Communal Living at Penington Friends House

Penington Friends House was established by Quakers in New York City who wanted to offer visiting Friends a safe home-like environment, but in the 1980s it transitioned to a communal living model, accommodating people of various faiths—while holding firm to its founders’ Quaker values.

Todd Drake and his wife became co-directors of Penington just before the COVID-19 pandemic. In this interview, he recalls how the trust and respect that had been established among residents helped see them all through those difficult early months.

“At a time when young people are having a harder time purchasing houses and older people are ending up alone in their later years because family moves on,” Todd says, “this is a viable way of living and it is a more simple way of living.”

1 thought on “Communal Living at Penington Friends House

  1. Hi,
    An actual video did not arrive with this transcript. If it’s possible, I’d like to see it. Also, I’m disappointed that Two people seem to be co-directors of Pennington House — but only one has a name…..

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