About SECU Family House
SECU Family House is a safe, nurturing, affordable home for patients and their loved ones who travel great distances to UNC Hospitals for life-saving procedures and serious illnesses.
Our Mission
We provide guests lodging, meals, supportive programs, transportation and a caring support network. We serve families from all 100 North Carolina counties and beyond, helping them rest, heal, and gather strength when they need it most.
Serving All 100 North Carolina Counties
35,000+ Guests served since 2008
Total Number of Guests by County Since 2008
1000+
500-999
250-499
150-249
100-149
50-99
5-49
“It was very affordable, and the families, staff and volunteers were just awesome. So much love was shown during our stay here.
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“Patients come here to heal emotionally and form special bonds as we gain strength from one another.
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“A good place to take a few hours away from caregiving or get a full night’s sleep. The day and evening managers are welcoming, informative and caring.
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“A great service to hospital patients and families.
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“This is our third visit. We are so pleased with everyone and everything.
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“Thank you for providing a nurturing environment with compassionate volunteers and staff.
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“Everyone here is so nice and helpful. The staff makes you feel like it is a home away from home. Thanks to all of you.
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“Thank you for your support.
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“Great Place, Thank You!
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“You feel safe here, and the House gives you great peace of mind. There are always people here looking out for you.
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“The managers running this House are very friendly and helpful. There is nothing like this – it is like our home away from home.
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“Excellent, pleasant, professional service. Thank you again.
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“I’m treated like family here, with love and respect. I know without this place my recovery would have been slower.
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“I feel safe here, and it’s affordable. The volunteers and staff make guests feel like they are somebody.
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“You guys were great. I thank you.
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“Right away we could see and feel the value of the community that forms here. There is a camaraderie that forms unlike any other.
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“A good place to take a few hours away from caregiving and get a full night’s sleep.
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“Everything about this place and the staff was amazing! Thank you so much for making an uncomfortable time in our lives very comfortable!!
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“The food provided by volunteers is always excellent. There are places for solitude and places for coming together. I have to figure out a way to give back for all Family House has given me.
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“A wonderful place to stay! May God bless everyone who is a part of SECU Family House.
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“Everyone is friendly and wanting to help out in any way they can. It’s a nice place to be because not everyone can afford a hotel. The staff works with you here.
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“This has been an overall blessing. I also enjoyed conversations with others going through the same as me and those that were a little different. The positive atmosphere helped tremendously as I went through treatment my first week!
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“SECU Family House was a blessing!
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“The facility is beautiful. Thank you for providing accommodations.
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“Family House has been a saving grace for us. We’re able to talk and pray with others who are going through similar situations. It’s like we have a new family.
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“This place opens eyes and makes a person really see the challenges that people face. It gives them fight, determination, and the perseverance not to give up. There is hope here.
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“Thank you for providing a nurturing environment with compassionate volunteers and staff.
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“The day and evening managers are welcoming, informative and caring.
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“I’m in a warm, loving, safe environment while being 100 miles away from home. I owe so much to the generosity and grace I have been shown here and will be eternally grateful that a place like this exists.
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“I feel very safe and content while we are here. Thank you so very much for our wonderful stay.
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“Exceptional as always.
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“The proximity to the hospital allowed me to be there for my husband but also get some rest in the tranquil location. Thank you for your help during such a difficult time.
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“We are so thankful to have been able to stay here. When your loved one is sick and you can’t be at home, this is the next best place to be. Everyone was very nice and offered a lot of support. Thank you very much!
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“Everyone was amazing! Had tears in my eyes when I left going to the hospital, not from sadness but the joy in my soul from the ladies up front helping us to make sure we got to the hospital and dinner tonight here. You have helped so much. Even small things add up. People helping people. Thank you!
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“This place has been a blessing!
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“I’m always tired by the ride from Gastonia, but Family House offers us a comfortable place to stay close to the hospital. I am an introvert and people respect if you wish to be left alone.
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“Being able to stay at the SECU Family House during our daughter’s health crisis made this ordeal easier to bear. This facility and its staff are wonderful. My whole family appreciates all your help.
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“We have stayed here twice and will be back in a few months for a follow-up at the hospital. This place is fantastic and it is a real pleasure to stay with you folks.
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“The facility and those who staff it are fantastic. Keep up the good work.
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“We appreciate your kindness and the use of this wonderful facility. This is a very stressful time for us and the House was almost like a vacation.
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“Our stay at SECU Family House is so restful. We are always so pleased with the cleanliness of the room and the accommodations. The meals provided are very good.
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“Family House provides an instant family and a network to help us through. It helps heal mind and body.
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“The people and room were truly a blessing during this stressful time for me and my family.
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“Lovely facility, terrific volunteers, rooms are very clean. This made our hospital stay so much easier and less stressful. It was so close we didn’t have to worry about driving back and forth from the hospital. Thank You!
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“We felt safe, and everyone there knows you are going through something and they are willing to help. There is good interaction with others and that helps everybody emotionally, whether you are talking or listening.
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“I know my mom is in a safe environment at Family House and she’ll always have something to eat. It eases my worry, too.
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“When unexpected hospital stays happen it is comforting to know there is somewhere close to stay. Very reasonable and didn’t have to worry about food. Thanks to Sherman for caring and sharing.
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“All staff and volunteers very helpful, professional and friendly. SECU Family House is becoming a home away from home quickly.
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“Thanks so very much for everything. We love you all. We were here for 39 days while our daughter was sick at UNC Health. She is now doing better. Thanks again!
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“The night shuttle was a real blessing since I do not feel safe riding the bus at night.
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“I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Family House! Wish I lived closer where I could volunteer here! You minister to the hurting patient mentally, physically, emotionally and financially by making secure, comfortable, loving accommodations available to all!
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“It was a blessing to have this home so I could be close to my husband at the Burn Center. Thank all of you here. What a blessing.
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“Everyone was so nice and friendly. I was very comfortable here and the distance to UNC Health was great!
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“This is my sanctuary, my refuge, my place of healing. I feel my body mending.
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“People are so willing to help each other. We’ve made a lot of friends here. It’s a real place of comfort.
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“Claudette is a jewel. Family House is blessed to have her. She is helpful, considerate, friendly and goes out of her way to help us with any concerns.
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“The staff was friendly and helpful. Thank you for being extremely thoughtful because, most times, getting a place to stay is more stressful than the surgery or procedure a patient has to undergo. Thank you again!
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“Our check-in hostess was Claudette. She is an exceptionally caring, considerate, and friendly lady. SECU Family House is blessed to have her here and we are blessed to know her. Thank you for your hospitality.
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“Family House staff is professional and available. Love staying here.
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“Everybody here is going through something that’s difficult so we naturally relate to each other. It’s a togetherness you won’t find other places.
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“The meal that was provided last tonight was a delicious treat. Thank you so much.
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“All accommodations are great. The addition of extra rooms should make access to staying here better. Also, Mr. Sherman went out of his way to ensure our needs were met, and was quick to answer any questions we had. This is a great place, and we truly enjoyed our stay, and look forward to staying here again.
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“My stay here has been wonderful and comforting, knowing I am safe and can come and go as needed. You provide such a wonderful service to those going through so much. Thank you for everything! You all are a true blessing!
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“A very positive experience and caring environment. It helps to meet other patients. The staff is very kind. So much better emotionally than a cold hotel room with no support.
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“I can’t imagine going through this in a hotel where you’re alone without the love and support that you get here. I truly believe that most of my healing happened right here in the House.
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“Thank you for hosting us. We have met some very nice people with whom we have shared
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“Everyone here has pretty much the same story. I can take my hat off and not feel ugly. Everyone here is walking in the same shoes.
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“The surroundings are really comfortable, and sometimes I’ll just sit in the living room and visit with people. It feels like home, but my house isn’t as big as this.
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“Friendly, considerate, and very hopeful. Everyone truly cares.
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“Staff of volunteers was AWESOME! They were caring and professional. The turkey dinner was top notch. Thank you!
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“What a comfort and sense of safety to stay here. Everyone is so caring and helpful. We met some wonderful people while we were here.
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“Staying at SECU Family House was a wonderful experience.
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“Thank you for your help.
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“Great staff and volunteers at SECU Family House.
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“Thank you for EVERYTHING!
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“After a long day of appointments and treatment, we feel so tired – but once we arrive at Family House, the staff and volunteers greet us with a warm, helpful manner. This is so helpful to end our day. Thank you so much. We are so grateful for all your assistance.
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“Thank you to everyone at SECU Family House. From the staff cleaning people to all the friends I made here, thank you for your support, kindness, prayers and peace of mind while staying here. Again, thank you.
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“It makes all the difference to a person’s recovery to be made to feel at home when so far away from your own. It’s so selfless what you guys do here at SECU Family House.
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“Compassion is alive here at Family House, and we learn to care about each other whether we know their story or not.
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“Thank you so much. SECU Family House is nothing short of a miracle. You all are such a blessing.
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“The experience at SECU Family House was beyond all our expectations! Thank you so much!
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“Family House is dear to my heart because I know what it’s like to be a patient and a caregiver.
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“Room was superb, very clean. Staff supportive and thoughtful. Evening meals provided by volunteers, delicious.
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“Great facility! I tell everyone back home about SECU Family House!
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“This is a wonderful place, very nice people; very nice rooms – beautiful outside. This is so nice that there’s a place like this to help people going thru so much in their lives!!!
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“Everyone and everything is awesome!
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“Love the grounds and garden at SECU Family House.
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“Very happy with our stay. Lots of friendly people at the house. Always enjoy our stay at SECU Family House.
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“The staff and volunteers do an outstanding job in providing an atmosphere that is helpful, warm and friendly. We always feel at home at Family House and this helps lessen the stress we experience from our health concerns. Please know how thankful we are for the family helpfulness that you provide.
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“I was a little hesitant when we checked in. Felt like we were taking a room from someone else who needed it more than I did. But after my procedure, I was so thankful we were here. I would not have been as comfortable at a regular hotel (had a tube coming out of my nose!) Thank you SECU and your incredible staff and volunteers!
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“As always our stay at Family House was very comfortable. The room was very clean as well as the entire facility. The breakfast and evening meals were wonderful.
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“We are like one big family here. There is incredible camaraderie between guests and staff and all the volunteers. There’s always someone to talk to if you need it.
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“SECU Family House is such a wonderful place and truly gives a family peace of mind and comfort during a trying time and in our case a sudden and unexpected situation. Thank you all again.
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“What a wonderful place to stay when you have a loved one in the hospital. The rooms are great, the people that work and volunteer here are very friendly.
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“Family House is so convenient to UNC Health, that it makes it easy to go back and recharge.
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“Our room was very comfortable – very clean. We appreciate the wonderful staff for all their helpfulness, kindness and support to us. The volunteers go the extra way to be of assistance also. Thank you so much for everything.
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“I cannot say enough about how much I appreciated the facility and staff for all that they do for patients and family.
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“I’ve met a lot of different people here, and we were able to comfort each other. And the variety of people and organizations voluntarily cooking is a special treat.
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“Very pleased with the kindness and promptness at SECU Family House. It made us feel like family.
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“Our family would like to thank you all from the very bottom of our hearts. You all have been so caring and kind.
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Giving, Caring, Sharing
Reports to the Community
Building Hope Together
This past fiscal year has been filled with meaningful moments and powerful impact — and it wouldn’t have been possible without you. As we look ahead, we’re inspired by all that we’ve accomplished together and energized to keep walking alongside every guest who needs a place of hope and healing.
2025 Impact Report
Fiscal Year 2025 990
Linked are the original and one copy of the 2024 exempt organization return (Fiscal Year 2025)
FY25 990
Inspiring Healing Together
We welcomed more guests than ever before this fiscal year. Because of YOU, our dedicated volunteers and donors, we served over 4,500 guests – an all-time high! Together we provided much-needed respite and comfort for over 20,000 nights to those in need. Thank you for your continued support and for warmly welcoming me to the Family House community.
2024 Impact Report
Fiscal Year 2024 990
Linked are the original and one copy of the 2023 exempt organization return (Fiscal Year 2024)
FY24 990Our History
Visionary community leaders, dedicated volunteers, and generous funders created SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals and have continued to support our mission.
October
2000
Dr. Mark Johnson, director of the UNC Hospitals Liver Transplant program, leads a fact-finding trip to Pittsburgh Family House
September
2001
UNC-Chapel Hill offers to lease a 6.2-acre site on Old Mason Farm Road
Jan-May
2002
Wachovia, RBC Centura, Dickson Foundation, and the Josh and Marie Reynolds Foundation offer major financial commitments to build Family House
May
2005
The State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation of North Carolina offers $2 million challenge gift, naming the organization “SECU Family House”
January
2007
Official Groundbreaking
March
2008
Opening Day
September
2018
Groundbreaking to add 35 additional guest rooms
April
2021
Opening Day of Pine Wing, increasing our capacity to 75 total guest rooms
June
2021
SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals has served more than 26,000 families from all 100 North Carolina counties, 44 other states, and 7 foreign countries
September
2021
The first time Family House reached maximum capacity since the Pine Wing expansion
