How does Hospitality Homes differ from other hospital-related housing?
Hospitality Homes is unique in that it places guests in the private homes of trained volunteer hosts. Requests for patients to stay with hosts are considered on a case-by-case basis but the program’s focus is on serving the patients’ family members. It is open to all families, regardless of income level, nationality, or the patient’s age, diagnosis, or treatment facility.

What do Hospitality Homes Hosts do?
Hospitality Homes Hosts are volunteers who open their homes to provide a clean and comfortable place to sleep and access to a bathroom. Many also offer limited kitchen use. Hosts do not provide meals or transportation.

How are hosts selected?
Potential hosts participate in an orientation session after which Hospitality Homes conducts a site visit to view each potential host home. Characteristics of the home are recorded for use in matching guests and hosts, and hosts specify the length of stay, number of guests, and other factors that determine the type of placement they will accept.

How are guests placed?
Most individuals are directed to the program by social workers, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals; others learn about it through other nonprofits and the Internet. Applicants go through a thorough screening process involving an application and reference check. The Hospitality Homes placement coordinator then matches the guest's needs to host "profiles.” Guests sign a liability release upon arrival at the host home.

What do guests pay for this service?
Hospitality Homes charges no fees. Instead, guests are encouraged to make donations to sustain the program.

Is the placement service exclusive to specific medical facilities?
No. Hospitality Homes serves families of patients at any of Boston’s medical facilities.

Can a patient also be a guest?
Patients can be guests under certain circumstances. If the patient is going to be a guest, usually a family member or friend must accompany him or her. Whether or not we can accommodate patients is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Is there a need for more host homes?
Yes. Hosts in Brookline, Boston, Cambridge, and Newton are always in demand as well as hosts in surrounding areas who live within a 10-minute walk of a rapid transit line (subway or streetcar). We are also in need of host homes that are handicapped-accessible and hosts who will consider longer-term guests.

How can I make a donation to the program?
Contact the Hospitality Homes office at 617.482.4338 to request donation materials or donate online at www.hosp.org. For information on donations of stock and planned giving, as well as in-kind donations of goods and services, please contact Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director, at 617.482.4338.

How can I learn more?
Please visit www.hosp.org or contact the Hospitality Homes office at 617.482.4338 for further information about the program