What is Reuner House?

The Reuner Cancer Support House is a residential home located at 80 Marys Ave., Kingston, New York:

It housed the Oncology Support Program (OSP) which was founded in 1994 by Barbara Sarah, a social worker and cancer survivor. From her own experience, she saw the need in our community for non-clinical cancer support and began the OSP program. She grew her dream from a closet into a home with an abundance of programming, volunteers, and employees.

“Celebrate Life!”, a newsletter published quarterly, is one of the best ways to get an idea of the incredible resource OSP and Reuner House was. Please click below to view or download the final newsletter published in summer 2025:

Examples of programing:

• Walk-in and crisis support during the workday, no appointment needed, provided by a team of experienced social workers specializing in oncology and palliative care
• Support groups open to everyone, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status
• Wellness classes designed to foster community and keep focus on connection, not diagnoses (Tai chi, healthy cooking, writing, arts, and more.)
• Peer support pairing newly diagnosed individuals with survivors of the same cancer, offering guidance and mentorship

Reuner House welcomed everyone and anyone affected by cancer. No one was turned away for ability to pay or insurance status. The House served locals and brought in people from across the Hudson Valley and even surrounding counties.

Why is being in a house important?

A home offers something a hospital cannot.

It provides warmth, privacy, and a sense of normalcy during an incredibly difficult time. Cancer patients spend so much time in hospitals and doctors’ offices. A home offers a safe refuge away from all of that.

In addition to scheduled in-person programming, Reuner House also offered walk-in support during workday hours. Anyone could visit the House without an appointment and was often met with a simmering pot of homemade soup in the kitchen or a comforting cup of tea in the sunroom.

Reuner House has been used as a national model. There are a handful of cancer support houses across the United States.

Below are some pictures of Reuner House:

After announcing that they would be closing and selling Reuner House, Westchester Medical Center has proposed a room located in their new Medical Village as a replacement space. The room is windowless and close to the Infusion Center, where cancer patients receive chemotherapy treatments, often a source of trauma.

A windowless room next to the Infusion Center, with clinical sounds, smells, and lighting, cannot provide the supportive, comforting environment that a home does. As one survivor told us: "just hearing the words 'Infusion Center' makes my blood run cold".

Here is a picture of the originally proposed replacement space - a converted staff locker room. It is now located in the room adjacent to this one:

What is Reuner House’s Impact?

Over 10,000 people served.

Helping people across 5 different counties, not just Ulster County.

4 social workers with a combined 30+ years specialized experience.

1,000 contacts per year in its healing arts, wellness, and educational programs.

1,000 individual outpatient contacts annually.

1,000 contacts in hospitals annually.

0 people turned away.

Reuner House worked with patients from any hospital.

* Data is estimated and from this 2019 article:

https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2019/07/28/healthalliance-oncology-support-program-provides-hope-and-purpose-to-cancer-survivors/