Benefit News: VA Recommends 14 Future Sites for Fisher House Construction

WASHINGTON – The Fisher House offers unique accommodations when a family member is receiving treatment at a VA medical center or military hospital. Located near the medical center or hospital, Fisher Houses offer the comforts of home at no cost to families while treatment is underway. To enable Fisher Houses to expand their good work, Department of Veterans Affairs’ Secretary Robert A. McDonald recommended 14 VA medical centers become priority sites for future Fisher Houses.

“Fisher House is simply one of those best-in-class organizations and we want to do everything that we can to support their important and noble mission,” said Secretary McDonald. “Their goal is selfless: to serve the families of Veterans who served our nation.”

 The 14 recommended sites are:

• James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y.
• VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, Montrose, N.Y.
• Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans
• Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo.
• VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, Vt.
• Huntington VA Medical Center, Huntington, W.Va.
• William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, S.C.
• Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (second house), Bay Pines, Fla.
• Hunter Holmes Maguire VA Medical Center (second house), Richmond, Va.
• Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Mo.
• Perry Point VA Medical Center- VA Maryland Health Care System, Perry Point, Md.
• South Texas Veterans Healthcare System (second house) San Antonio
• Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, La.

Following the Secretary’s recommendations, a timeline for construction will be completed by the Fisher House Foundation based on VA and Department of Defense construction priorities.

In 2016, Fisher Houses accommodated over 23,000 families, saving guests over $3 million in lodging expenses. The addition of 14 VA Fisher House sites will support access to care for thousands of additional Veterans traveling to VA facilities for treatment.

The Fisher House Foundation has built and donated 31 Fisher Houses to VA and 40 Fisher Houses to the Department of Defense.  VA has 16 Fisher House sites in various stages of construction planning, with the newest being built in Charleston, S.C., Houston and Orlando, Fla. With the additional locations, VA will expand to at least 61 houses over the next several years.

For more information on Fisher Houses, visit VA Fisher House Program.

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