Iris Place, located in Appleton, provides a safe and welcoming environment that offers an opportunity for individuals experiencing emotional distress or crisis to grow and change through the support of others with lived experience.

Free to all Wisconsin adults (18 & over), who want and need peer support to navigate emotional distress or crisis related to mental health and/or substance use.

 Offers a short-term stay in a home-like healing environment.

 Provides hope & healing through 24/7/365 peer support.

 Is a self-directed, strengths-based, holistic respite.

 

Call (920)815-3217 

 

Call Us

You can call Iris Place any day of the week to learn more about us and inquire about a possible stay.

On Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we also provide peer support over the phone through our telephone warm line. Our warm line is a form of social support for anyone experiencing emotional distress related to mental health and/or substance abuse.

No matter the reason for your call, our number is always the same: 920-815-3217.

We look forward to talking with you!

Is Iris Place right for me?

Iris Place can be an alternative to a visit to the ER or hospital in times of emotional distress or crisis.

Iris Place Peer Run Respite is staffed by people with lived experience who are trained to listen and support you in finding your path to wellness and recovery.

A short term stay (1-7 nights) offers opportunities for one-on-one and group connections to explore crisis as an opportunity for growth and change. Guests must be willing and able to choose this service freely (self-referral). All services are voluntary and guests may come and go as they wish (including being able to go to work, school, appointments or other activities). Guests and staff agree to uphold the values of Iris Place to create an accessible, safe and healing environment.

Iris Place does not provide clinical supports like medication management or psychiatric services. Staff will support guests in accessing any resources they need, including services and supports in community.

What You Can Expect During a Stay at Iris Place

  • Your own private, locking bedroom and access to shared spaces in our home. Our first floor is fully accessible.
  • Access to resources in our house and community including art expression, books and wellness activities for mind, body and spirit.
  • A safe, healing, trauma-informed, home-like, environment with a chance to rest and relax.
  • Support in developing your own vision of wellness and an opportunity to develop and take action on your plan.
  • Peer Support: Find connection  one-on-one or in groups with staff and other guests
  • Strengths-based, holistic peer-led recovery and wellness activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guests may stay for up to seven nights.
We have five locking bedrooms including two accessible bedrooms.
We don’t use language like “intake” or “referral.” Individuals interested in a stay at Iris Place should call us for a conversation to learn more about us and whether our home is a good fit for their needs. Individuals must call to speak with us themselves to explore the potential for a stay (rather than a call from a friend, family member, or provider). After the conversation, staff will meet to consider whether Iris Place will be a good fit and will call the individual back to let them know whether a stay has been approved. If Iris Place isn’t the right fit, staff will be happy to talk with the individual regarding other resources that might be a better fit for their needs.
Iris Place does not provide any type of clinical support, such as therapy or medication management. Iris Place offers peer support provided by staff who have their own lived experience with mental health challenges and recovery and have been trained in providing support to others.
Due to concerns with allergies and possible conflicting guest needs, we ask that guests find another place for pets to stay and/or someone else to take care of them. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate emotional support animals that are not service animals trained to do work or a task an individual cannot do on their own.
Iris Place does not take reservations, not do we maintain a waitlist. If our house is full when you call to inquire about a stay, we will ask you to call back the next day to see if a room has opened up.
Absolutely nothing! A stay at Iris Place is completely free of charge.

Our Name

The Iris is a symbol of hope, wisdom and courage. Purple irises have special significance related to guiding people on their journeys. You will see a print of one of Vincent Van Gogh's famous iris paintings at our house. Considered one of the most talented and influential artists of all time, Van Gogh painted most of his art while institutionalized.  NAMI has adopted the iris to represent our resiliency, strength and inner wisdom on our recovery journeys.

(920) 815-3217
Call anytime to explore the possibility of a stay at Iris Place.

Iris Place
1213 S. Matthias St., Appleton, WI 54915

Iris Place is a program of NAMI Fox Valley funded by the State of Wisconsin Division of Care and Treatment Services.
Want to learn more about peer run respites? Click here to connect with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.