What is a Healthcare Hospitality House?
When patients and families travel for medical care, hospitality houses provide something essential: a safe, supportive place to stay.
A home away from home during one of life's most difficult times.
Healthcare hospitality houses provide temporary lodging, at little or no cost, to patients and their caregivers while they receive medical treatment away from their home communities. They exist because the distance between a patient's home and their treatment center shouldn't determine the quality of care they can access.
Unlike hotels, which serve travelers for a wide range of reasons, hospitality houses are built specifically around the needs of people navigating serious medical situations. They offer private rooms, shared kitchens, common living spaces, and a community of others who understand what it means to be far from home during a health crisis.
The environment matters. A calm, welcoming place to land at the end of a difficult day can reduce stress, support recovery, and allow families to stay close to the people they love most when it matters most.
More than just a place to sleep
Hospitality houses are designed from the ground up for people in medical crisis. That intentionality shows up in every aspect of how they operate, from the warmth of the welcome to the way shared spaces are arranged to encourage connection.
Staff and volunteers at hospitality houses understand the emotional weight their guests are carrying. The goal isn't just to provide a bed. It's to provide belonging.
Affordable or free lodging
Most hospitality houses charge little or nothing for a stay, removing one of the biggest barriers families face when traveling for care. Some ask for a voluntary contribution; many offer stays completely free of charge.
A supportive community
Shared spaces create natural connections between guests going through similar experiences. Many guests describe the sense of community they found at a hospitality house as one of the most meaningful parts of their experience.
Proximity to care
Hospitality houses are typically located near the medical centers they serve, making it easier for patients to keep appointments, stay consistent with treatment, and have family members close by throughout the process.
Patients and families across every diagnosis and life stage.
While Ronald McDonald House Charities may be the most widely recognized name in this space, hospitality houses serve a much broader population. Some houses focus on specific patient populations, such as transplant recipients, cancer patients, veterans, or families of children receiving pediatric care. Others serve anyone traveling for medical treatment, regardless of diagnosis.
Guests may be traveling from across the state or across the country, for a single procedure or a months-long treatment course. What they share is the need for a stable, affordable place to stay while they focus on their health or the health of someone they love.
Caregivers are as central to this work as patients. Hospitality houses recognize that the people supporting patients through treatment carry their own weight, and they deserve support too.
A decentralized but vital support system
A 2025 national study published in the Journal of Community Health documented 502 lodging organizations across the United States serving patients and caregivers traveling for medical care. The study called for greater recognition of lodging as a health-related social need.
Looking for a house near a treatment center?
HHN maintains a directory of member houses across the country. If you or someone you know is traveling for medical care, a hospitality house may be available nearby.