Because resident participation fluctuates in the short term, we determined that a mobile center would allow us to easily shift our resources as demand changes across our properties. If residents at one property need a break, we just move the center to another property. The mobile Neighborhood Networks center began its rounds of centers in May and has been to most of Thetford's North Carolina properties. The property manager at each site serves as center director for the duration of the mobile unit's stay. The mobile center is a 40 ft. trailer equipped with eight computers, a fax machine and a photocopier.
Internet access is provided for each computer at all of the sites.
Each computer is equipped with its own printer, Microsoft Word and a variety of software. Spurles, who serves as the mobile center's project manager, got the idea for this unusual Neighborhood Networks center after considering resident participation at conventionally-located centers. To meet the demand for computer training at his properties, Spurles says he plans to develop six more new mobile centers over the next two years. He is also developing a way to offset the unit's cost. Although still in the conceptual stage, the idea is that the unit can be used for other functions.