Home Away From Home

Cancer Patient Housing Assistance

Help provide a home away from
home for patients—a bit of comfort
and relief—during the fight of
their lives.

The cost of local lodging is concerning for patients and families who travel to receive care at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, especially those whose treatment protocol requires multiple days or weeks of daily therapy or immediate or extended hospitalization. These patients and their supportive care partners must stay near the Cancer Center for lengthy periods—often at great personal expense, as insurance does not cover these costs. In some cases, these expenses prevent patients from receiving life-saving treatment or adhering to medical protocols.

To help ease the financial burden for patients and families, a group of committed community leaders came together in 2019 to build an endowment to provide enduring financial support for patients in need of local lodging during cancer treatment. The Home Away from Home campaign has resulted in a $1.5 million permanent endowment, which is professionally managed for growth while producing funds annually to offset the cost of local hotel stays for qualifying patients. Patient navigators and social workers help patients complete the application to qualify for financial assistance. Banner MD Anderson has negotiated discounted rates with local hotel partners to maximize the impact of this support. 100% of donations directly support patient needs.

Thanks to generous grants from Thunderbirds Charities and the American Cancer Society, the Home Away from Home program launched in 2020, providing immediate support while the endowment builds. $250,000 has been distributed to 100 qualifying patients and family members to support more than 3,000 hotel nights over the past two years.

A new partnership: The comforts of home

In 2022, Taylor Morrison announced it will build and donate an initial six fully furnished homes to the Banner Health Foundation, with plans to build up to 10 more in the coming years. The 16-home community will support Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Home Away from Home program by providing comfortable, safe, clean temporary housing for cancer patients in need. Located adjacent to Banner MD Anderson, a community of healing will be created—a place where families battling cancer can face their battle together. It will include:

• 16 two-bedroom/two-bathroom homes
• Full kitchens, laundry and living areas
• Furniture, fixtures, appliances and equipment
• Pet-friendly, with private backyards and patios
• ADA accessible features
• Wi-Fi and keyless door entry technology
• Common areas and outdoor recreation spaces
• Thoughtful design that promotes well-being and recovery

Through the Home Away from Home Program, patients with the longest length-of-stay will be prioritized for this home community, while others in need will continue to receive assistance with their hotel stays. This allows funds to be maximized in support of as many patients as possible.

Support this initiative

Since inception, the Home Away from Home program has relied on philanthropic investment from generous donors and community partners. Charitable gifts are critical to our ability to provide cancer patients with lodging assistance. Our goal is to build the Home Away from Home endowment to $5 million. This dedicated fund will provide enduring annual program support to offset the cost of lodging for patients in need, sustaining and maintaining the housing community and supporting hotel stays nearby all Banner MD Anderson locations.

You can play a direct role in easing a significant burden for patients and families—providing a home away from home, a bit of comfort and relief, during the biggest challenge they may ever face. Click the button below to donate now, or download the complete brochure with details on commemorative naming opportunities.