The Fisher House Foundation and VA recently broke ground for two Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) facilities.

The most recent groundbreakings took place at the Hershel “Woody” Williams VAMC in Huntington, West Virginia, in October (pictured above), and at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans VAMC in New Orleans, Louisiana, in November.

In addition, in October, VA and the Fisher House Foundation dedicated a house at the Raymond G. Murphy VAMC in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Over 350 guests witnessed recent groundbreaking ceremonies.

Staff cut the ribbon to dedicate the opening of a Fisher House at the Raymond G. Murphy VAMC.

VA Fisher House facilities provide a home away from home for service members, their families and caregivers at no cost during a course of hospitalization or treatment. There are 44 Fisher Houses at 37 VA facilities across VHA. In 2019, the program accommodated over 30,712 families. As a result, guests saved more than $20 million dollars in lodging costs.

“2019 marks so many milestones for the VA Fisher House program. Our expansion continues and we are excited to offer program resources to many more Veterans and families in need,” said Jennifer Koget. Koget is the national program manager of the Fisher House & Family Hospitality Program.

Fisher House milestones set and achieved

The facilities include 16 guest suites and each will accommodate approximately 500 families each year.

At the Raymond G. Murphy VAMC opening, Drew Dix, Medal of Honor recipient and president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, provided a plaque from the society. Also, Alexandria Rose Holiday offered a Native American blessing.

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie was the keynote speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System facility.

Progress continues

VA Fisher House program leadership plans to continue its focus on the long-term needs of our Veterans. This is because the expansion of the Fisher House program at VA hospitals becomes more invaluable with each passing year. As a result, the program will expand to 65 Fisher Houses over the next several years.

New facilities are being planned or constructed at VAMCs in Richmond, Virginia; Omaha; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Denver.

For more information on Fisher House Foundation and news and updates.

Topics in this story

Caregiversveteran familiesVHA

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4 Comments

  1. Charles F Mead Sr January 23, 2020 at 10:09

    Houston VA assigns Hotel rooms for vets who live long distances away. But they have one room in the hospital that I will call the dungeon, there is no thermostat so you can’t control the heat and no one around to give you an extra blanket no microwave so you can’t fix an easy meal. But Fisher House employees who control what you are assigned give this out because it cost nothing. They have assigned this to me twice. This time I cancelled the stay and will have to cancel my procedures because I live 170 miles away and can’t drive this two days in a row. Thanks VA

  2. Bernie January 23, 2020 at 10:08

    Had very poor reception and service at the Palm Beach VA Hospital Fisher House. Had appointments for Service Connected at the VA Hospital (which is 5-star great) on two days back to back. It is a 3 hour drive each way for my wife and I (6 hour drive each day). Tried to see if could stay overnight. No call backs and finally got in touch with someone who said NO you are from Maine and need to have Social Services handle it…goodbye see ya later. A WASTE.

  3. James Carino January 23, 2020 at 08:30

    I have also heard that. Doesn’t seem right. What if your family caregiver is sick with something contagious and cannot be with the vet that day? Fisher House and Defender’s Lodge for overnighters should supply “Candystripers” or the like to assist at least 100% disabled vets.
    Hope it’s just a “kink” in the system they haven’t fixed yet.

  4. special forces January 23, 2020 at 01:42

    SCAM ALERT

    FISHER HOUSE REFUSES VETS HOUSING WHEN HAVING SURGERY AT VA IF THEY ARE ALONE UNESCORTED WITHOUT ATTENDANT AT ARMY HOTELS ON ARMY BASES.WTF.

    VA IS SCAM FOR MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO EXPERIMENT ON VETERANS AND DENY WEED.

    VA IS BIG PHARMAS BEST BUDDY……

    SF

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