An oasis for families in need
Haven House offers lodging, support to long-distance family members of medical patients
By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
The Haven House offers rooms with several touches to make guests feel at home. - Submitted photo
ST. LOUIS — When local resident Laura Conway had to travel to St. Louis for her husband’s surgery, she wanted to be with him for the duration of his hospital stay. However, she didn’t want to stay in a motel or have to commute back and forth. Her dilemma was solved by one of St. Louis’s best kept secrets, which Conway referred to as “a little oasis on Olive Blvd.”
“While setting up my husband’s surgery at Missouri Baptist hospital, we talked about where I was going to stay during the nights he was in the hospital,” Conway said. “He feared my driving alone at night could be dangerous. The nurse at the hospital pulled out a list of motels, and a sheet about HavenHouse.”
Conway said she was shocked by the price to stay at HavenHouse.
The HavenHouse provides lodging and support services for individuals who travel at least 25 miles for medical care in St. Louis. It is partnered with most hospitals and doctors in St. Louis. In order to stay at the HavenHouse you must be referred by a doctor, a hospital or a social worker.
The HavenHouse has 33 rooms available along with a couple of suites.
The cost to stay in a room varies from $30-$70 per night depending on the amenities and age of the patient. Several of the rooms have TVs and mini-fridges in them. Those rooms are $50 per night. There are also several community TVs equipped with cable programing in the facility which all guests are allowed to use.
In addition to rooms there are also suites. The Deluxe family suite is a two bedroom apartment style home with a living room, kitchen and private bathroom. The Jack and Jill Suite offers two private rooms and one shared bath. Each room has a TV and a mini refrigerator.
The HavenHouse offers much more than just lodging. The facility offers several amenities including free nationwide long distance calling, a full gymnasium, game room, Internet library, an arts and crafts room, play rooms, a children’s library, a family lounge, family fun nights, meals and transportation back and forth to the hospital. All of the amenities are included in the price of the stay.
“We provide breakfast and dinner each day,” said Paula Kinney, director of family services at HavenHouse. “Even if a guest can’t be here when we serve the meals, we will package it for them and have it waiting on them when they get here. We provide transportation four times a day.”
Kinney said HavenHouse has staff members and student interns on site who are trained in both social work and counseling. She said they help families who deal with a variety of situations.
“We have a lot of families who are dealing with trauma when they are staying here,” she said. “We are always available to help with an issue that a family may be facing. Our guests often find comfort to be around people who are going through similar situations as they are, compared to going back to a lonely hotel room.”
The goal of the HavenHouse is to provide families with what they need to rest, relax and regain their strength to focus on their loved one.
Conway described the HavenHouse as a very clean and comfortable facility.
“There were little touches everywhere to make people feel comfortable,” she said. “There were pictures on the walls, matching well-cared for furniture, flower arrangements in vases and antiques. The beds had hand-made quilts.”
Conway said after returning from the hospital during her stay she went down to the dining room for a 5 p.m. meal.
“We had home-cooked pork chops, rice, peas, a salad and soft drinks,” she said. “Meals were put in the cooler for families who would be arriving later.”
The HavenHouse is located at 12685 Olive Boulevard in St. Louis. It started out as a children’s home and became the HavenHouse in 2004. Family lodging fees cover less than a third of the cost of a stay. The HavenHouse heavily relies on donations from individuals and corporations, along with grants.
For more information about the HavenHouse call 314-434-5858 or visit www.havenhousestl.org.
Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.
“While setting up my husband’s surgery at Missouri Baptist hospital, we talked about where I was going to stay during the nights he was in the hospital,” Conway said. “He feared my driving alone at night could be dangerous. The nurse at the hospital pulled out a list of motels, and a sheet about HavenHouse.”
Conway said she was shocked by the price to stay at HavenHouse.
The HavenHouse provides lodging and support services for individuals who travel at least 25 miles for medical care in St. Louis. It is partnered with most hospitals and doctors in St. Louis. In order to stay at the HavenHouse you must be referred by a doctor, a hospital or a social worker.
The HavenHouse has 33 rooms available along with a couple of suites.
The cost to stay in a room varies from $30-$70 per night depending on the amenities and age of the patient. Several of the rooms have TVs and mini-fridges in them. Those rooms are $50 per night. There are also several community TVs equipped with cable programing in the facility which all guests are allowed to use.
In addition to rooms there are also suites. The Deluxe family suite is a two bedroom apartment style home with a living room, kitchen and private bathroom. The Jack and Jill Suite offers two private rooms and one shared bath. Each room has a TV and a mini refrigerator.
The HavenHouse offers much more than just lodging. The facility offers several amenities including free nationwide long distance calling, a full gymnasium, game room, Internet library, an arts and crafts room, play rooms, a children’s library, a family lounge, family fun nights, meals and transportation back and forth to the hospital. All of the amenities are included in the price of the stay.
“We provide breakfast and dinner each day,” said Paula Kinney, director of family services at HavenHouse. “Even if a guest can’t be here when we serve the meals, we will package it for them and have it waiting on them when they get here. We provide transportation four times a day.”
Kinney said HavenHouse has staff members and student interns on site who are trained in both social work and counseling. She said they help families who deal with a variety of situations.
“We have a lot of families who are dealing with trauma when they are staying here,” she said. “We are always available to help with an issue that a family may be facing. Our guests often find comfort to be around people who are going through similar situations as they are, compared to going back to a lonely hotel room.”
The goal of the HavenHouse is to provide families with what they need to rest, relax and regain their strength to focus on their loved one.
Conway described the HavenHouse as a very clean and comfortable facility.
“There were little touches everywhere to make people feel comfortable,” she said. “There were pictures on the walls, matching well-cared for furniture, flower arrangements in vases and antiques. The beds had hand-made quilts.”
Conway said after returning from the hospital during her stay she went down to the dining room for a 5 p.m. meal.
“We had home-cooked pork chops, rice, peas, a salad and soft drinks,” she said. “Meals were put in the cooler for families who would be arriving later.”
The HavenHouse is located at 12685 Olive Boulevard in St. Louis. It started out as a children’s home and became the HavenHouse in 2004. Family lodging fees cover less than a third of the cost of a stay. The HavenHouse heavily relies on donations from individuals and corporations, along with grants.
For more information about the HavenHouse call 314-434-5858 or visit www.havenhousestl.org.
Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.
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