With a nominal rent lease of the building, four years’ startup funding, and a staff experienced in social service work, HavenHouse St. Louis was launched by YouthBridge Community Foundation in April 2004. The 25,000 square foot facility consists of 28 private rooms/baths on the first floor and five rooms/suites on the second floor.  HavenHouse can serve up to 100 guests nightly.

From the beginning, the program was created in partnership with area hospitals and care providers.  More than half of the families served live in rural Missouri or eastern Illinois and the remainder have traveled from all 50 states and 31 foreign countries.

HavenHouse is committed to providing affordable lodging, care, and support services for families that travel to St. Louis for medical care.

When a family stays at HavenHouse, they pay a nominal fee.  In return they receive:

• A spacious room with private bath
• Home-cooked meals
• Shuttle four times daily to local area hospitals
• Facility amenities including: computer library, full-size gym, arts and crafts, gross motor room
• 19 acre serene campus
• Safe community access
• Registration and staff services available 24/7, including access on weekends and holidays
• Resource room full of informational literature and books
• Special event nights
• Spiritual support local religious connections
• Educational support–experienced partnerships with Parkway Schools
• Host Families–local families who connect our families to the St. Louis community, helping in a variety of ways (translators if needed)
• Child care connections–local churches and day care facilities that can extend their support to our families as needed
• Counseling and emotional support from community–Master level counselors and in-house Master level students from Washington University, St. Louis University, and University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Volunteer support–Over 1,800 volunteers annually help as receptionists, tech support, landscapers, building maintenance, special activity nights, host families and more

HavenHouse St. Louis exists because every person deserves a healthy life, the best medical treatment possible, and an affordable place to stay, even when treatment takes them away from home.