Jw House

What is JW House?

JW House is an independent nonprofit hospitality house in Santa Clara that provides family housing while loved ones receive treatment at nearby hospitals. JW House was the dream of a young man named Jan Willem (JW) who was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer at age 14, and spent the remainder of his short life working toward his vision of a home away from home for families facing medical crises.

Out of this young boy’s vision grew JW House, where we respect the dignity of patients, families, caregivers and volunteers, and believe that the presence of family helps the patient heal. We further believe that the challenges of serious illness should be faced together, that every day is precious, and that ─ like JW himself ─ we will never, ever give up.

JW House Services and Programs:

Our primary purpose is to provide a welcoming home with overnight accommodations, close to hospitals in Silicon Valley, for families whose loved one is experiencing a medical crisis. At present, JW House can accommodate only four families at a time overnight. On average, the demand for overnight accommodations is two to three times our capacity. With your help, we can shrink, or even eliminate that waiting list, and open our doors to all those in need.

Another service of JW House, which helps our waiting list families, as well as local families who live too close to qualify for overnight housing, is our “Day Use” option. The Day Use room is a beautiful, quiet and peaceful place where family members can take a break during the day to rest, relax and revitalize themselves. 

Both our day use and overnight guests enjoy the amenities of JW House including:

• Dinner served nightly at no cost by generous volunteers
• A fully stocked kitchen and pantry
• The ear of our loving volunteers, who are always there to ask "how are you?"
• Access to the comfortable common areas of the house
• A guest computer for keeping in touch with family and friends
• Free laundry services
• A shower and toiletries in the Day Use room

We need your help.

Your donation will fund all of the above, and more. We need your help to keep these families together when they need each other most! Hear what our families are saying:

"Thank you for everything you have done for our family! Especially helping my mom for letting her stay here while my baby brother is at the hospital.  She would have stayed in the car all night long, but instead she has somewhere that will feed her and let her sleep.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!" - A young JW House Overnight Guest

"This special sanctuary has given my family so much comfort during the hardest time of our lives.  Thank you to everyone who makes this possible." - JW House Day Use Guest

"No words can express the gratitude we have experienced during our stay here at JW House.  We appreciate all the warmth, peace, and warm meals.  Oh, and the showers, too!" - A JW House Day Use Guest