HOSTING
Give the gift of home when they need it the most.
Make an impact that matters by hosting people in need of medical care. Hosts offer free, temporary housing to families traveling to UVA Children's Hospital for life-changing – and often life-saving – medical treatment.
Families from all over the country come to UVA Children's Hospital for treatment. But paying for temporary housing while they’re here can be a barrier to care. You can solve that final hurdle by providing a warm, welcoming place for them to call home.
Access to short-term housing at no cost to the guests can help alleviate a patient’s financial stress and pave the way for healing.
Become a Host
Hosting is easy and flexible. Host only when it is convenient for you.
To be a host, you just need to provide two things: a clean, comfortable, private bedroom and preferably access to a private bathroom. If you have questions about hosting before applying, please reach out to maggie@lilypadshousing.org.
**Please note that at this time, we are unable to accept host homes that are farther than 8 miles or twenty minutes from the hospital.**
Our Hosts
Our volunteer host network includes homes throughout the Charlottesville-Albemarle area and is growing all the time! We encourage and welcome hosts from a diversity of backgrounds, who share the key values of generosity, compassion, understanding, and trust. After a hosting application is completed, our staff will visit your home to ease concerns, answer any questions you may have, and review the host manual.
Hosting FAQ's
What do I need to do to be a LilyPads Housing host?
To be a host in our program, you need to be able to provide a safe, clean, comfortable place to stay and access to a bathroom.
Prospective hosts must complete a volunteer application. After the application is submitted, Homes from the Heart staff will contact you to set up an interview at your home. Prospective hosts must also pass a criminal background check.
Where do hosts live?
Hosts live in Charlottesville, Virginia or the surrounding county of Albemarle. We especially welcome hosts that live close to the University of Virginia Hospital, Martha Jefferson Hospital, and Fontaine Research Park. **Please note that at this time, we are unable to accept host homes that are farther than 8 miles or twenty minutes from the hospital.**
Do hosts ever complain about problems with guests?
A thorough screening process of prospective guests helps ensure that this is a rare occurrence. However, if a host has any difficulties or concerns, they should contact LilyPads and we will immediately address the issue, and if necessary, make other arrangements for the guest.
I don't allow drinking/smoking/children/etc. in my home. Is this a problem?
No. You set the rules for your guests, including restricting any behaviors. You control all aspects of the stay, including the length of stay, whether or not to accept children and/or patients as guests, how many guests you prefer at one time, accessibility to your home, and any other issues you feel are important. Hosting is flexible so that it can best fit your lifestyle.
In making placements, we also use other information about your home, such as availability of parking, flights of stairs, and pets.
I have a varied schedule. Can I specify when I can and cannot accept guests?
Of course. We understand that your schedule and availability may change. You can accept guests as your schedule permits and you can say “no” to hosting whenever it is inconvenient.
What about liability?
All guests are required to submit a liability release before arriving at the host home. We encourage hosts to check their homeowners or renters liability insurance coverage and inform their insurance carriers that they are volunteering with LilyPads Housing and possibly add an inexpensive personal liability policy to increase their coverage.