GETTING INvolved

We expect to have an opening this spring, 
by April 15th! If you've read through our website and feel you'd be compatible, please scroll down to our full listing, to learn how to apply.  
     ​You'll find our listing at the end of this page (as well as on the Boston Co-op Network) for any current openings. To respond, we ask that you first fill out our AFH Application form. It provides essential information before we can set up any phone interviews or visits.

​Traits We Look for in Community   
   •uber-responsible, keeping commitments
  • has time and skills to invest in community
  • ​fabulous responsive communicator
  • enjoys coming home for dinner most nights
  • likes to host events and invite people over
  • planning to stay long term (minimum 18 months)
  • prefers bikes to cars, fresh food to frozen, quiet to noise, etc.

Things That Can Pose Challenges  
  • out many evenings
  • often away weekends/frequent travel for work
  • may move within a year or two
  • difficulty with stairs
  • ​recurring conditions that limit ability or availability to participate  

Skills We Can Always Use More Of
     Plumbing                        Singing
     Playing of instruments    Electrical
     Bike repair                       Sewing
     Web design                    Gardening
     Contra-dancing               Tennis                                       Carpentry                        Brute force 
 
    (We also welcome general inquiries, through the contact link below. We're always happy to hear from others about intentional community​.)

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     What makes an ideal housemate?  We work best with people who have experience living with others, and are skilled in group dynamics —— articulate, good negotiators, good at drawing others out —— as well as being good communicators in general. 
    We find common goals draw us together despite differences in age, gender, or orientation.
​     If you're not sure you're compatible with AFH, we hope you will apply anyway (see our house Application​ form). We'll be happy to hear from you, and offer more clarity.   

ARE YOU LOOKING TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY? We're looking for a new member to join us April 15th! A long-established Friends co-op, Arlington Friends House is a household that values communication, shared meals, and community care. We share a spacious Victorian in Arlington Center, with fireplaces, stained glass, porches, yard, parking, etc. Our house, owned by one of the housemates, is steps away from the 77 bus to Harvard Square, and a 15-minute bike ride to Alewife and the Red Line.

THE MATCH: Are you a great communicator, experienced in shared living? We’re looking for a co-op-mate who is committed to investing their skills, and able to participate in and add to our community. Are you open, flexible, and companionable? Are you looking for a long-term community to call home? (Do you sing, dance, garden, hike…?) We would love to get to know you and let you get to know us.

THE HOUSEHOLD: We are a poet, a nature educator, a priest, a graphic designer, a climate justice organizer, and a non-profit operations director, who range in age from our 20s to our 60s, and a very good old dog. (We probably can't take additional pets.) We enjoy games, puzzles, music, singing, gardening, dancing, deep talks, etc.
     We have vegetarian dinners every night (we each cook one night a week, and there is food every night!) and expect each housemate to be present at dinner at least 4 nights a week on average. We share food and household supplies as well as cleaning and upkeep. We hold house meetings every other week and make decisions using a Quaker-based consensus process. While only two of us are Friends as in Quakers, all of us strive to be friends.

THE ROOM: Located on the second floor, the room measures about 13 x 15 ft. With wood floors, a substantial closet, and three large windows (east/southeast), it looks out onto the backyard. Photos here. Rent is $825 plus $75 for utilities (a flat rate for internet, water, gas heat, and electricity) for a total of $900 per month. We each also contribute about $55 per week for the house food kitty, keeping our food costs remarkably low!

THE LOCATION: Ours is a verdant neighborhood in Arlington Center, 2 blocks from Mass Ave and 4 from the park. Housemates use a mix of bikes, transit and cars to get where they are going each day, whether that’s Alewife station (15 minutes by bike or bus; 8 minutes by car) or beyond. Many of us have commuted to Tufts, Harvard, Lesley, MIT or downtown.

THE PROCESS: If you're interested, please read through our website first, to learn about our guidelines! Then, if it still seems like a good fit, we invite you to fill out our Application here. We'll respond to all Applications completed this way. 
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We look forward to hearing from you!

COVID NOTE: Current residents are all fully vaccinated and we expect new residents to be as well. We've developed detailed safety protocols that we update periodically and are happy to share.