One phone call. That’s all it took to transform how America cares for its military families during their most vulnerable moments. In 1986, a simple observation by Pauline Trost—watching a family arrive at the National Naval Medical Center with luggage in hand and uncertainty in their eyes—sparked a revolution of compassion.

Where would they stay? How would they manage the emotional and financial weight of supporting a loved one through a medical crisis?

The answer would come from an unlikely hero. Zachary Fisher. A builder by trade, Fisher recognized the challenge and responded.

Inspired by the memory of his nephew, Lance Corporal Bruce Alan Grandstaff, who died serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Fisher understood the hidden battles military families fight beyond the battlefield. The exhausting journey of traveling to and from hospitals, the financial strain, the emotional toll—these were wounds that needed healing.

Brick by brick, Fisher constructed more than buildings; he created sanctuaries of hope.

With $250,000 donated to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and a vision larger than himself, the first Fisher House opened in 1991. Eight guest suites became a beacon of support. Today, that single spark has grown into more than 90 Fisher Houses across the US and Europe.

We sat down with Michelle Horn, VP of Communications, to get an inside peek of the foundation and how it works.

How does the program work?

Fisher House Foundation works with the VA or Department of Defense to identify where houses are needed. The VA or DoD then gives the Foundation land to build the house. Often the local communities are very involved in fundraising to build the Fisher House.

We work with our own architect, contractors, designers and supplies to build the very best house we can and then, after it is fully furnished with everything families could need, we gift it back to the VA or Department of Defense for management and maintenance.

How do veteran families qualify?

Veterans and service members who are receiving care at a military or VA hospital generally qualify if their residence is more than 50 miles from the medical center where they are receiving care. For specific information on whether families are eligible, they should contact the Fisher House closest to the hospital where they are receiving care.

What sets a Fisher House apart from other housing options for families of hospitalized military and veterans?

Fisher Houses are a home away from home offered at no cost for as long as the veteran, service member, or qualified dependent is receiving care. These homes are designed to have everything a family would need during extended time away from home whether that time was planned or unplanned.

We want our military service members, veterans, and their families to know that we are grateful for all they have given to our country and that they deserve the very best. Our goal is to ensure they can focus on recovery rather than the expensive burdens of a hotel stay. We know that a family’s love is good medicine and that families can heal faster if they are together.

What’s the story behind the construction of the homes?

The Fisher Houses were originally designed to accommodate families looking after active-duty service members who were receiving care. As the network expanded, our founder learned that the VA also needed a resource that could help our veterans, so we began building at VA hospitals. In fact, we now have more VA Fisher Houses than houses supporting the Department of Defense. After 9/11, the nature of care shifted.

We now had combat veterans returning with injuries that would require long-term hospital stays such for injuries including paralysis, amputations, and burns. As families and their service members began staying in the houses, we began adding features such as elevators, wheelchair friendly floors, and wider doorways. Today, all our newer houses are fully accessible so that both our service members injured overseas and our veterans have all the comforts they need to feel at home.

What role do design and construction play in creating a warm, home-like environment for families?

We try to consider every detail when designing our houses to make the families’ stays as comfortable as possible. From relaxing patios to an expansive kitchen where families gather and share their stories, give advice or sometimes just enjoy a cup of coffee to the cozy living room and comfortable private suites, we focus on giving families what they need to rest and recharge so they can be there for their loved ones.

Our designers focus on convenience and comfort while our interior designer adds all the special touches including acknowledgement of the local culture and community. When you walk through the doors of a Fisher House, they feel like they have entered a very special home away from home.

What are some of the biggest things these families are looking for when they come to the foundation?

Families who stay at Fisher Houses are there for so many reasons. Sometimes, it’s a simple checkup but they live five hours away and couldn’t make the trip and back in one day, other times they are in the most important battle of their lives fighting cancer or another illness, and still others are there to be there with their mom or dad, brother or sister or best friend during their final moments.

We even have many active-duty parents who are there with premature babies who are in the hospital until they are strong enough to come home or military spouses who are fighting their own ailments. The common bond is that for every Fisher House family, they are seeking a safe place to rest so that they can be there for their loved one.

And while what they are looking for is a place to lay their head for the night, what they find is a community of fellow military and veteran families that can relate, share advice and understand what they are going through.

Walk us through the design strategy.

Fisher Houses are designed with private suites so that families can relax and common areas so that families can form communities. The living room, dining room, outdoor spaces, large kitchens, and dining rooms give families the opportunity to lean on one another and give volunteers and community members a space to provide additional services.

Our kitchens are double-sized with two stoves, microwaves, sinks, etc. and very large central islands where families gather and make meals, prepare for the day, and sometimes share late night stories.

We want families to have all the spaces they need for privacy and peace, while building a community of strength. All the while we want to have an underlying message of gratitude for these families that have given so much.

How does the foundation ensure the sustainability and maintenance of each Fisher House?

We use quality materials, energy efficient appliances and lighting, and follow the federal, state, and local sustainability standards. We also focus on accessibility and safety and to make sure that our families can rest assured that they are in a safe space both physically and mentally.

What are the future expansion plans regarding new facilities?

In 2025, we will open our 100th Fisher House in North Chicago and we are thrilled to reach this milestone, but while we will celebrate this number and other numbers like serving 500,000 families and saving them more than $610 million over the last 30 years, we will roll up our sleeves and get right back to work.

Our 101st house is already under construction in Little Rock, Arkansas and we have more than 20 houses on our identified needs list. Our mission is to keep building Fisher Houses wherever they are needed.

What impact have Fisher Houses had on the families they serve? Can you share a success story?

I have the joy of talking to families every day and hearing how important Fisher House has been for them. From parents who have been able to hold their newborns until they are strong enough to come home, to amputees that found the strength to find a new normal, to veterans that have sought medical treatment only because their loved ones could be with them.

It is hard to identify one, but last year, I met a mom of a sailor who had actually drowned during a training accident. She flew from South Carolina to Washington State with nothing so she could be there for her son and was sleeping in his hospital room until she learned about Fisher House. She was with him through his recovery, and she told me how the Fisher House allowed her family to find peace, grow and heal.

Now, her son is doing well and while he is no longer in the military, he is serving as a police officer in their hometown.

What were some of the main things the foundation wants to accomplish?

We want to honor our greatest national treasure, our service members, veterans, and their families. Our biggest goal is to make sure that families have a safe and comfortable place to stay while their loved ones receive the care they need and that they don’t have to deal with the burden of expensive lodging costs during this time.

How can individuals and businesses in the construction and renovation industry get involved in supporting the Fisher House Foundation?

There are three great ways to help military families through the Fisher House Foundation. Time, Treasure, and Talent. Local houses are always looking for individuals and groups to volunteer. We welcome donations, of course. And, there are a variety of ways to fundraise.

Our website is www.fisherhouse.org where we have information on how to get involved and, more importantly, how we can help those in need. We ask anyone to spread the word so that military and veteran families know this resource is here for them.

Tell us a little about the Hero Miles program.

Both our Hero Miles and Hotels for Heroes programs use donated loyalty points to provide flights to families so they can be by their loved ones’ sides or hotels when Fisher Houses are not available. Currently, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Wyndham Hotels and Marriott Hotels are matching. We are grateful to our partners who help enable us to support families during challenging times.

What makes the Fisher House Foundation so special?

Fisher Houses provide peace for military and veteran families during the most challenging times so that they can focus on healing. We bring the community together to give these families the respect they deserve. For nearly 35 years we have supported our greatest national treasure, our service members, veterans and their loved ones.

We do this with funds entrusted to us from the American people, so we do our very best to be good stewards of these generous donations. For 21 years, Fisher House Foundation has received Four Stars from Charity Navigator and we consistently have an A+ rating from Charity Watch. We put as much money as possible right back into our programs directly supporting service members, veterans and their families.

Story by Michael J. Pallerino, Editor of Commercial Construction & Renovation magazine. Over the past 30-plus years, he has won numerous awards, including the “Jesse H. Neal Editorial Achievement Award,” recognized as the Pulitzer Prize for business-to-business magazines. He can be reached at mikep@ccr-mag.com.

Sitting down with… Fisher House Foundation’s Michelle Horn

Describe a typical day.

I travel quite often to Fisher Houses around the country so that I can capture their stories. My very talented team of communications specialists build our different ways of telling these stories because no one can really explain what a Fisher House is and means better than our guests. Most days I hear back from families just checking in or saying hi.

When I am not traveling, I love walking my two terriers, spending time with my husband, hiking, volunteering, and enjoying our local area in Northern Virginia.

What’s the biggest thing on your to-do list right now?

Preparing for our 100th Fisher House. We are so excited to open this new house in North Chicago and are doing several things to commemorate the event. Our communications team has quite a few tasks on our list to celebrate this milestone.

What was the best advice you ever received?

My dad once told me to just stick with an activity and see it through. I think that advice has kept me focused through college, through my 21 years in the Army and now with every project I do for Fisher House. Whenever I start to feel like something is too big, I remember that if I stick with it and don’t quit, I will be proud of the results.

What’s the best thing a client ever said to you?

I don’t think I have ever met a family that hasn’t said, “I couldn’t have been here for my loved one without Fisher House. There is no way I could have afforded it.” Knowing that we are directly impacting up to 1,400 families on any given night and letting them heal together means everything to me.