American Cancer Society Hope Lodge – Tampa

The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Tampa gives cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when they travel from home for outpatient treatment.

The Tampa lodge opened in 2002. It has 42 guest rooms close to the area's treatment centers.

To stay at the lodge, a patient must be in active cancer treatment. A first stay begins with a referral from the patient's treatment facility near the lodge.

Each guest has a private room and bathroom. Guests also share fully equipped community kitchens, free laundry rooms with supplies, a library and wireless internet.

Guests buy and cook their own food. However, local groups often prepare dinners on weekdays for patients and caregivers.

Under the ACS EMPOWER program, the lodge may offer activities in four areas: physical activity, nutrition, social connection and stress management.