Welcome to the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Fisher House
where our motto is “A family’s love is the best medicine.”
And a Fisher House provides a loving environment that helps
fill that prescription.
After a long day at the hospital, it is nice to have a
place to come back to, where you can prepare a home cooked
meal, change clothes, rest... and perhaps comfort, or be
comforted by, other families who are experiencing similar
challenges.
For nearly 30 years, the Fisher House program has provided “a
home away from home” for families of patients receiving
medical care at major military and VA medical centers.
These homes offer free, temporary lodging to military
and Veterans’ families, allowing them to be close to
their loved one during a medical crisis and focus on
what’s important—the healing process.
Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes and gifts them to
be owned and operated by the government so Veteran and
military families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is
in the hospital.
Since inception, the program has saved families more than
$525 million in out-of-pocket lodging and transportation
costs.
The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Fisher House was
dedicated on July 1, 2002.
We have supported thousands of families since we opened our
doors.
Our Fisher House provides a comforting, first-class
experience for families of Veterans and military
servicemembers receiving care at the C.W. Bill Young VA
Medical Center.
We are within walking distance to the hospital and shuttle
service is also available.
Dedicated staff and volunteers are onsite to help guests with
anything they may need. They also keep the house and grounds
impeccably clean.
Safety and security is important, so we have
individual controlled access to enter the building and suites.
We have 9 professionally decorated and beautifully
furnished private guest suites with different configurations
to provide flexibility for the specific needs of our families.
All rooms have a private attached bath and all the
comforts of home are provided to make stays comfortable and
worry free.
Our house is fully handicap accessible with a suite and
bathroom designed for ease of use.
Fisher House guests share a large, fully equipped, and
well-stocked gourmet kitchen that is always available. There
is even dedicated space for guests to store their own food.
We also have a restaurant quality gas grill on our
beautiful outside patio area for all to use.
Our other common areas include a spacious communal dining room
that has a large family style table for everyone to share a
meal, as well as other individual tables, if preferred.
We have a quaint play area for children with a fun book
exchange house for them to enjoy.
There is a separate inviting living room that has a large TV
and library with plenty of seating for all to relax,
a small intimate seating area,
and a computer workstation for anyone to use.
A large laundry room with plenty of counter space is
fully stocked for our guests’ needs.
And outside, there is a beautiful gazebo with tranquil
seating areas to allow everyone to get out and enjoy our
wonderful Florida sunshine.
We also have reserved parking for each guest.
Due to the high demand here at the Bay Pines Fisher House, we
have been approved for a second Fisher House.
It will be built next to our current home and will give us
16 additional guest suites.
It is tentatively scheduled to open in 2022.
Support the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Fisher House
Anyone can be a part of the Fisher House mission.
Fisher House depends on donations from individuals and
groups to support its programs.
Funds are used to support the ongoing, daily needs of the
Fisher House, as well as enhancing our guest’s
experience.
Also, by specifically donating to the Bay Pines VA Healthcare
System Fisher House, 100 percent of the funds go
directly to support our local House.
Our founders, Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher, wanted guests
to feel like they were staying in their home – and wanted to
show them how much our nation appreciates their sacrifices on
our behalf.
Fisher Houses are set up to encourage a sense of community
while giving private respite to tired families.
Most importantly, every Fisher House is completely free of
charge.
We are here for you. Welcome home.