A new Fisher House has opened its doors in Montrose, New York, offering veteran families a place to stay at no cost while their loved ones receive treatment at the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System. The 11,400-square-foot home features 12 wheelchair-accessible suites and is designed to keep families close during some of their most challenging moments. According to the Fisher House Foundation, at full occupancy the Montrose home could save families a combined $700,000 in lodging expenses each year, easing a major financial burden during medical care. Read on to know more details here:
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A comfort home steps from treatment
The Montrose Fisher House is located at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hospital within the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System. Its location allows families to remain within walking distance of inpatient units, mental health programs, and residential rehabilitation services. This proximity means parents, spouses, and children can spend more time with patients and less time commuting or searching for affordable lodging.
Fisher Houses are built as gifts to military and Veterans Affairs medical centers, and the Montrose home follows that model. The foundation covers construction and furnishings while engaging local communities to raise half the funds for each new house. Once completed, the homes are handed over to the medical center, which manages eligibility and daily operations with support from the foundation.
Twelve suites for accessibility and privacy
The new home has 12 private suites, each equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, each with its own bedroom and bathroom. And this layout allows families to have a sense of privacy and dignity during their longer stay.In addition to the suites, the house includes a large kitchen, shared living and dining space, family rooms, laundry room, and an outdoor patio for guests to relax and connect with others in similar situations.
These common spaces are an important part of the Fisher House experience. Families are often bonded together through meals, conversations and quiet times on the patio. For many, a house is more than just a place to sleep. It becomes a community where people understand what they are going through and offer support without judgment.
