A new Fisher House was dedicated today at VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System in Montrose, New York, by Medical Center Director Dawn M. Schaaland Fisher House President David Coker. The Assistant Under Secretary for Health and Clinical Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Mark Koeniger, also spoke at the ceremony and was part of the ribbon cutting.
The new Montrose Fisher House is the fourth in New York, joining one in Albany and two in the Bronx. Located near West Point, the home strengthens a proud tradition of service while ensuring more Veterans and their families have a place to stay together during medical care.
“The opening of the Fisher House at VA Hudson Valley is a testament to our commitment to supporting Veterans and their families,” said Dawn Schaal, Medical Center Director. “This new home will provide comfort and care when it matters most, ensuring loved ones can be close during their time of need.”
The 11,400-square-foot Fisher House located at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hospital will give Veteran families a welcoming place to call home while a loved one receives medical care. With lodging provided at no cost, families can focus on what matters most: being together. At full occupancy, the home could save families a combined $700,000 in lodging expenses each year.
“Community support is an important part of every Fisher House,” said Dave Coker, president of Fisher House Foundation. “The Hudson Valley has a proud connection to military service, and now families coming to Montrose for care will have a welcoming place to stay together, find comfort, and feel the support of that community.”
The new Montrose Fisher House includes 12 wheelchair-accessible suites, a spacious kitchen, comfortable shared living, dining, and family rooms, a laundry room, and a patio where families can relax and connect. Fisher House Foundation built and gifted the home to the VA as part of its longstanding public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
This Fisher House is part of a network of 101 homes located across the country, in Germany, and in the United Kingdom. Construction is underway on a replacement house in West Palm Beach, Florida, and a new house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. New houses are being designed in Madison, Wisconsin, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Fisher House Foundation proudly recognizes the generosity of the following contributors for their extraordinary support of our military and Veteran families: Lilly Endowment, Delta Air Lines, Fisher House Michigan, Men’s Wearhouse, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, The Reiser Family Foundation, Sippy Poo Barbecue, Vehicles for Veterans, VFW David Potts Jr. Post 1156, 1LT Dennis W. Zilinski II (U.S. Army), and the many gifts of a grateful nation.
Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of more than 101 comfort homes where military and Veteran families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 20 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room, and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and Veteran families an estimated $690 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation. www.fisherhouse.org