The Friendship Manor facility was originally built as a private student dorm in <em>1967</em>, called The College Inn. Friendship Manor came into being in <em>1973 </em>thanks to the vision of Dr. Kenneth P. Berg, a Presbyterian minister who at that time had already established and operated 30 life care retirement centers in different parts of the country. His goal was to offer an affordable, dignified environment to seniors living on fixed incomes.

During the turbulent Vietnam era, The College Inn saw a drop in student tenants and could no longer afford to keep its doors open. Dr. Berg stepped in and purchased the property, and soon began converting it to a retirement community.

Dr. Berg assembled a seven member Board of Directors composed of local community laymen and pastors. On <em>July 25, 1973</em>, despite a feasibility study listing 26 reasons why it could not succeed, Friendship Manor was incorporated under the laws of the State of California, with the first official Board meeting being held on <em>July 27, 1973</em>.
<h2>Our Future is Bright</h2>
Friendship Manor continues to be a vibrant and healthy organization serving the independent needs of its residents.  As the organization moves forward, the focus of the current Board is on building a new, purpose-built Friendship Manor in Santa Barbara, providing a mixed-income property that allows residents with low incomes to live with seniors on higher incomes, and creating a more diverse community of seniors.
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