Lodging Near MD Anderson Cancer Center: Free Programs, Hotels & Furnished Apartments
MD Anderson Cancer Center treats more than 100,000 patients annually, drawing patients from all 50 states and 130+ countries. If you're one of them, finding a place to stay during treatment is one of the most stressful logistics you'll face. This guide covers every option — from free nonprofit housing to medical-rate hotels to furnished apartments for extended stays. See also our complete Houston medical lodging guide for options near other TMC hospitals.
Quick Facts — MD Anderson
Free and low-cost lodging
Hope Lodge Houston
FreeThe American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge has 64 guest rooms (opened 2021). Completely free: no fees, no deposits, no donations required.
- Who qualifies: Adult cancer patients in active outpatient treatment at a TMC-area center. Eligibility depends on travel distance to treatment — confirm current rules with the ACS helpline (1-800-227-2345) or your hospital social worker.
- Caregiver: One caregiver per patient; strongly encouraged.
- How to apply: Referral from your MDACC social worker or treatment team required.
- Waitlist: Common — can be days to several weeks. Apply as early as possible, ideally when you first get your treatment schedule.
- Amenities: Communal kitchen with designated storage, free laundry, free parking, shuttle to TMC cancer centers, WiFi.
Phone: (713) 848-8905 · ACS helpline: 1-800-227-2345
Hospitality Apartments
Free46 fully furnished one-bedroom apartments (two 4-story buildings) at 7300 Bertner Avenue, steps from the medical center. Rent-free with a nonrefundable cleaning fee of approximately $100–$140 at check-in.
- Who qualifies: Any medical condition (not cancer-specific). Must be receiving treatment at any TMC facility. Must live 50+ miles from TMC.
- Caregiver: Required — must be present 24/7 for entire stay.
- How to apply: Self-referral accepted. Call (713) 790-9120. Must call every 4 weeks to remain on waitlist.
- Waitlist: Typically 2–3 months due to high demand.
- Stay limits: Minimum 2 weeks, maximum 3 months.
- Amenities: Full in-unit kitchen, free laundry, free parking, MD Anderson shuttle (Mon–Fri), WiFi, wheelchair accessible.
Phone: (713) 790-9120 (Mon–Fri, 9 AM–5 PM)
Halo House Foundation
$25–35/night33 furnished apartments (29 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom) approximately 2 miles from TMC. For blood cancer patients only — leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma. Founded by an MD Anderson oncologist.
- Cost: $25/night (1BR) or $35/night (2BR). Plus $85 nonrefundable cleaning fee + $100 refundable security deposit.
- Who qualifies: Blood cancer patients in active treatment at TMC (minimum 1 weekly appointment). Must live 50+ miles from TMC.
- Caregiver: Required — must live with patient at all times.
- How to apply: Self-referral via online application at application.halohousefoundation.org. No physician referral required.
- Waitlist: Typically 1–3 months. Apply to multiple programs simultaneously.
- Stay limits: Minimum 2 weeks. Maximum 3 months (4 months for allogeneic stem cell transplant with physician letter).
- Amenities: Full in-unit kitchen, in-unit washer/dryer, free TMC shuttle (Mon–Fri, 6 AM–6 PM), WiFi.
Phone: (713) 665-8852
Ronald McDonald House — Holcombe House
Pediatric only70 private bedrooms at 1907 Holcombe Blvd, within the Texas Medical Center. For families with a seriously ill child age 21 or younger.
- Cost: Donation-based; $25/night suggested contribution. No family ever turned away. Complimentary meals provided.
- Who qualifies: Families of children (21 and under) receiving treatment at any TMC institution. No diagnosis restriction.
- How to apply: Hospital referral required — physician, nurse, or social worker contacts RMHC.
- Stay limits: Maximum 45 days per admission, then must step out for 7 days before re-admission.
- Amenities: Communal kitchen, free laundry, free parking, hospital shuttle (weekdays), WiFi.
Phone: (713) 795-3500
Rotary House International
Paid — Hospital HotelA Marriott-managed hotel (more than 300 rooms) connected directly to MD Anderson by an enclosed skybridge. Not free, but purpose-built for cancer patients — rooms are designed to accommodate wheelchairs and medical equipment.
- Cost: approximately $165 to $355 per night depending on room type. Kitchenette rooms typically run higher than standard kings. [Rates verified May 2026 — confirm current rates with the Rotary House booking line at (713) 790-1600 before booking.]
- Who can book: MD Anderson patients only — requires a valid MDACC patient medical record number.
- How to book: Call (713) 790-1600 or (800) 847-5783. No referral needed beyond MDACC patient record.
- Amenities: Kitchenettes in select rooms, ADA rooms with roll-in showers, coin-operated laundry, on-site dining, skybridge to MDACC, courtesy shuttle within the medical center area.
Phone: (713) 790-1600 · Toll-free: (800) 847-5783
Sources & verification notes
- Halo House Foundation — official site (verified May 2026).
- Joe's House — nationwide lodging resource for cancer patients (verified May 2026).
- Hope Lodge Houston details: primary source temporarily inaccessible at cancer.org on 2026-05-15 — verify current eligibility, room count, and amenities with the ACS helpline at 1-800-227-2345 before relying on details above.
- Rotary House International: primary sources at mdanderson.org and marriott.com returned errors during verification on 2026-05-15 — confirm rates, room count, and amenities by calling the Rotary House booking line at (713) 790-1600.
Hotels with medical rates
Several organizations negotiate discounted rates at hotels near the Texas Medical Center. The most widely used is Joe's House (joeshouse.org | 877-563-7468), a nonprofit that maintains corporate codes at hotel chains. To use them, call the hotel directly and ask for the "Joe's House rate" or enter the corporate code when booking online. Always call to confirm current pricing — rates change seasonally.
| Hotel | Rate | Code | Key Amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Medical Center | ~$195–219/night | Ask for "medical rate" | Shuttle, skybridge to Methodist |
| Hilton Plaza Medical Center | ~$129–159/night | 2623383 | Shuttle, $20/day parking |
| Hotel ZaZa Museum District | ~$159–179/night | VD19TMC | $20 breakfast credit, shuttle |
| Westin Houston Medical Center | ~$189/night | Ask for Joe's House rate | Shuttle, near METRORail |
| Extended Stay America | ~$61–104/night | EAJOE | Full kitchen, free parking |
| Home2 Suites by Hilton | 10–20% off BAR | 2623383 | Kitchenette, free breakfast |
| Residence Inn NRG Park | ~$125–177/night | H10 | Full kitchen, $9/day parking |
All rates are approximate and subject to change. Always call the hotel to confirm current pricing. Rates may be higher during Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (late Feb–March) and Offshore Technology Conference (early May).
Furnished apartments and corporate housing
For stays of 30 or more days, furnished apartments often make more financial sense than hotels. You get a full kitchen — critical for patients on restricted diets or with suppressed immune systems — plus in-unit laundry, which is essential for immunocompromised patients who need to wash bedding and clothing frequently.
The biggest advantage: stays of 30+ consecutive days at the same property qualify for the Texas hotel tax exemption, saving up to 17% on your total cost. On a 45-day stay at $120/night, that's over $900 in tax savings alone.
Commercial providers near TMC include TempStay/Access Corporate Accommodations ($72–$125/night, ask for "Joe's House" rate) and Premier Patient Housing ($100–$125/night). Both offer full kitchens, in-unit laundry, and covered parking.
Tax tip: The Texas hotel tax exemption (up to 17% savings) applies to stays of 30+ consecutive nights at the same address. Read our full guide to the TX hotel tax exemption →
What your stay will actually cost
| Option | Nightly Cost | 30-Day Cost | Kitchen | Shuttle | Referral |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope Lodge | Free | Free | Communal | Yes | Social worker |
| Hospitality Apts | Free (+~$140 fee) | ~$140 total | Full | Yes (M–F) | Self-referral OK |
| Halo House | $25–35 | $750–1,050 | Full | Yes (M–F) | Self-referral OK |
| Ronald McDonald | $0–25 | $0–750 | Communal | Yes | Pediatric only |
| Rotary House | $165–$355 | $4,950–5,670 | Kitchenette | Skybridge | MDACC patient |
| Hotel (med rate) | $89–200 | $2,670–6,000 | Rarely | Some | No |
| Extended Stay | $61–104 | $1,830–3,120 | Full | No | No |
| Furnished Apt | $100–150 | $3,000–4,500* | Full | No | No |
*30-day rate with TX hotel tax exemption applied. All rates approximate — call to confirm.
Tips from patients who've done this
Apply for Hope Lodge and Hospitality Apartments the day you get your treatment schedule, not when you arrive. Waitlists can be weeks to months long.
Ask your MDACC social worker about all options — they know which programs have openings and can submit referrals for you.
If staying 30+ days, ask your property about the Texas hotel tax exemption. It saves hundreds of dollars. Learn more →
TMC parking is expensive and stressful. Prioritize lodging with a hospital shuttle or within walking distance. The METRORail Red Line stops at Dryden/TMC station.
Bring a cooler and basic kitchen supplies if your lodging doesn't have a full kitchen — eating out during treatment is expensive and often impractical.
More Houston medical lodging guides
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Texas Children's Hospital
Pediatric patient and family lodging near TMC
Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
Texas Heart Institute and cardiac patient lodging
Cancer Patient Housing
Every free and low-cost program for cancer patients
Reviewed by RelocateMeTX Editorial Team
Content verified May 2026. Relocation information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, legal, or medical advice.