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Hospital social worker reviewing patient lodging resources on a tablet while consulting with a patient family

Medical Lodging Social Worker Resources — Patient Housing Referral Guide

This page is designed as a quick-reference for hospital social workers handling patient housing referrals. Bookmark it, print it, or share it with colleagues. All phone numbers and eligibility criteria verified as of August 2026.

Whether you are placing a cancer patient at Hope Lodge, referring a pediatric family to Ronald McDonald House, or helping a transplant patient find housing near the Texas Medical Center, this medical lodging social worker resource guide provides the phone numbers, eligibility requirements, and referral pathways you need in one printable document.

Houston / Texas Medical Center patient lodging referrals

Hope Lodge Houston

(713) 848-8905
Cost: Free
Max stay: Duration of active treatment
Referral: Social worker referral required
Qualifies: Adult cancer patients in active treatment, 40+ miles from treatment center
Notes: Cannot self-refer. Waitlists common — apply as early as possible.

Hospitality Apartments

(713) 790-9120
Cost: Free (+ one-time cleaning fee)
Max stay: 90 days
Referral: Self-referral OK
Qualifies: Any TMC diagnosis, 50+ miles from TMC
Notes: Caregiver required 24/7. Full in-unit kitchen. 2–3 month waitlist typical.

Halo House Foundation

(713) 665-8852
Cost: $25–35/night
Max stay: 3–4 months
Referral: Self-referral OK
Qualifies: Blood cancer only (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma), 50+ miles from TMC
Notes: Caregiver required. In-unit kitchen + washer/dryer. Solid tumors do NOT qualify.

RMHC Houston (Holcombe)

(713) 795-3500
Cost: ~$25/night suggested donation
Max stay: Not published — confirm with the house
Referral: Hospital referral required
Qualifies: Pediatric patients age 21 and under + families
Notes: No one turned away for inability to pay. Family rooms also available inside TCH, Memorial Hermann, MD Anderson.

Nora's Home

(832) 831-3720
Cost: Sliding scale
Max stay: 90 days (extensions possible)
Referral: Self-referral OK
Qualifies: Solid organ transplant only (NOT cancer, NOT bone marrow), age 10+
Notes: First purpose-built transplant lodging facility on the Gulf Coast. Shuttle to Houston Methodist.

Aishel House

(713) 522-2004
Cost: ~$50/night (sliding scale)
Max stay: Duration of treatment
Referral: Self-referral OK
Qualifies: Any TMC patient, any diagnosis, outside Harris County
Notes: All faiths welcome. 23 furnished apartments with full in-unit kitchen and washer/dryer.

Dan's House of Hope

(713) 239-3464
Cost: Free
Max stay: ~2 months
Referral: Self-referral OK
Qualifies: Cancer patients ages 18–39 only
Notes: Caregiver required (age 21+). Only 5 rooms — very limited capacity.

The Ballard House (Katy)

(281) 717-4670
Cost: Free
Max stay: 90 days
Referral: Application + hospital referral (dual)
Qualifies: Any critical or life-threatening illness
Notes: Located in Katy (~30 mi from TMC). Patient needs own transportation. 40 suites.

Open Arms Foundation (MAA)

(901) 435-5395
Cost: Free
Max stay: Up to 2 years
Referral: Hospital referral required
Qualifies: Any diagnosis
Notes: Longest max stay of any program. Free furnished apartments. Broad eligibility.

Fisher House Houston (VA)

(713) 794-8095
Cost: Free
Max stay: Duration of treatment
Referral: VA clinician referral required
Qualifies: Veterans and active-duty military only, 50+ miles from VA
Notes: 61 suites across 3 houses on VA campus. Family members welcome.

Houston Haven

(832) 356-3303
Cost: Low-cost — call for current rate
Max stay: Call to confirm
Referral: Self-referral OK
Qualifies: Out-of-town cancer patients treated at the Texas Medical Center
Notes: Cancer-specific program. Rate is not published — confirm cost and eligibility by phone (hhaven.org).

Mercy House (CityRise)

cityrise.org
Cost: Free
Max stay: Varies
Referral: Application required via website
Qualifies: Any diagnosis, outside Houston area
Notes: Faith-based org — serves all backgrounds. Caregiver required. Contact via website.

Dallas / Medical District patient housing referrals

Hope Lodge Dallas

(469) 451-4900
Cost: Free
Max stay: Duration of active treatment
Referral: Social worker referral required
Qualifies: Adult cancer patients in active treatment, 40+ miles from treatment center
Notes: 50 rooms. Serves patients at UT Southwestern, Baylor, and Dallas-area cancer centers.

RMHC Dallas

(214) 631-7354
Cost: Free — donations optional
Max stay: Varies
Referral: Hospital referral required
Qualifies: Pediatric patients + families
Notes: 89 rooms: 77 bedrooms, 6 extended-stay suites, 6 transplant apartments. Serves Children's Medical Center, UT Southwestern.

Fisher House Dallas (VA)

(214) 857-4401
Cost: Free
Max stay: Duration of treatment
Referral: VA clinician referral required
Qualifies: Veterans/military families at Dallas VA
Notes: 21 suites on VA campus. Typically full most days — advise backup plans.

Ark House Dallas

(972) 671-7144
Cost: $28/night, or $196/week
Max stay: 7–90 days
Referral: Social worker referral only
Qualifies: Any diagnosis, outside Dallas area
Notes: Only Dallas program accepting any diagnosis. 16 furnished private apartments in Richardson, up to 4 adults each.

Twice Blessed House

(214) 820-6548
Cost: $50/night (financial aid available)
Max stay: Up to 90 days
Referral: Transplant team referral
Qualifies: Solid-organ and blood-and-marrow transplant patients at Baylor Dallas, living 50+ miles away
Notes: 40 furnished apartments. Verify current availability directly with BSW Foundation.
Hospital social worker sitting with a patient family in a private consultation room reviewing a patient housing referral checklist

Key contacts for patient housing referrals

Joe's House

National lodging search

(877) 563-7468

joeshouse.org

ACS Helpline

Grants, Hope Lodge, Road To Recovery

1-800-227-2345

cancer.org

RMHC National

Ronald McDonald House Charities

rmhc.org

UTSW Guest & Patient Services

Lodging assistance, hotel lists

(214) 633-4700

UTSW Oncology Social Work

Hope Lodge referrals, lodging support

(469) 852-0270

BSW Dallas Foundation

Twice Blessed House referrals

(214) 820-4408

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I refer a patient to Hope Lodge?

Hope Lodge requires a social worker referral — patients cannot self-refer. Contact the ACS helpline at 1-800-227-2345 or call the Houston location at (713) 848-8905 / Dallas at (469) 451-4900 directly. Have the patient's diagnosis, treatment plan, and distance from the treatment center ready. Apply as early as possible; waitlists are common.

Which Houston programs accept any diagnosis (not just cancer)?

Hospitality Apartments, Aishel House, Open Arms Foundation (MAA), Mercy House, and The Ballard House all accept patients with any diagnosis. Hospitality Apartments and Aishel House are closest to TMC. The Ballard House is in Katy (~30 miles from TMC) and requires the patient to arrange their own transportation.

What lodging options exist for pediatric patients in Dallas?

Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHC) is the primary option, with 89 rooms — 77 private bedrooms, 6 extended-stay suites, and 6 dedicated transplant apartments — near Children's Medical Center. A hospital referral is required. Families are never required to pay; donations are welcome but optional.

Are there lodging programs specifically for transplant patients?

Yes. In Houston, Nora's Home is the first purpose-built transplant lodging facility in the Gulf Coast region — it serves solid organ transplant patients age 10+ and provides shuttle service to Houston Methodist. In Dallas, Twice Blessed House at Baylor Dallas offers 40 furnished apartment-style units for solid-organ and blood-and-marrow transplant patients who live more than 50 miles away (transplant team referral required).

Can I print this page as a reference sheet?

Yes — this page is designed with print-friendly formatting. Click the "Print this page" button at the top, or use Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac). The layout automatically adjusts for printing: colors simplify to black and white, spacing tightens, and non-essential elements are hidden.

Disclaimer: Program details, phone numbers, and eligibility criteria are verified as of August 2026 but may change. Always confirm directly with the program before referring a patient. For a more detailed guide including waitlist information and full amenity lists, see our complete free patient housing guide.

Sources & verification notes

By the RelocateMeTX Editorial Team · Reviewed August 2026 How we source our data →

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, legal, or medical advice.