A  project  of  the  North  Carolina  Housing  Foundation  (NCHF).                                                                                                                                                        thesecucommons.org  

The  SECU  Commons  Fact  Sheet    

What  is  the  purpose  of  The  SECU  Commons?    

The  SECU  Commons  proposes  a  new  model  for  offering  vulnerable  populations  the  basic  needs  for:  1)  daily  living;    2)  guidance  toward  healthy,  productive  lives;  and  3)  tools  for  self-­‐sufficient  futures.  The  SECU  Commons  will  employ    a  strategy  of  offering  education  and  supportive  housing  to  help  people  achieve:    

• Permanent  housing    • Employment  or  financial  self-­‐sufficiency    • Becoming  a  net  CONTRIBUTOR  to  community  services  rather  than  a  net  CONSUMER  of  community  services      

Who  will  The  SECU  Commons  serve?    

Three  populations  in  Forsyth  County  have  been  identified  as  being  at  high  risk  of  becoming  homeless:    

• Homeless  families  with  minor  children  (Winston-­‐Salem/Forsyth  County  has  over  160  families  annually)    • Youth  aging  out  of  foster  care  (approximately  15  young  adults  in  Winston-­‐Salem/Forsyth  County  annually)    • Self-­‐sufficient  autistic  young  adults,  which  studies  indicate  that  almost  60%  have  never  held  a  job  two  years  after  high  

school  (500  adolescents  and  young  adults,  ages  15-­‐24,  in  Winston-­‐Salem/Forsyth  County  have  ASD  challenges)    

Many  are  eligible  for  short-­‐term  assistance,  but  there  is  no  continuity  from  immediate  “emergency”  help  to  longer-­‐term  residence  and  life/employment  training.  The  SECU  Commons  will  fill  a  void  by  helping  transition  people  in  these  three  populations  into  permanent  housing  and  self-­‐sufficiency.      

Where  is  The  SECU  Commons  located?    

The  SECU  Commons  is  located  at  2351  Felicity  Circle,  Winston-­‐Salem,  NC  27101.  This  16-­‐acre  campus  off  Old  Greensboro  Road  is  five  minutes  from  downtown,  accessed  via  Business  40,  and  served  by  existing  bus  routes.  Four  acres  of  the  site  are  developed  with  41,000  sq.  ft.  of  existing  space,  including  the  following:    

• 13  2-­‐bedroom  condominiums  (1,200  sq.  ft.  each)    • 1  1-­‐bedroom  condominium  (900  sq.  ft.)    • 1  4-­‐bedroom  condominium  (2,400  sq.  ft.)    • A  multi-­‐purpose  building  with  20  bedrooms  with  private  

bathrooms    • 2  multi-­‐bedroom  stand  alone  houses    

• A  conference  center  with  training  rooms  (4,800  sq.  ft.)    • A  medical  building  with  9  private  offices    • An  office  building  with  10  offices    • A  commercial  kitchen    • An  occupational  training  workshop  (1,800  sq.  ft.)    • Gardens  and  walking  trails

 

How  will  The  SECU  Commons  work?    

Property  Operations  –  The  NCHF  will  own,  manage  and  maintain  the  campus.  

Resident  Recruitment  –  Referral  agencies  will  pre-­‐quality  residents.  NCHF’s  on-­‐site  management  team  will  meet  with  potential  residents  to:    

• Identify  services  they  qualify  to  receive  • Investigate  additional  help  they  may  need  • Assist  candidates  in  completing  paperwork  necessary  to  qualify  for  benefits  • Prepare  candidates  for  agency  interviews  to  request  benefits/services  

 

A  project  of  the  North  Carolina  Housing  Foundation  (NCHF).                                                                                                                                                        thesecucommons.org  

Once  invited  to  live  at  The  SECU  Commons,  NCHF  on-­‐site  team  will  ensure  each  resident:  

• Fulfills  supportive  housing  requirements  • Attends  executive  function  skill  classes  • Utilizes  credit  counseling  services  • Formulates  initial  education/career  plans  

Programs  and  Services  –  A  coalition  of  partner  agencies  –  Goodwill,  Youth  In  Transition,  iCan  House  and  the  United  Way  –  is  planning  and  will  deliver  programming.  Drawing  on  its  long  history  of  training  success,  Goodwill  will  provide  programming  leadership  and  coordinate  services  and  programs  provided  by  all  participating  non-­‐profit  organizations.    

How  will  The  SECU  Commons  be  sustained  financially?  

Several  key  elements  provide  the  structure  by  which  The  SECU  Commons  will  remain  financially  self-­‐sustaining.  

• Property  and  facilities  owned  debt-­‐free  –  Due  to  the  success  of  its  capital  campaign  The  SECU  Commons  campus  will  be  owned  by  the  NCHF  with  no  debt.  

• Residential  rent  –  Residents  of  The  SECU  Commons  will  pay  modest  rent,  which  will  vary  based  on  circumstances  and  the  residence  they  occupy.  

• Resident  business  revenue  –  As  part  of  their  workforce  training  and  preparation,  various  small  businesses  that  leverage  campus  resources  –  commercial  kitchen,  workshop  facilities,  etc.  –  are  planned.  Revenue  generated  will  revert  to  The  SECU  Commons.  

• Fundraising  –  An  on-­‐going  development  effort,  managed  by  The  SECU  Commons  and  the  NCHF  will  occur  to  ensure  appropriate  funding  is  maintained  for  program  success.