Free Transportation & Housing for Cancer Patients & Families
The very last thing a cancer patient should have to deal with is affording to get to and from treatment and where to stay when they get there. If you need financial help arranging transportation and housing while seeking treatment away from home, please know there are governmental and nonprofit agencies that provide these services free of charge to cancer patients and caregivers. From flights, to car rides and hotels to private homes, help is available at zero cost below.
The agencies listed here provide treatment transportation services and housing for those who need cancer care away from home. Both air and ground travel services are available and some of these provide non-medical related help, too, like transportation to retreats and camps.
To learn more about specific program eligibility and to apply for help, visit the website link provided for each program.
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CTAA National Volunteer Transportation Center
Description:
National directory of volunteer non-emergency transportation services available at no cost to patients needing ground transportations to appointments. Please check this listing for a map to find a location and service near you: https://ctaa.org/nvtc-map/.
Miracle Flights
Phone: (800) 359-1711 (M-Th 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, PST)
Email: flightspecialist@miracleflights.org
Description:
Miracle Flights provides financial help for seriously-ill children and adults to take commercial flights to receive medical care. Eligibility for this program is based on financial need and health considerations. Download the application on the Miracle Flights website here: http://miracleflights.org/request-a-flight/4158924.
Hospitality Homes
Phone: (888) 595-4678
Email: program@hosp.org
Description:
Hospitality Homes provides free temporary housing for cancer patients who are receiving active treatment at least 50 miles away from home. Arrangements need advance notice so it’s best to plan ahead and get an application in well before treatment begins if possible. For current availability and program application, visit the website here: http://hosp.org/need-housing.
Mercy Medical Angels
Email: info@MercyMedical.org
Description:
Provides help with all forms of free, long-distance medically-related transportation and provides referrals to all appropriate sources of help available in the national charitable medical transportation network. To complete the travel request form, visit https://www.mercymedical.org/request-assistance.
Corporate Angel Network
Email: info@corpangelnetwork.org
Description:
Free flights for cancer patients in need of treatment outside of the area in which they live. Travel is also available for bone marrow donors/recipients as well as stem cell donors/recipients. All travel must be to an NCI/CoC recognized center. For current program availability, please visit: http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/Patients/Check-Eligibility.
Air Charity Network
Phone: (877) 621-7177
Description:
Air Charity Network coordinates free volunteer pilot flights in the continental United States as well as Alaska and Hawaii for children and adults with medical needs. For current availability and to request a flight, please visit http://aircharitynetwork.org/request-a-flight/.
Air Care Alliance
Phone: (888) 260-9707
Email: relief@aircareall.org
Description:
Online database of volunteer-based charitable aviation transportation groups who provide free flights for cancer patients who need treatment away from home. Search by level of care needed and geographical location. For more, visit http://www.aircarealliance.org/directory-groups.
Lifeline Pilots
Phone: (800) 822-7972
Description:
Free transportation for medical needs such as on-going treatments, diagnosis and follow-up care. Typically service Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin but can assist with other areas if needed through their partner network. The request form for flight service can be found here https://lifelinepilots.org/patient-information/mission-request-pack/mission-request-form/.
The American Cancer Society Lodge
Description:
Provides cancer patients and their caregivers with a free place to stay when their treatment needed is in another city. There are now more than 30 Hope Lodge locations throughout the US and Puerto Rico with accommodations and eligibility requirements that vary by location. Use the link above to locate a site. If you need further assistance, you can call the ACS at (800) 227-2345. Be sure to ask for help with the Hope Lodge program.
Healthcare Hospitality Network
Phone: (800) 542-9730
Description:
Free lodging for families traveling away from home for cancer treatment. This program has over 200 homes in its nationwide network. For more information, please visit their lodging database here http://www.hhnetwork.org/find-lodging#/.
Joe's House
Phone: (877) 563-7468
Email: info@joeshouse.org
Description:
Joe’s House is a nonprofit organization that helps cancer patients and their families find a free place to stay when traveling away from home for cancer treatment. Housing is available nationwide. To locate lodging in a particular area, visit http://www.joeshouse.org/Lodging.aspx.
I am going to contact a few on this page to help with transportation. I e-mailed the site to my mother and sister as well. Please continue to share these wonderful and free ways to help cancer patients!
Hi Amber! We are so pleased to hear you are finding the help you need. And thank you for your kind comments and sharing the info we’ve posted!
I’m looking for help finding free ostomy bags I have stage 2 colon cancer n no insurance to purchase colostomy bags
Hi Rebecca,
So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Please get in touch with the ConvaTec Ostomy Access Program. It provides uninsured or underinsured colorectal cancer patients in the USA with financial need up to 3 months of ostomy supplies per year for free. For general program information, please call 1-800-422-8811 or visit the ConvaTec Ostomy Access Program website here: https://meplus.convatec.com/articles/patient-assistance-program/.
Also, in addition to all of the general links on the site, please be sure to visit the no-cost programs specifically for colorectal cancer patients here: https://cancercarenews.com/free-cancer-specific-products-and-services/free-products-and-services-for-colorectal-cancer-patients/.
All our very best to you.