Our Story
How the Charleston Fisher House Came to Be
The story of what happens when a city refuses to take no for an answer — and the veteran families who benefit every day as a result.
The Beginning
A Community Refused to Wait
In a city known for its beauty, charm, and deep respect for history, building something new is rarely straightforward. But when the need to support veteran families became impossible to ignore, a small group of determined community leaders refused to be told it couldn't be done. That group would become Friends of Fisher House Charleston, and their persistence would create a sanctuary for thousands of veterans and their loved ones.
Charleston's Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is among the most advanced in the country, serving veterans from across the Southeast and beyond. For many of those families, reaching Charleston meant weeks away from home — and with it, the mounting cost of hotels, meals, transportation, and time away from work, layered on top of an already devastating situation. A large demand for nearby, affordable lodging quickly emerged, with nothing to meet it.
Despite the high demand, Charleston was originally unable to qualify for a Fisher House because the VA did not own enough nearby land to meet the program's requirements. In 2013, a group of community leaders incorporated Friends of Fisher House Charleston — at the time under the name “Harbour House” — with a single purpose: to bring a Fisher House to Charleston, even if it meant doing what had never been done before.
Leadership & Vision
Bold Leaders, Bold Ideas
The idea to bring a Fisher House to Charleston came from Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret.), a Medal of Honor recipient and lifelong champion of veterans. He joined forces with local leaders Trux and Durbin Emerson, and together, they launched a bold effort to bring the Charleston Fisher House to life.
Building It
From Funeral Home to Fisher House
The goal was daunting, but the community answered. More than $4 million was raised through donations from individuals, families, civic organizations, foundations, and corporations to purchase 150 Wentworth Street, a long-abandoned funeral home just blocks from the VA hospital.
The site was ideal because of its proximity to the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, but moving the project forward was anything but simple. The property included a historic carriage house that the City of Charleston was determined to protect. Rather than abandon the location, Friends of Fisher House Charleston worked through a long approval process involving the City, the Preservation Society of Charleston, and the Board of Architectural Review.
After months of negotiation, a compromise was reached: the Fisher House could move forward, but only if the carriage house was fully restored and preserved as part of the project.
The team embraced the challenge. In addition to the capital campaign, they raised another $500,000 to restore the carriage house, turning what was once a crumbling structure into a beautifully preserved landmark. That preservation work became part of the story of the Charleston Fisher House itself — proof that the community could honor the city's history while creating something urgently needed for veteran families.
For their efforts, Friends of Fisher House Charleston received the Caropolis Award from the Preservation Society of Charleston, recognizing the care taken to preserve and restore the historic carriage house.
ThenNowTap to reveal
ThenNow
ThenNow2013 — Today
From Founding to Opening Day
From incorporation to groundbreaking to the opening of the Charleston Fisher House, the project moved forward through persistence, partnership, and community support. Explore the milestones that brought the house to life and the work that continues today.
2013
Incorporated as Harbour House
A small group of community leaders incorporated under the name “Harbour House” with one purpose: to bring a Fisher House to Charleston. Even though the VA did not own enough nearby land to qualify under the usual program requirements, they moved forward anyway.
Friends of Fisher House Charleston Today
Supporting the House, Every Day
Today, Friends of Fisher House Charleston continues the work that began with the original capital campaign: making sure the Charleston Fisher House remains warm, welcoming, and fully supported for the families who stay there.
That support reaches far beyond a single program or expense line. Friends of Fisher House Charleston helps fund the everyday needs that shape a family’s experience, from groceries and volunteer-prepared meals to transportation assistance, hotel stays when the House is full, household essentials, furnishings, appliances, and ongoing improvements to the home.
Meals & Pantry
Groceries, pantry staples, and volunteer-prepared meals.
Family Essentials
Toiletries, snacks, laundry items, and everyday household needs.
Transportation Support
Assistance getting families to and from medical appointments.
Overflow Hotel Stays
Nearby lodging when all 16 guest suites are full.
Home Comforts
Furniture, kitchen appliances, décor, and interior updates.
Grounds & Upkeep
Landscaping, maintenance, and improvements that keep the House welcoming.
The work is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors committed to stewarding the mission for the long term and ensuring the Charleston Fisher House remains a place of comfort, dignity, and care.
Continue the Mission
The Charleston Fisher House stands today as proof of what this community can accomplish when compassion meets determination. Built through local generosity and sustained by those same hands, it continues to offer comfort, stability, and dignity to the families who need it most.
Your support helps continue that legacy. Whether through volunteering, hosting an event, or making a gift, you can help ensure that every veteran's family has a place to call home in Charleston.