Hope Lodge (American Cancer Society)
Hope Lodge is a program operated by the American Cancer Society (ACS) that provides free lodging to cancer patients and their caregivers when treatment is required away from home. Patients must be receiving active cancer treatment and live more than 40 miles or one hour from their treatment center. Each guest must be accompanied by a caregiver during their stay.[1][2]
History
The Hope Lodge program began in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1970.[3] The first facility was founded by Margot Freudenberg (1895–1993), a local civic leader and longtime volunteer for the American Cancer Society.[3] She was inspired by a similar patient housing program she observed during a trip to Australia and New Zealand with President Dwight D. Eisenhower's People to People Ambassador Program.[4]
Services and Impact
As of 2025, the American Cancer Society operates 31 Hope Lodge locations across the United States, including one in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[1] Guests stay in private or semi-private rooms, and most facilities include community kitchens, laundry facilities, and spaces for social interaction.
Hope Lodge services are offered free of charge regardless of income, thanks to donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and community partners.[5] Eligibility requires the patient to be in active cancer treatment and accompanied by a caregiver.[2]
Collectively, the Hope Lodge network provides more than 500,000 nights of free lodging each year, saving patients and families over $50 million annually in hotel costs.[6]
COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery
Many Hope Lodge locations were temporarily closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic to protect immunocompromised guests.[7] Some reopened with limited capacity or modified operations in subsequent years. As of 2024, ACS continues working to reopen or repurpose several affected locations.[8]
Locations
The American Cancer Society operates more than 30 Hope Lodge Communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. These facilities offer a supportive, home-like environment for patients and caregivers traveling away from home for cancer treatment.[1]
List of Hope Lodge Communities
As of 2025, active Hope Lodge Communities include:
| City | State/Territory |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | Georgia |
| Baltimore | Maryland |
| Birmingham | Alabama |
| Boston | Massachusetts |
| Burlington | Vermont |
| Charleston | South Carolina |
| Cleveland | Ohio |
| Dallas | Texas |
| Greenville | North Carolina |
| Honolulu | Hawaii |
| Houston | Texas |
| Iowa City | Iowa |
| Jackson | Mississippi |
| Jacksonville | Florida |
| Kansas City | MIssouri |
| Lexington | Kentucky |
| Lubbock | Texas |
| Memphis | Tennessee |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| Nashville | Tennessee |
| New Orleans | Louisiana |
| New York City | New York |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma |
| Omaha | Nebraska |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
| Rochester | Minnesota |
| Rochester | New York |
| Salt Lake City | Utah |
| San Juan | Puerto Rico |
| St. Louis | Missouri |
| Tampa | Florida |
See also
- Ronald McDonald House Charities – offers similar lodging to families of pediatric patients
- American Cancer Society
References
- ^ a b c d "Hope Lodge Locations". American Cancer Society. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ a b "Hope Lodge FAQs". American Cancer Society. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ a b "Foundation of Hope". Cancer Today. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ^ "About Our Facility – Hope Lodge Minneapolis". American Cancer Society. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ Baldwin, Skyler (2025-11-28). "Hope Lodge provides home away from home for cancer patients". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ^ "2023 Annual Report". American Cancer Society. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ "The American Cancer Society Will Close All Hope Lodges Because of COVID-19". Cancer Health. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ^ "American Cancer Society reopens Hope Lodge locations closed during pandemic". Atlanta Business Chronicle. January 31, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2025.