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Middleton Fisher House project aims to house 16 families near Madison VA
A $13 million Fisher House is under construction in Middleton, offering free lodging, meals and support for as many as 16 families of veterans receiving care at the Madison VA. Organizers hope to open it by fall 2027 and say fundraising has reached about half the project’s cost.
A new Fisher House is being built in Middleton to give families of veterans receiving treatment at the Madison VA Hospital a free place to stay. The $13 million facility is expected to accommodate up to 16 families at a time.
Construction is underway near the Middleton Costco. The house will be about a 10-minute drive from the VA hospital, and transportation will be available for families. Organizers hope to open it by fall 2027.
Fisher Houses provide lodging, food and support at no cost to families while a veteran receives medical care. The Middleton project will be Wisconsin’s second Fisher House, joining an existing facility in Milwaukee.
The Madison VA is one of only three VA lung transplant centers in the country, drawing patients from across the United States. Some may need care lasting weeks or months, Madison VA Public Affairs Chief Jim Bove said, making nearby lodging particularly important for relatives who want to stay close.
For Steven Rose, executive director of Fisher House Wisconsin, the project reflects a need he experienced firsthand. While serving in the Air Force in 2015, Rose had surgery in Florida, but his family could not afford the flights and local lodging needed to visit him. He said a Fisher House could have helped his family be there.
Fisher House Wisconsin has raised about half of the $13 million needed and is seeking community donations for the remainder.