Leaders from the Dublin VA, Fairview Park Hospital, and the City of Dublin recently met with representatives of the Fisher Foundation to discuss building a Fisher House at the VA 

VA CEO and executive director Manuel Davila, Fairview Park CEO Don Avery, Dublin mayor Josh Kight, and local AFGE union president Ronald Johnson met with David Coker, president of Fisher Foundation, Inc., and his staff to discuss the feasibility of constructing a Fisher House on the VA campus to provide respite for families when their veteran family members are receiving care at the medical center. 

Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. Fisher homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room, and an inviting living room. VA has Fisher Houses at multiple VA locations including Charleston and Augusta with a goal to achieve at least 100 at the VA’s 153 medical centers nationwide.

Davila predicted the value of the home would prove significant as the VA works diligently to persuade more veterans to use VA services.

“I’m proud to say that the number of veterans that we serve has risen to more than 42,000, but we still have nearly 170,000 veterans in the 49 counties we serve in Middle and South Georgia who aren’t getting their benefits. We plan to change that through aggressive outreach efforts, making the benefit that a Fisher House would offer monumentally important,” Davila said.

Fairview Park CEO Don Avery, a U.S. Air Force veteran, underscored the close relationship that his hospital has with the VA in their partnership to care for veterans and noted that, having seen Fisher House operations elsewhere, he was convinced of the positive impact it would have in Dublin.

"A Fisher House is a big deal for this community and once it's in place the community will see just what a big deal it is. It's going to be fantastic for veterans," Avery said.

Mayor Josh Kight agreed, extending a hearty welcome to Fisher Foundation representatives and pledging the local community’s support. 

"Our community is 100% behind this effort. The Fisher House will be a tremendous service for veterans and a welcome addition to our community," Kight said.

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) local president Ronald Johnson, a U.S. Army veteran, appreciated the benefit to veterans and their families.

“Knowing that their families have a comfortable place to rest will make our veterans experience of care better and contribute to positive health care outcomes. We’re looking forward to this invaluable resource coming to our VA,” Johnson said.

Coker speculated that approval for the construction would be submitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs once required assessments of potential sites were complete and anticipated approval for construction in 2025 or 2026.

"A Fisher house is a place where people are treated as guests. Our goal is when someone walks through the doors of a Fisher House they immediately know that their service is appreciated. After a long day of attending to often taxing health care issues, we want them to have a place of respite to return to," Coker said.

During the visit, Fisher Foundation officials toured the VA and scouted potential construction sites. VA Chief Engineer Fred Williams expects no problems during site preparation and subsequent construction.

“We work very well with city and state officials and our infrastructure is largely in place, so we should be ready to go when you all are,” Williams assured Coker.

Possible locations for the Fisher House include the VA’s front lawn across from its community living center and next to its Hospice Care Unit beside Lake Leisure. Williams was confident that either site would work well.

“I know that the Fisher Foundation will do its due diligence and so will we. I don’t expect any major issues,” Williams said.

Anyone who would like to learn more about the Fisher Foundation or donate to the effort to build a Fisher House at the Dublin VA can visit https://fisherhouse.org/