A scramble to house patients, families during pope visit

PATIENTS SEEKING long-term treatment at Philadelphia's many renowned specialty care centers might find no room at the inns in September, when a visit by Pope Francis during the World Meeting of Families is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

Hospitals that rely on an organization to find housing for such patients or their families are wringing their hands under the added pressure to identify hosts for people who ordinarily could afford a hotel room.

"Many of these patients cannot choose their time to have treatments," said Rosana Tovar, a case worker at Shriners Hospital for Children. "Right now we're trying to figure out for that time in September when we'll have international patients and if we can help with accommodations."

Shriners, which provides specialized care to children with orthopedic problems, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft palates, has no housing of its own to offer patient families. The only other inexpensive options are Ronald McDonald houses, but the demand for their housing is far greater than the supply, Tovar said.

Hosts for Hospitals, a nonprofit that matches patients needing treatment far from home with homeowners willing to take them in, needs to grow quickly, executive director Mike Aichenbaum said.

While Pope Francis will only be in the city for two days, Sept. 26 and 27, the global meeting bringing him is expected to fill hotel rooms the week before his visit. Aichenbaum hopes to double his organization's base of 50 host families so sick people won't have to postpone critical care.

"When a family's in crisis, to have someone say, 'I don't know you, but welcome to my home' makes for a very profound experience for guests and hosts alike," Aichenbaum said. "I've had many guests tell me that the program has helped restore their faith in humanity."

Theresa Roberts, of Kalamazoo, Mich., spent most of June sharing the Philadelphia home of Sue and Reinhard Kruse, paying Hosts for Hospitals $10 per night.

She spends most days receiving radiation therapy for an aggressive form of breast cancer at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The Kruses are putting her up through Hosts for Hospitals.

"If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here right now," said Roberts, 45.

Aichenbaum and Nancy Wimmer started the nonprofit Hosts for Hospitals in March 2000. Both have had health challenges requiring out-of-town treatment that burdened their families with large expenses.

Hosts for Hospitals works with patients of any age with any illness, unlike some other hospital housing programs. There is no limit on how many people can accompany the patient and no limit on how long a family can stay. One host took in a family of seven with two brain-impaired children for 18 months.

Patients with intermittent needs - such as one day per week of treatment for a month - can also be accommodated.

Roberts will return to Philadelphia this month for a mastectomy. After that, she'll visit every three months. The Kruses want her back. There's something special about watching someone heal, Reinhard Kruse said.

"When it's over, you look into their eyes and they're well," he said. "That's wonderful. That's enough."