Has a very popular pre-school! . read more

I really appreciate the staff here! My son left his phone here, and an employee went out of their way to contact us and let us know where his phone was at, when it was so close to closing time. Thank you! read more

Water heater leaked in weight room right after I signed up for a year and they won't give me a refund. Also have seen staff working out in there while the water was almost completely dry but don't understand why it's been 3 days and no weights available. Screw em. read more

I am writing about their after school program, specifically. As a community center, you would think that they have great after school teachers. Their program is very expensive, but they do offer scholarship opportunities. After working there for the duration of a school year, I really felt that some of the children were excluded. Teachers who had more experience working with children with bad family situations were placed as "associate teachers" and were not given as much authority with the kids. Apparently the turn-around rate for these positions was very high (not surprisingly). You'll see them re-hiring on Craigslist every year. The youth staff are definitely not your 5-star life-coach teachers. Some of them take the kid's-tv-show-host approach to handling children. Some are excellent craft teachers. It's more like an entertainment program to watch your kids, which will work fine for some people. They do have yoga and music lessons which are nice. I was definitely disappointed at how some of the kids with family situations were treated. There was not a lot of support for young kids dealing with anger or anxiety, rifts in the family, divorce, etc. Children dealing with those issues were ostracized and the extra care given to some kids were actually withheld from the kids who needed it most. They were treated like "bad kids." Other kids were given better treatment. This is all concerning the kindergarteners, so I would have thought more sympathy would have been shown. As one of the teachers who actually felt sympathy for these kinds of kids, I was actually told not to feel sorry for them and continue to shame and ignore them the way other teachers did. I still feel sad that I was only able to help so much. I was new to the Northwest area, and had never seen children dealt with this way. Friendly House is no different in culture from the rest of the Northwest area, so that should speak for itself. read more

I honestly have no idea what this place does! I believe it's a community center like the YMCA for people in the hood to work on their fitness and such. I play dodgeball here every week with Underdog Sports. Fun times! read more

I don't write online reviews much at all but I just had to take the time to post one for the Preschool offered at Friendly House. I have had 3 kids go through the program (including the baby group that is offered for the under 3's with parent) and have been very happy with our time there. The staff is exceptional with their engagement, creative curriculum and accompanying crafts, singing, dancing, reading, and general social behavior/manners around enjoying meals together and dealing with transitions. We are about to finish our time at Friendly House so we won't be able to enjoy the new perk of the full day option that they are now able to offer starting next year. The preschool group is 3-5 year olds together. Having the oldest in the preschool this year, I have especially appreciated the time they have taken to do small groups for the pre-k group to practice kindergarten readiness skills, give them a taste of what's coming a bit more. It's a gem of a place, not just the preschool, and the people there have a lot of heart, experience, and knowledge. You know your kids are being well taken care of there. read more

Friendly House has been a big part of our family's life, ever since my two kids were young. We began attending Music Together classes held in the Garden Room when both my children were infants, and also took part in the weekly Playgroup for children under 3. It was there that we met some great friends, my children got to play with other peers their age, and they learned the basics of social interactions, through teacher-led circle time and songs. My children both continued in the half-day Friendly House Preschool, very much influenced by our experience within Playgroup. Our older daughter attended for three years, and our son is finishing his second (and last year) at the preschool. It is sad to think we will be moving on from the preschool, because it has played a big role in our children's early lives. The staff has always been caring, funny and engaging. The curriculum has always been based around play, and I've always appreciated that the children are provided breakfast and a snack. The inside gym is great for letting the kids practice their gross motor skills, and the sweet outdoor play structure/gravel digging pit and garden is a nice, private setting for free-play. Although my children always attended half-day, it is exciting that Friendly House will be providing a full-day option for parents who need it. Besides the preschool, Friendly House provides a wealth of other opportunities for children, families and adults. Enrichment classes, arts, athletics, social events are just some of the varied activities available to the community, and volunteers are always welcome. NW Portland is lucky to have this worthy organization in its midst. read more