We’re expanding!
The need for JoeAnna’s House has never been greater.
Five years ago, JoeAnna’s House opened its doors to out-of-town families while their loved ones receive care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). Since then, the home has provided a supportive sanctuary to thousands of families facing some of the most difficult times of their lives. The house was fully built, and fully operates, by the hearts and hands of this generous community.
Originally built with 20 family rooms, the need has arisen to expand JoeAnna’s House. We are now ready to expand the house to accommodate more guests, alleviate the constant waitlist (more than 950 families have been turned away due to capacity), and keep more families together at JoeAnna’s House when they need it most. Because we are always better together.
In order to fulfill the demand, we are going to expand capacity at JoeAnna’s House by 50%, adding an additional 10 family rooms! Bringing the total number of rooms up to 30 will significantly impact families across our region.
Expansion Campaign & Build Updates
Click on the image* to watch a video and see the milestone come to life!
Summer 2025
Regional Hospital Foundations within the Interior Health Authority sign on to collaboratively work together in fundraising for the JoeAnna’s House Expansion Project
September 10, 2025
We broke ground on the construction of ten new rooms!
September 26, 2025
The site is mobilized, equipment starts arriving on site.
November 12, 2025
A wHOLE lot of prep began on site!
December 10, 2025
Things start to literally ‘pop up’ on site as warm winter weather allows us to keep progressing forward.
January 1, 2026
We are officially 75% raised towards our expansion fundraising goal!
January 16, 2026
We have walls! The frame of the new wing takes shape.
January 26, 2026
Safety first! A new emergency exit is created to prep for connecting the expansion to the existing house.
February 6, 2026
Breakthrough! The expansion breaks through in to the existing home and connection begins!
*not all photos have a corresponding video link
JoeAnna’s House Quick Facts
- 2,539 familes have been welcomed for 24,317 overnight stays
- The daily cost to operate JoeAnna’s House is $89 a room
- The house opened it doors November 15, 2019 to the first three families
- 291 babies have been born to guests during their stay
- 956 meals have been served to guests through the Share a Meal program
- Residents from 308 BC Interior cities and towns have stayed at the home
- 44 volunteers contributed 2,272 hours in the house and the garden last year
- Guests stay an average of 10.44 nights
- Reasons loved ones needed to stay at KGH:
- 31% Cardiac
- 20% Stroke
- 16% Pediatrics/ NICU
- 14% Oncology
- 6% Emergency/ Trauma
One Region, One Heart
A shared mission.
JoeAnna’s House was built to keep families together during medical crises, and its reach extends far beyond Kelowna. Every day, families from across the Southern Interior stay here while their loved ones receive care at Kelowna General Hospital, the region’s main referral centre. Recognizing this shared responsibility, four regional hospital foundations have partnered with the KGH Foundation to raise money in support of the expansion of JoeAnna’s House. Together, we are ensuring that families from every corner of the Southern Interior have a safe, compassionate place to call home, reflecting a unified commitment to dignity, community, and regional health equity.
To support the expansion through your local hospital foundation, please click below.
“I don’t know what we would have done if JoeAnna’s House wasn’t a possibility. They gave us a place of calm to call home in a time where inside we felt like a storm was happening. Because of your donations our family was able to stay together in a really tough time and I will forever be grateful for that. Your making a difference in many people lives and I know our family is not the only one with a story like this whose life you are changing.” – Kayla Vanniewenhuizen, JoeAnna’s House Guest
See the impact of donating to JoeAnna’s House
Over the last five years, JoeAnna’s house has been a ‘home away from home’ for thousands of families, all thanks to your generosity. Time and time again, our guests express their profound gratitude and amazement that our community has made this resource possible and ready to help during their most challenging moments. The impact of your compassion extends far beyond our walls, touching nearby communities and reinforcing the message of how deeply you care for your out-of-town neighbours.
As Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) and the population of BC’s Interior continue to grow, so does the demand for JoeAnna’s House. As we look to fund our expansion, your gifts continue to make a remarkable impact for countless families across the Southern Interior. See the difference your donation can make in the Impact Report.
