Accommodations, Charges & Services Located approximately 2 blocks from Children’s and UAB Hospitals, the Ronald McDonald House® serves families who must travel to Birmingham for medical care that is not available to their child in their home community. We provide a temporary home-away-from home to families of sick or injured children who are referred by their Birmingham-area health care provider and meet RMHCA’s eligibility criteria.
Charges
Ronald McDonald House requested donations from guests are:
- $10 per family room per night for the first 21 nights of stay.*
- $5 per family room per night beginning on day 22 of a stay.*
A $15 refundable key deposit also is collected on check-in.
Please speak to the Manager on duty to make arrangements if payment would create a hardship.
Facilities
The Birmingham House is a 41 bedroom facility, with the 2nd and 3rd floors made up of guest bedrooms.
Our House Provides:
- Clean towels and linens at check-in.
- Toilet tissue and soap.
- Free washer and dryer use. Detergent and fabric softeners are available for purchase. Irons and ironing boards are available for use as well.
- A fully equipped communal kitchen where families can store food and prepare meals, or enjoy the wonderful meals that our volunteers provide on many nights.
- Recreational facilities including a family living room, indoor children’s play area, lending library, internet and PC access, a small outdoor playground.
- High chairs to use at the House.
- Telephones, in each room, with direct dial incoming services and outgoing local or toll-free service.
- Facilities for nursing moms, including two Nursing Nooks with electric pumps and separate locked refrigerators for breast milk (or medications needing refrigeration).
- Outdoor parking near to the House.
- A soda vending machine.
What Other Services are Available at the Ronald McDonald House?
- 24-hour-a-day onsite “front desk” staff to check you in or out and help with questions.
- Limited, scheduled transportation provided by Children’s and UAB Hospitals.
- Local public transportation is available nearby.
- Free passes to the Birmingham Zoo and McWane Center Science Museum are available. Occasionally, passes to the circus, sports or other events are available.
- The support of a concerned staff and other families who understand what you are going through.
What Doesn’t the Ronald McDonald House Provide?
- Housing after your child is discharged from the hospital or from a program of intensive outpatient care.
- Permanent or transitional housing for families who do not have a permanent residence outside of Birmingham.
- Any onsite medical or social services.
- Generator back-up or special power sources for medical equipment.
- Any smoking facilities (the entire building is non-smoking).
- Check cashing services.
- Baby-sitting.
What should each guest bring?
- Money you need for guest fees, food, transportation and sundries.
- Your child’s car seat, stroller or other safety equipment for your child.
- Personal medications, toiletries and hygiene supplies.
- Clothing for yourself and your child.
- Any other personal supplies.
- A driver’s license, state ID and Social Security Card or other comparable ID. (Note: We do not attempt to verify citizenship or visa status, but we do need to confirm the names and addresses of all guests.)
- A friend or family member who can translate to English during check-in, if you do not speak English.
Temporary Volunteers
Guest fees provide less than 10% of the funds required to operate the House. Therefore, we ask each guest family to serve as temporary volunteers, helping with small chores or tasks at the House each day.
Eligibility and Guidelines
Please refer to Guest Information/Policies and Eligibility Guidelines to determine if the Ronald McDonald House is the right place for you to stay. Please note, however, that the House:
- Is only available by referral from your child's Birmingham-area health care provider.
- Is drug/substance free, alcohol free and smoke free.
- Does not allow food or beverages in guest rooms (except by medical order).
- Prohibits guests or visitors who, in the opinion of management, may represent a threat to the family atmosphere of the House or to their own safety or the safety of others.
- Reserves the right to determine eligibility for initial or continued stays and to assign or change a guest’s accommodations.
- Allows guest stays subject to availability of appropriate facilities and contingent upon initial and continued eligibility and conformance to all House policies and guidelines.