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]
The Hope Lodge program began in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1970. The first facility was founded by Margot Freudenberg (1895–1993), a local civic leader and longtime volunteer for the American Cancer Society. 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. [3] [4]
As of 2024, the American Cancer Society operates more than 30 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. 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. [5]
Many Hope Lodge locations were temporarily closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic to protect immunocompromised guests. Some reopened with limited capacity or modified operations in subsequent years. As of 2024, ACS continues working to reopen or repurpose several affected locations. [6]
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]
As of 2025, active Hope Lodge Communities include:
| City | State/Territory |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | Georgia |
| Greenville | North Carolina |
| Lubbock | Texas |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
| Baltimore | Maryland |
| Honolulu | Hawaii |
| Memphis | Tennessee |
| Rochester | Minnesota |
| Birmingham | Alabama |
| Houston | Texas |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| Rochester | New York |
| Boston | Massachusetts |
| Iowa City | Iowa |
| Nashville | Tennessee |
| Salt Lake City | Utah |
| Burlington | Vermont |
| Jackson | Mississippi |
| New Orleans | Louisiana |
| San Juan | Puerto Rico |
| Charleston | South Carolina |
| Jacksonville | Florida |
| New York City | New York |
| St. Louis | Missouri |
| Cleveland | Ohio |
| Kansas City | Missouri |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma |
| Tampa | Florida |
| Dallas | Texas |
| Lexington | Kentucky |
| Omaha | Nebraska |