On Tuesday, October 20, the Marana Town Council approved a resolution in support of the Arizona Fisher House to be located on the campus of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care Center in Tucson. This facility will provide free housing for families of active military and veterans who are undergoing treatment provided by the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System at the Tucson VA hospital or area facilities. As a Purple Heart Town, Marana firmly supports all efforts that support our veteran community.
There are 65 Fisher Houses located on 24 military installations and 24 VA medical centers across the United States, Germany, and England. Tucson will be home to the 66th Fisher House. By recognizing that “a family’s love is good medicine,” the Fisher House network unites relatives as they gather in a time of need. By removing the stress of finding a place to stay, Fisher Houses everywhere seek to ease the already heavy burden borne by military and veteran families. Since its inception in 1991, the Fisher House community has saved families an estimated $282 million in out-of-pocket lodging and transportation expenses. In 2014 alone over 25,000 families were served.
In 2011, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approved the Southern Arizona VA as the site for the newest Fisher House. Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2015 and hosting guests in early 2016. When it opens its doors, it will offer 16 fully furnished suites to visitors, along with a large shared kitchen, laundry facility, and communal living space.
“The Marana Town Council is deeply committed to its veteran community,” says Town Manager Gilbert Davidson. “With the new veterans cemetery to be completed next year, along with the Town’s Purple Heart designation, we are eager to support any effort that helps improves the lives of veterans.”
In 2013 alone, the Southern Arizona VA in Tucson served over 2,000 veterans with families living outside Tucson. Soon, those families will be able to stay nearby, rather than having to find a hotel or travel a long distance for a brief visit. Marana is a proud supporter of this project and is pleased that the Southern Arizona VA will soon be able to offer this amenity. The Friends of Arizona Fisher House Foundation will continue supporting families by providing food, local transportation and other necessities for the families and needs of the house itself. For more information on how to help, please visit www.arizonafisherhouse.org.
