Our History

Over 130 years of serving the WNY community.

Our story is rooted in the Eastside of Buffalo. What grounds our ongoing dedication to uplifting community are our historic collaborations with the Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Neighborhood Housing Association.

BFNC is proud to have been established by merging the Westminster Community House and Neighborhood House, which are among the oldest settlement houses in America. Both settlement houses were created to assist new immigrant residents in overcoming life’s obstacles.

Over 130 Years of Serving Community

Unlocking Potential & Enriching Lives

1893

Buffalo had doubled in size in less than two decades. During the Panic of 1893 (an economic depression that lasted until 1897), the Church Districting Plan created by the Charity Organization Society of Buffalo divided the city into districts. Each church gained oversight of families in one or more districts.

History of Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, community non profit in Buffalo NY

1894-1910

September 17, 1894 – Westminster Community House founded.

Westminster House opens at 421 Monroe Street, with Miss Emily S. Holmes as head worker. Activities include a free kindergarten, boys and girls clubs, and a sewing school. Dr. Samuel Van Vranken Holmes of Westminster Presbyterian Church is responsible for the surrounding neighborhood.

1894 – Neighborhood House Association (NHA) founded.

Neighborhood House Association begins on Goodell Street through Miss Elizabeth Williams, a daycare center worker, opening as a reading room for area children. Some members of her church congregation begin to offer their assistance.

1898
Neighborhood House Association opens a larger location at 92 Locust Street.

1910
A new community house is built on the original site of the Westminster House, which still stands today. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

History of BFNC Timeline, 1894 locations of the Neighborhood House Association and Westminster Community House

1912-1939

Adapting to Change

Westminster Community House’s and the Neighborhood House Association’s service focus evolves to keep pace with the changing social conditions and community problems.

Over the years, the City of Buffalo and some businesses take over certain roles previously held by the settlement houses. However, the settlements continue many of their traditional programs, while developing new ones that respond to emerging needs.

Settlements also become more involved in the Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girl organizations.

History of BFNC Timeline, group of young girls in 1912

History of BFNC Timeline, European immigrant children at Westminster House 1912

1940-1976

World War II

The war creates job opportunities for African Americans in cities, generating the first significant black migration northward. In Buffalo, post-war neighborhoods are in transition as many African Americans find their homes in Buffalo’s East Side.

Westminster Community House and the Neighborhood House Association (NHA) recognize the need to empower these “new” neighbors through leadership, staffing, and programming changes.

1954
The Neighborhood House Association changes locations to its home at 76 Orange Street.

May 20, 1968
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo sells the Neighborhood House Association at 97 Lemon Street.

History of BFNC Timeline, Buffalo's Brown Bomber taxicab company 1939

History of BFNC Timeline, family during the Black Migration 1939

1977-1979

1977 – Jan Peters hired as the Director of the Neighborhood House Association.

Following graduate school and her work in Detroit as Executive Assistant to Mayor Coleman Young, Jan returned to Buffalo and served in many community roles before joining the Neighborhood House Association:

– Director, Buffalo Community Development Organization
– Special Assistant to Buffalo’s Commissioner of Human Resources
– Director, Public Service Careers Program for Buffalo’s Model Cities Agency
– Assistant Coordinator, Day Care Council of Erie County
– Assistant Director of Research and Development, Opportunities Development Corp.

January 24, 1979

The Neighborhood House Association acquires 292 High Street, which will become the Moot Senior Center.

History of BFNC Timeline, senior community members 1977

1980-1990

1981

Jan Peters completes the merger of Westminster Community House and the Neighborhood House Association — two of America’s oldest settlement houses — forming the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. BFNC works with people to prepare, equip, and empower them to realize their full potential.

BFNC offers a wide range of services to youth, older adults, and the community, helping them navigate a path from where they are to where they want to be.

1986

Fruit Belt Towers opens. It provides 14 studio apartments for adults with mental illness, equipped with access to a laundry and a greengrocery.

History of BFNC Timeline, BFNC Director Jan Peters in front of the Neighborhood House 1981

History of BFNC Timeline, Fruitbelt Towers assisted living apartments

1993-1994

Centennial Celebration

BFNC holds a Centennial Celebration from 1993-1994.

September 1993
The Buffalo Common Council under Council President George K. Arthur recognizes the contributions of BFNC and proclaims 1993-1994 to be BFNC’s “Centennial Year.”

October 13, 1993
Mayor James. D. Griffin and the City of Buffalo proclaim November 5-12 “BFNC Week.”

March 24, 199
As part of the Centennial Celebration, BFNC and the University at Buffalo invite guest lecturer Dr. Cornell West to speak.

History of BFNC Timeline, Director Jan Peters at the Centennial Celebration 1993

History of BFNC Timeline, Director Jan Peters and others at the Centennial Cookout 1993

1998

BFNC adds a new teen program, Buffalo Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Services.

The program, funded by the Office of Child and Family Services, is created to provide a comprehensive array of services to at-risk, pregnant, and parenting adolescents through 21 years of age.

Specifically, the program addresses adolescent pregnancy prevention, coordination and community awareness, self-sufficiency, and healthy child development.

This program would run until 2012 when it transitioned to become CAPP (Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Services).

History of BFNC Timeline, teen boy in the new BAPPS program 1998

2000-2020

2000s

BFNC continues its mission of continuously Unlocking Potential and Enriching Lives through person-centered services and events such as Case Management, Residential Services for Adults, the Youth Advocacy Program, Community Service Prevention Against Incarceration (CSPAI), the Fun and Learn Program, and the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

2013 – Ricardo Herrera, MSW, is appointed the new CEO of BFNC.

Ricardo expands BFNC services to Niagara County through the acquisition of the Reporting Center Program. This program is designed to address the needs of youth who are “Persons in Need of Supervision” or experiencing truancy issues.

2018

Conceptualization and development begins for the Westminster Commons Affordable Housing Development for older adults. The Moot Center is renovated to ensure ADA accessibility.

History of BFNC Timeline, BFNC Director Ricardo Herrara 2013

History of BFNC Timeline, BFNC Director Ricardo Herrara at the Moot Center Reopening 2019

2021-2024

2021 – Chandra Redfern, MS, is appointed the new CEO of BFNC.

Chandra reimagines Community Service Delivery by expanding and reinstating the organization’s programming. As CEO, she develops and implements Educational Programming to address the critical need for mental wellness education within BIPOC Faith communities.
The Westminster Commons Affordable Housing Development is completed. Westminster provides 84 energy-efficient apartments for adults aged 55+, with access to on-site supportive services for residents.
The BFNC Living podcast and radio show begins in 2021, providing education and information to assist community members in navigating life issues.
We work with Erie County Youth Services to create Fall Fest in the Fruit Belt, an informational and fun health and wellness fair for the community.
BFNC introduces Brunch with Santa, a holiday community event to provide cheer and care for single parents and their children.

June 2022

BFNC reintroduces the Summer Solstice annual fundraiser and expands it to include the Neighborhood Impact Awards, which honor individuals’ service to BFNC and the community.

2024

Continuing the vision of reimagining community, BFNC purchases and renovates the former Canisius College Demerly Hall at 2365 Main Street into the new Administration Building.

History of BFNC Timeline, BFNC Director Chandra Redfern 2021

History of BFNC Timeline, Westminster Senior Apartments ribbon cutting 2021

The Westminster Community House

The story of the Westminster Community House is one of community residents working together to make an impact in the lives of European immigrants in the city of Buffalo.

Responding to the Panic of 1893 the Charity Organization of Buffalo divided the city into districts with local churches each taking responsibility for one or more neighborhoods.

Dr. Samuel Van Vranken Holmes of Westminster Presbyterian Church accepted responsibility for the neighborhood surrounding the current Westminster House. On September 17, 1894, the Westminster House at 421 Monroe Street officially opened its doors to the community.

Activities included a free Kindergarten, a sewing school, and a boys and girls’ clubs. It later added a gymnasium, billiard room, and reading room with a library. In 1910, a new clubhouse was built on the original site and still stands today as the Westminster Community House.

The Neighborhood House

Created as the Neighborhood House Association (NHA)

In 1894, Elizabeth Williams, a Buffalo daycare center worker, opened a reading room on Goodell St. for area children. She asked the congregation of her church, the Unitarian Church of Our Father, to assist her community work. Church members provided financial assistance and volunteered as teachers.

As the reading room grew, the volunteers moved to a larger apartment on Hickory St. in Buffalo, NY. The larger house included a kitchen and garden, sewing, reading, and educational classes. In 1893 a larger house on Locust St. (#92) was opened.

The Neighborhood House made several moves as the community needs grew. In 1954, there was a move to the current Buffalo Eastside location at 76 Orange Street.

History of BFNC Timeline, original Neighborhood House Association 1893

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