Housing

More than just lodging, we provide comfort in a family’s time of need.

Every day, families who are faced with the greatest challenges of their lives, a seriously ill child, walk into the Ronald McDonald House. Here, they find the necessities they need to their make lives easier: a comfortable bed, a warm meal, laundry facilities and a Family Care Center, close to the hospital.

Any family in need, with a child being treated at a San Diego medical facility, is eligible to stay at the House. Many of the families that stay with us would otherwise drive one to two hours home each way, every day. Or they would sleep in waiting rooms or their cars, eating vending machine food, so they can stay near their sick child. Research proves that when families can stay close to their sick child, the child heals better and the family copes better, for many reasons.

Our House eliminates costly hotel and food bills, while providing a comfortable place to stay and a supportive environment for them to help their healing child.

Our cost to provide these services to each family is about $140 per night, and includes food, utilities, lodging and other House facilities. We ask families to consider making a donation to help us ensure continuation of these important services, however we accept any family regardless of ability to pay. Only about 25 percent of our families are able to contribute a small amount toward this cost.