Effective June 1, Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Oregon and Southwest Washington (RMHC®) lowered its distance requirement for families eligible to stay at either of its Portland Houses. Previously, families needed to live at least 50 miles away from the hospital where their child was being treated. The new policy enables families who live at least 30 miles away to use the Houses.  Families in communities such as McMinnville, Molalla, Estacada, Sandy, Woodburn, Silverton, St. Helens, Vernonia, and Longview are now eligible to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, with a required referral from a hospital social worker.

Ronald McDonald Houses are intended to serve families who travel a long distance (typically at least a one hour car ride) to receive treatment at Portland hospitals. Families are referred to the Ronald McDonald House when they need to be in Portland for days, weeks, or even months. The houses allow them to stay close to their child in the hospital for a minimal cost, without the need to travel back and forth from home, or the expense of a hotel room.

“We want to serve as many communities in Oregon and Washington as possible,” said Siri Hamill, RMHC’s associate director. “Even families living 30 to 40 miles from Portland may travel an hour or more to reach the hospital, which is a very long drive when your child is ill. This change will also make us more consistent with the policies of other Ronald McDonald Houses nationally.”  

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington operates two Houses in the Portland area. The West House is located next to Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children – Portland on Marquam Hill. The East House is located on the campus of The Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, and near the Kartini Clinic in North Portland.

“The Ronald McDonald House is an important resource, and the new distance requirement will allow even more of our families from outside of Portland to remain close to their child in the hospital,” said Scott Turner, administrator, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

About RMHC
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington provides a “home away from home” for families and their seriously ill children who travel far to receive treatment at Portland area hospitals, and awards grants to non-profit organizations that offer children’s immunizations and oral health care. For more information on Portland’s Houses, visit www.rmhcoregon.org.