Palo Alto Defenders Lodge Readies for Opening

It will soon be easier for out-of-town veterans to access medical treatment at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

A Defenders Lodge scheduled to open its doors early next year will provide up to seven nights of free lodging to veterans and their caregivers, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

The 34,000-square-foot facility will feature 52 rooms and 104 beds, the report said. The facility is expected to open in January.

Officials on Tuesday held a ceremony marking the facility's completion.

The $17 million facility was built through a public-private partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation, the report said.

The Defenders Lodge replaces a “Hometel” facility that according to the report served similar functions. The new facility, however, will including amenities such as WiFi, lounges and art that officials say will enhance the visitors' experience,

VA Palo Alto Health Care System Director Lisa Freeman said at the ceremony, according to the Mercury report.

"By opening this beautiful, 34,000-square-foot hotel, we're doing so much more than providing lodging or accommodations for our veterans," Freeman said.

"We're providing greater access to veterans and their caregivers, we're offering peace of mind and we're ensuring that the high cost of lodging in this area is never again a deterrent to getting needed medical attention."