Fisher House coming to Fort Belvoir

Fisher House coming to Fort Belvoir

Inside NoVa

By Julie LeDoux

01.30.12

Fort Belvoir will soon be home to Virginia’s third Fisher House. Construction began on the 10,000 square foot facility, which is being built across the street from the new Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, in October With 12 suites, a kitchen, dining and sitting rooms, and den, the one-story ranch style house should be open in April with a dedication ceremony in May. “We hope to finish it in a couple of months,” said David Coker, president of Fisher House. “It’s such a great catalyst for the community to show its support for military families.” The $4.5 million facility is being funded with $1.1 million in donations, he continued. The Fisher House Foundation is covering the remainder of the cost. Fisher House is a unique public-private partnership that donates comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and Veterans Administration medical centers. Family members of service members who are receiving care at the medical centers can stay at the houses for little or no cost. Coker said that Fisher House was made aware of the need for a “home away from home” for families whose loved ones are receiving care at Fort Belvoir shortly after it announced that the installation would be getting a new hospital as the result of Base Realignment and Closure 2005. “We’re grateful that these families allow us to come in and bless them at this time,” he said. For more information on Fisher House, visit www.fisherhouse.org.