District of Columbia program
A place to stay near the hospital
Ronald McDonald House Washington DC offers nearby lodging for families of patients age 21 or younger.
What it is
Ronald McDonald House Washington DC offers nearby lodging for families of patients age 21 or younger.
Nearby lodging can help when treatment means staying away from home. The hospital social worker makes the referral. The house decides whether it can offer a room.
Eligibility rules
- For a patient 21 or younger.
- Referral through a hospital social worker, subject to room availability.
What you get
- A room near the hospital when the house can accept your family's referral.
If you decide to apply
- Ask the oncology social worker about a referral to Ronald McDonald House Washington DC.
- Have the treatment dates and your family's lodging needs ready.
The house, on a hospital social worker's referral: 202-529-8204 · Official page ↗
Before a stay
- The house takes families of patients 21 or younger in active treatment, with a hospital referral and a background check; a room holds up to four. Ask the social worker about any suggested contribution and a backup if the house is full.
Good to know
This is charitable lodging, and a referral does not guarantee a room.
Official sources
“Would staying near the hospital make treatment easier for us? Could you help us compare room availability, any costs and a backup place before requesting a referral?”
Why I’m asking: I want to understand room availability, any costs and what we would do if the house is full.
More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules
Who does what
The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.
You
Ask for the referral early.
Your social worker
The hospital social worker makes the referral.
The care team
Records and letters when the application asks for them.
- Who decides
- The house, on availability.
- Ask your social worker
- “We are facing a long admission. Can you refer us to the Ronald McDonald House now rather than when we are stuck?”
How to apply
First step: Ask the oncology social worker to make the referral now, before you need it.
- Ask the oncology social worker to make a referral now, not when you need the room.
- Ask what the wait usually looks like.
Official application / program page ↗
Where it starts: Ask the oncology social worker to make the referral. The Washington DC house number is 202-529-8204.
What to gather
The diagnosis letter, the child’s insurance card, and the last two pay stubs cover most applications. The official page lists the rest.
How long: No guaranteed wait was published.
What a yes looks like
A room booked for the admission.
What a no looks like, and the next move
Ask the social worker about other lodging help and about hospital discount rates.
Watch out
- It is a charity, not a District programme, and rooms depend on availability.
The numbers and the rules
The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.
What it is worth
A room near the hospital for families of a patient 21 or younger, referred by the hospital social worker.
- $21 — Upper patient age for a family to stay
Covers: Lodging near the hospital for the family
What it costs the family: Charitable; no charge was published.
The eligibility facts, as published
- Age
- patient 21 or younger
- Other
- Referral through a hospital social worker, subject to room availability
The trap: This is a charity, not a District programme. Nobody has a right to a room, and availability varies, so ask early rather than when you need it.
Where I read this
- Ronald McDonald House Washington DC — Stay with us — Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington DC, read September 10, 2026