When treated for injury or illness, the last thing our active and retired military service members need to think about is, “Who’s taking care of my family?”

Mission Statement

To provide temporary lodging and support to military members, veterans, and their families, when receiving treatment through a Southern California Navy or VA medical facility.

The Unsolved Problem and
How Fisher House Responds

Fisher House So Cal supports veterans and active military, and their families, beyond what is provided or funded by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, other government entities, or local, state, or federal taxes.

FOR VETERANS
FOR ACTIVE MILITARY
FOR THE FAMILIES

Veterans who sustained injuries or conditions while on active duty often continue medical treatments after their discharge. These treatments are often so specialized that they need to be done at locations far away from where the veteran and his or her family live. While the treatments are covered for the veterans, travel, lodging, food, local travel, bare necessities, and whatever else is needed while away from their respective homes, are not – nor are these expenses covered for their families. Many veterans and their families cannot afford a hotel stay, or the ancillary costs involved in receiving care at a medical facility far from home, and will opt out of receiving the care they need. We believe we cannot afford not to help our military families in need.

Active military service women and men regularly suffer from injuries or conditions that require treatment away from their base or home. While their military travel and hospitalization expenses are covered, travel and lodging expenses for their families are not covered. Lodging in southern California where our hospitals and medical centers are located can be unaffordable for even a one night’s stay.

Treatments often require our patients to endure daily, weekly, and sometimes many month stays.

Added to these burdens, are the service person’s family members who we believe need to be near their loved ones as often as possible – because a family’s love is often the best medicine.

Fisher Houses provide military families housing near their loved ones while they are hospitalized for an illness, disease, or injury – at no cost – and for as long as they need it!

FOR VETERANS

 

Veterans who sustained injuries or conditions while on active duty often continue medical treatments after their discharge. These treatments are often so specialized that they need to be done at locations far away from where the veteran and his or her family live. While the treatments are covered for the veterans, travel, lodging, food, local travel, bare necessities, and whatever else is needed while away from their respective homes, are not – nor are these expenses covered for their families. Many veterans and service members cannot afford these additional costs – and we believe that we cannot afford not to.

FOR ACTIVE MILITARY

Active military service women and men regularly suffer from injuries or conditions that require treatment away from their base or home. While their military travel and hospitalization expenses are covered, travel and lodging expenses for their families are not covered. Lodging in southern California where our hospitals and medical centers are located can be unaffordable for even a one night’s stay.

Treatments often require our patients to endure daily, weekly, and sometimes many month stays.

FOR THE FAMILIES

Added to these burdens, are the service person’s family members who we believe need to be near their loved ones as often as possible – because a family’s love is often the best medicine.

Fisher Houses provide military families housing near their loved ones while they are hospitalized for an illness, disease, or injury – at no cost – and for as long as they need it!

Each Fisher House creates a warm and compassionate environment for families to find support from others in similar situations, helping with the healing process. Caring staff and volunteers are available to assist guests with their daily needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Since 1990, the Fisher House program has provided “homes away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. These homes offer free, temporary lodging to veteran and military families, allowing them to be close to their loved one during a medical crisis and focus on what’s important—the healing process. There are nearly 100 Fisher Houses located in the US, Germany, and United Kingdom as of December 2022.

Fisher Houses, once built, are given to the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense as a gift, and those respective departments establish the eligibility, priorities, and selection criteria to stay at a Fisher House. Booking processes are delegated to Fisher House managers to engage with inquirers about eligibility requirements and to make a reservation at the respective houses. Hospital case workers at military, VA or private hospitals throughout southern California can also reach out to Fisher House So Cal for commercial lodging for their veteran and military families in times of medical crises or need.

Generally, veterans or active military, or the families, who live beyond 50 miles of the VA or Military hospital they will be using, are eligible to stay but the final decision is up to the discretion of the house manager. If the house is fully occupied at that time of need, the house staff will reach out to FHSC administrative team who work to find suitable hotel accommodations until a room becomes available at the house.

For availability and eligibility please contact:

VA Long Beach Health
System (Hospital)

Manager: Yolanda White

[email protected]

(562) 826-5016

Camp Pendleton Naval
Military Hospital

Manager: Vicky Powell Johnson

[email protected]

(760) 763-5308

VA Naval Hospital
San Diego

Manager: Tiana Babcock

[email protected]

(619) 532-9055

In 2013, Fisher House Southern California, Inc. (FHSC) was established as a nonprofit volunteer collaborative effort of community volunteer leaders, local American Gold Star Mothers, the American Legion, Long Beach Rotary members, and other groups to fund, develop and build the Fisher House at the VA Long Beach Medical Center. This development process was recognized as particularly successful, and the Long Beach organizing group was asked to expand its reach to the Camp Pendleton and San Diego houses.

Because of the vast geography of southern California, the number of military and or VA facilities without Fisher Houses, and the ever-increasing need for services, Fisher House So Cal expanded its efforts to support VA Loma Linda Medical Center, VA San Diego Medical Center, and locations throughout the Inland Empire.

Fisher House Southern California Inc. supports four Fisher Houses at three locations including the Fisher House VA-Long Beach Medical Center, Fisher House-Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and two Fisher Houses at the VA Naval Medical Center San Diego.

Fisher House Southern California is a duly registered 501(c)3 with the Internal Revenue Service and with the State of California and complies with the fundraising rules of the California Attorney General. Donations to Fisher House Southern California qualify as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes. Please consult with your tax adviser or the IRS to determine whether a contribution is deductible. Tax ID # 46-1815286.

Individuals, groups, businesses, etc., can donate to the Fisher House Program online by clicking the DONATE button at the top of this page.

Donations can be set up as a “one-time” donation, or as a monthly recurring donation. Donors receive an email response for each donation with a receipt along with an additional acknowledgment from FHSC. We currently accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Make checks payable to Fisher House Southern California, Inc., and mail to: PO Box 110, Long Beach, CA 90801 OR (for packages/overnight deliveries) to: 111 W Ocean Blvd Suite 400, Long Beach, CA 90802. See our “Donate” page for details on how to direct your donation for the area of greatest need, a house, or something else.

Please contact Linda Rahn, FHSC Executive Director at (562) 547-5806 to discuss your gift intentions.

Absolutely! Please call (562) 297-0990 or email the team at [email protected] to discuss how we can best support your fundraising efforts.
Depending upon the team’s availability, a FHSC representative may be able to attend your event. Please contact us at (562) 547-5806

Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher

How it All Started

In 1990, Zachary Fisher was shocked to learn about a U.S. service woman who received medical care at a military hospital.

Unable to afford a hotel stay, her husband spent every night of her hospitalization sleeping in his car so he could be with her every day. Zachary Fisher decided to change that.

Fisher House continues to support our service men and women, and veterans, by offering them a home away from home to them and to their families so they can stay close to their loved ones while they’re receiving treatment for an injury or illness.

Fisher Houses typically offer up to 21 private guest rooms and baths each with a TV, DVD player, alarm clock, hair dryer, internet connection and telephone for local calls. Other features include modern laundry facilities, common areas, wi-fi and full wheelchair accessibility.

Guests of any house share a fully equipped and well-stocked kitchen and pantry, an open dining room, a warm living room and library and a cozy family room with games and toys for the children.

Each Fisher House property offers a large outdoor space or garden, with covered seating areas, covered patio and or tables with umbrellas, and a barbecue – one of our most requested amenities.

Today, there are nearly 100 Fisher Houses across the country, including three overseas, and since 1990, the program, nationally, has served more than 500,000 military and veteran families, saving them more than $547 million in lodging and transportation costs.

Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher
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