Our new Grantee Profile focuses on SECU Family House, a 40-bedroom hospitality house located in Chapel Hill that offers an affordable, safe, nurturing home away from home for seriously ill patients:

Before Family House opened in 2008, many patients were forced to sleep in hospital waiting rooms, on hospital couches, or in their own cars because they couldn’t afford to stay in nearby motels. SECU Family House solved that problem by offering standard rooms for $35 per night and $50 per night for a suite. Families who cannot afford those rates may pay even less.

Family House provides a kitchen fully equipped to meet the demand of the 40 to 80 guests likely to be in residence on any given day. Every guest room has a private bathroom with a roll-in shower, its own phone with voicemail, an in-room safe, and a television.

Family House fulfills its mission exclusively through the generosity of individuals, local businesses, and corporate and foundation grants — without any financial help from government.

 Why is SECU Family House important? According to House Manager and Interim Executive Director Janice Ross, it’s because Family House offers patients a chance to ease their pain by providing healing and support along with a bed and a meal.

“Folks here also support and encourage each other,” she said. “There are so many instances of our guests telling us how close they’ve become to other guests. Some of these friendships last for years after they’ve left Family House.”