Friends House in Santa Rosa: All Are Welcome Here

Our friend Margaret encouraged us to visit Santa Rosa, California, to see Friends House, a continuing care retirement community.  Margaret's mother has lived there for 20 years and Margaret currently serves on the board.   Friends House was created in the Quaker tradition of equality and simplicity and has been in existence since 1984.  During our visit, Margaret and her partner Dinah showed us the grounds and introduced us to a few residents.  The facility includes 64 one and two-bedroom garden apartments arranged in clusters with open room for sharing meals. The grounds and buildings are lovely and reflect the simplicity of the Quaker way of life.  We met with Paddy Coreris, Sales and Marketing Director, and were impressed with the new brochures that directly address the  beliefs held by the residents of this community.

A few years ago, Paddy met with residents and asked them to generate a list of things they value most about living at Friends House.  When potential residents come to meet with her, she gives them this list to help them understand the kind of community they are considering.  Great idea!  Note one of the values:  LGBT friendly.  

Margaret shared that one of the residents who is a lesbian, told her that there is nothing truly LGBT affirming about Friends House as it is a very welcoming environment for everyone.  Most residents are "politically liberal, have a huge social consciousness and are very smart people."  All are welcome here.