---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1708"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1708"
heading: "Temporary lodging"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1708"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 17 — Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §1708. Temporary lodging

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may furnish persons described in [subsection (b)](#b) with temporary lodging in a Fisher house or other appropriate facility in connection with the examination, treatment, or care of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) under this chapter or, as provided for under [subsection (e)(5)](#e-5), in connection with benefits administered under this title.
- (b) Persons to whom the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may provide lodging under [subsection (a)](#a) are the following:
  - (1) A [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who must travel a significant distance to receive care or services under this title.
  - (2) A member of the family of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) and others who accompany a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) and provide the equivalent of familial support for such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1).
- (c) In this section, the term “Fisher house” means a housing facility that—
  - (1) is located at, or in proximity to, a [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) medical facility;
  - (2) is available for residential use on a temporary basis by patients of that facility and others described in [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2); and
  - (3) is constructed by, and donated to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) by, the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Armed Services Foundation.
- (d) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may establish charges for providing lodging under this section. The proceeds from such charges shall be credited to the [medical services](/usc/38/1701.md?p=6) account and shall be available until expended for the purposes of providing such lodging.
- (e) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall include provisions—
  - (1) limiting the duration of lodging provided under this section;
  - (2) establishing standards and criteria under which charges are established for such lodging under [subsection (d)](#d);
  - (3) establishing criteria for persons considered to be accompanying a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2);
  - (4) establishing criteria for the use of the premises of temporary lodging facilities under this section; and
  - (5) establishing any other limitations, conditions, and priorities that the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) considers appropriate with respect to lodging under this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–419, title II, § 221(a), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1844; amended Pub. L. 110–387, title IX, § 901(a)(8), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4142.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–387 substituted “medical services account” for “medical care account”.