Sometimes cancer treatment is not available given close to home. The clinical social worker or oncology nurse may have suggestions for free or low-cost housing during hospital or clinic treatment. Many treatment centers have short-term housing centers or discount programs set up with nearby motels and hotels.
Healthcare Hospitality Network (HHN)
A nationwide professional association of nearly 200 unique, nonprofit organizations that provide lodging and support services to patients, families and their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment far from their home communities. The mission of HHN is to support homes that help and heal to be more effective in their service to patients and families.
The Healthcare Hospitality Network, Inc. is the only professional membership association in North America comprised of all types of nonprofit hospitality houses. Founded in the early 1980s and incorporated in 1986, HHN is proud to serve nearly 200 members ranging from small houses to houses with over 100 guest rooms. In addition to the houses, members include the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Trivers Associates, Non-Profit Software, and Fisher House Foundation.
Hospital hospitality houses (HHH) provide free or significantly reduced cost lodging to patients and their families while receiving medical care away from their home communities. Unlike a hotel, HHHs provide opportunities for those going through similar stressful situations to come together as a community where they can support one another. HHHs have shared kitchens, common living areas and private bedrooms just like a home, creating a warm and comfortable place far from home. HHHs help alleviate the financial burden often associated with medical crises and have shown to reduce stress on both the patient and family members.
Hope Lodges
The American Cancer Society has Hope Lodges throughout the United States. They give families a place to stay when cancer treatment is given far from home.
Each Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city. Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows guests to focus on getting better. Hope Lodge provides a nurturing, home-like environment where guests can retreat to private rooms or connect with others. Every Hope Lodge also offers a variety of resources and information about cancer and how best to fight the disease.
In 2013, with a passion to support a charitable cause so close to the hearts of its employees, Extended Stay America created Hotel Keys of Hope℠ program to support the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge® program, forever changing the lives of those in need of lifesaving cancer treatments away from home. To date, Extended Stay America has donated over 120,000 hotel stays in locations throughout the US, and helped more than 15,000 patients and their families overcome the financial stress of travelling for treatment.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ACS suspended Hope Lodge operations on March 27, 2020, because we could no longer ensure the health and safety of our immune-compromised cancer patient residents, volunteers, and staff. Until we are able to safely host patients again, ACS is offering our Hope Lodge facilities as free temporary housing for health care workers who are unable to return home for fear of exposing their families to the coronavirus.
Joe’s House
Joe’s House is not an actual house, but a nonprofit organization that helps cancer patients and their families find a place to stay when traveling away from home for medical treatment.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis many lodging facilities are closed or have limited services. We recommend calling the facility for the latest status.
An online lodging resource for cancer patients and their loved ones. Joe’s House lists thousands of options for lodging. Details on each lodging facility such as distance to hospitals, how to make a reservation, qualifications for stays, rates and amenities can be found on the site. Users may search by city or by healthcare facility.
For those without Internet access, there is a toll free line at 877-JOESHOU (877-563-7468).
Lazarex Cancer Foundation
Provides assistance with costs for FDA clinical trial participation, identification of clinical trial options, community outreach and engagement. They do CT navigation, reimburse for travel and lodging expenses for clinical trial participants, and provide funds for a travel companion for the patient so they don’t have to travel alone. Lazarex is located in the San Francisco’s East Bay and helps patients for all over the country get to trials throughout the country. We give hope and a chance for life!
Ronald McDonald House
Our Houses are filled with more than help. They are filled with hope.
We believe that “home” is more than four walls and a roof over your head. That’s why every Ronald McDonald House is a safe haven that provides all the comforts of home, plus the compassion and hospitality of staff, volunteers, and other families — all just steps away from the hospital.
Helping families physically, economically, and emotionally during their health care journey.
A Ronald McDonald House program helps reduces stress and financial burden for families when they must travel far from home to access medical care for their child.
Families who stay in a Ronald McDonald House report more positive hospital experiences and a greater ability to participate in their child’s care. Families are stronger when they are together. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents can be more rested, which enables them to better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed. They can also focus on the health of their child, rather than grocery shopping, cleaning, or cooking meals.
Second Wind Retreat
Second Wind Retreat is a peaceful place where people dealing with cancer can get away from the stresses of treatment for a few days, relax in a beautiful environment and gain new strength, energy and momentum.
Who is eligible?
Anyone who is currently being treated for any type of cancer or has completed treatment during the last 6 months is eligible to visit Second Wind. Each guest may visit the Retreat one time, so as many first-time cancer patients as possible have the opportunity to come here.
How long?
Guests can schedule visits from 2 to 5 nights, with some of the nights over a weekend.
How many?
One guest and one caregiver can stay at a time. This is to make sure the visit is a relaxing retreat for the patient and caregiver, and not a family vacation that might involve the patient waiting on others. (Please respect this mission and do not bring additional family members or friends, or plan for them to arrive later.)
Each patient guest must have someone who is well (a spouse, friend or other caregiver) to come with them.
Where is it?
Second Wind is approximately 2 hours north of Atlanta, and about 11 miles outside Blue Ridge GA.
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