Located in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown. Our Boston location officially opened in 2017. We currently have 11 apartments; 10 for families and one community space where families come together for meals, volunteer activities, and family programs at no cost. Our apartments offer families a home away from home within close proximity to our local hospitals, keeping the family close while their child receives medical care in the Boston area at the highest quality.
Lore m ipsum dolor sit amet, conse ctetur adipiscing elit tellus, luctus nec ullam orper mattis, pulv ar.
The Ronald McDonald House Boston features 11 fully furnished apartments, including one dedicated community space for families. Unlike a traditional Ronald McDonald House with individual bedrooms, our Boston location offers studio, one‑bedroom, and two‑bedroom apartments. Each unit includes a private kitchen with a stocked pantry and appliances, a full bathroom, and in‑unit laundry for added comfort and convenience.
While we do not provide daily meals, families can count on two guaranteed meals each week, along with additional “Meals of Love” provided by volunteer groups. Our community space also offers a warm, welcoming environment where families can relax and enjoy coffee, snacks, crafts, and other supportive resources during their stay.
Families can stay a minimum of 3 nights, maximum of 90. Stays can continue as long as the child is receiving inpatient care or outpatient treatment at least 2–3 times per week. We do our best to accommodate changes in treatment plans, but housing cannot be guaranteed beyond 90 days.
Please notify staff of any treatment updates as soon as possible and have a backup plan if your stay extends past your original dates. Our Family Services team stays in regular contact with families and hospital social workers to assess ongoing housing needs.
Guests are expected to depart within 48 hours of the child’s final treatment. If additional arrangements are needed, please speak with a Family Services staff member.
We understand that finding a place to stay is a vital part of your family’s care journey, and we want to be as transparent as possible about how our process works.
Because our apartments are currently home to other families, we aren’t able to reserve a space in advance. However, we invite you to work with your hospital social worker to submit a referral for our waitlist.
While we wish we could guarantee a home for every family, our ability to provide a room depends entirely on when an apartment becomes available and how that aligns with your specific treatment dates. We are here to support you through the application process and will keep you and your social worker updated as soon as we have more information.
Family members may stay as long as they are listed on the hospital referral. We require all guests to have a valid ID filed with the Family Services staff as well. Due to the size of our apartments and limited beds, we recommend limiting overnight guests to immediate family. For siblings, children under 16 cannot be left unattended at any time, and no one under 18 may be in the House without a parent or legal guardian present.
Stays at the Ronald McDonald House are completely free of charge. For families who are able, we suggest a voluntary donation of $10 per night. No family is ever turned away due to an inability to contribute.
During their stay, families have access to complimentary garage parking and 24‑hour entry to our community space, which is staffed seven days a week with extended hours. The community space includes a fully stocked communal kitchen, a playroom, and two guaranteed weekly meals provided by an external caterer.
Each apartment is equipped with in‑unit laundry (including detergent), a queen‑sized bed and pull‑out couch, and basic pantry and toiletry items to help families settle in comfortably.
Families staying with us receive care at a variety of Boston‑area hospitals, including Boston Children’s Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, McLean Hospital, Franciscan Children’s Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Most families bring or rent a vehicle, but several transportation options are available. Mass General Brigham operates a free shuttle (daily except holidays) connecting the Charlestown Navy Yard, North Station, and Massachusetts General Hospital. From MGH, an additional shuttle provides access to the Longwood Medical Area, where many partner hospitals are located. Please note that Boston public transportation can be costly and occasionally unreliable.
Guests should limit visitors to close friends and family. For safety and privacy, strangers should never be invited into Ronald McDonald House Boston apartments. Visitors are not permitted to stay overnight unless they are registered with RMH Boston Harbor and have provided a valid ID to the office.
Guests are responsible for keeping their apartment in good condition. This includes regular cleaning, doing personal and linen laundry, and properly disposing of trash and recycling. We also ask that you keep the thermostat at the recommended setting and turn off all lights when leaving the apartment.
