Construction Begins on New Kathy’s House

Milwaukee, WI – After many months of planning, construction is underway to build a new, larger Kathy’s House on a previously announced, 3.6-acre site in Wauwatosa on Doyne Ave., between N. 92nd and N. 87th St., near the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center.

Kathy’s House held a virtual groundbreaking ceremony to mark the event.

The Team

CG Schmidt Project Team with John Balzer, Froedtert and Patty Metropulos, Kathys House

Breaking Ground

Kathys House guests, board members, volunteers and family gather to break ground on the new facility

After the virtual groundbreaking ended,
$50,000+ in donations came into the capital campaign

A nonprofit hospital guest house, Kathy’s House serves out-of-town patients and their families who must stay in Milwaukee for medical care. According to Patty Metropulos, president and chief executive officer of Kathy’s House, the organization has been operating at capacity for the past several years due to growing, strong demand for its lodging services. Over the past two years Kathy’s House was forced to turn away more than 1,000 guests because no rooms were available. The new House is expected to open next year.

“The need is so great, and the new House will double our capacity, from 18 rooms to 36 rooms,” Metropulos said. “More than 40% of our guests say they would not be able to receive the medical care they need without the affordable housing and caring support Kathy’s House provides.”

More than 40% of our guests say they would not be able to receive the medical care they need without the affordable housing and caring support Kathy’s House provides.

– Patty Metropulos, President & CEO, Kathy’s House

CG Schmidt is the general contractor for the project and HGA is the architect. Kathy’s House will lease the land from Froedtert Hospital.

A capital campaign to build the new Kathy’s House has raised $10 million of the $12 million goal. A lead pledge by Froedtert Hospital set the stage for the “A New Home for Healing” campaign, followed by significant gifts from the Fotsch Family Foundation, Ladish Co. Foundation, Schneider Company and longtime Brookfield residents Ginny and Mike McBride.

“We are deeply grateful for every donation, large and small, because those gifts will enable us to continue to open our doors and hearts to people at a critical time in their lives,” Metropolus said. “We just need a bit more help to cross the finish line so that by this time next year, we can open our doors to more people who need us.” She noted that Kathy’s House has remained open during the coronavirus outbreak, putting plans and safeguards in place to protect guests and staff.

In addition to doubling current capacity, the new Kathy’s House will have many new features. Unique for guest houses nationally, the new facility will have a seperate wing for patients with compromised immune systems and a patient services room where basic clinical solar panels will help offset heat and electric costs. The House will also have a communal kitchen, dining area, library, family room, fitness room, laundry facilities, courtyard, patio, walking trail and parking, and will be fully compliant with Americans for Disabilities Act requirements.

“Kathy’s House vision is to be the national model for hospital guest houses,” said Metropulos.

Since opening in 2001, Kathy’s House has provided over 143,000 nights of lodging, with more than 10,000 families staying at the House. More than a third of families who stay at Kathy’s House have a household incomes of less then $30,000. On average, guests donate $30 per night, and no one is refused housing if they cannot donate. The actual cost to Kathy’s House is $90 per night.