Ann Arbor Times

Ann Arbor recently became home to a temporary lodging space for active-duty service members and caregivers of veterans.

Click On Detroit announced that the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System opened its first Fisher House in the state of Michigan on June 1. 

Fisher Houses can be found internationally -- in Germany, the UK and the U.S. -- and are meant to be a temporary home for caregivers of veterans and family members of active-duty military personnel. 

Situated close to the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center, the Fisher House is certain to be a comfortable spot for family members to stay while visiting loved ones who are being treated at the hospital. 

The building is 13,400 square feet, making it large enough to house 16 families overnight. There is a guest suite in the house with a private bathroom, which can accommodate four family members, and the laundry room, gourmet kitchen, family room, dining room and outdoor patio are suitable for sharing.

Additional amenities include smart televisions in every suite, phones, DVD players and alarm clocks, as well as free WiFi.

The nonprofit Fisher House Michigan organization has raised over $7 million of its total goal of $20 million for the construction of the house. 

Construction started in April 2019 and the completion of the project was speedy, with the groundbreaking ceremony taking place on June 14, 2019. The house was gifted to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs after it was completed. 

While families who hope to stay at the house must be referred by their military member or veteran's health care team, those who qualify are able to take advantage of the house for free. To meet the criteria, individuals must live at least 50 miles away from the Fisher House, have a loved one being treated at the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center and be willing to follow the guidelines and regulations required for using the house. 

More information can be found at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.