New Family House Home

Family House cut the ribbon this morning at its newest home in the Oakland section of the city of Pittsburgh. This is the 4th home for the 25 year old organizations which tries to provide safe, comfortable and affordable housing for patients and families who must travel to Pittsburgh for the treatment of serious or life-threatening illness. Thew new house has 48 guest rooms and according to Family House Executive Director Christie Knott that means they will be able to accommodate an additional 4,600 people a year. Knott says the 4 houses will give them a total of 162 rooms to house about 13,000 families and patients annually. Family House entered into a long-term agreement with the University of Pittsburgh to renovate and lease the top four floors of the University Club and build a separate entrance for patients and families. Knott says on an average day they have to turn away 30 eligible families because their 3 other homes have been at full capacity and "that is heartbreaking" because that leaves families with such options as "expensive hotels, sleeping in their cars or crowded hospital lounges"and at times, they even postpone treatment. Knott says they expect to open the new home in a few weeks.