After an extended closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are thrilled to announce that Iris Place is now open to guests! 

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 

 

WARM LINE: (920)815-3217

Our warm line is a form of social support for anyone experiencing emotional distress or crisis related to mental health and/or substance abuse. Our warm line offers a judgement free conversation with our experienced peer support specialists. Calls will be returned within 4 hours.

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 can contact us for a conversation to learn more about us and if our home is a good fit for their needs. Providers/friends/family are welcome to contact us, but we will be speaking with the individual directly for a potential stay. All individuals MUST CALL before visiting Iris Place (this includes potential guests, volunteers and visitors). After the conversation, staff meet to determine the fit and call the guest back within four hours. If Iris Place isn’t a good fit, staff will connect them with an appropriate resource for their needs.
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.
While children are welcome to visit (we have a designated part of our house for visitors), we cannot accommodate a stay for them. If this is a concern, please mention it when you contact us.
If an individual is in immediate and severe crisis or danger, staff will connect with them an appropriate resource (i.e. crisis line, police department, etc). Iris Place does not offer clinical supports or services like medication management or therapy. If a guest is intoxicated, verbally abusive or cannot hold our values of creating a respectful, safe and welcoming environment, Iris Place is not a good fit. Staff will work to address concerns with the guest and be supportive of connections with other supports.

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
Peer companions are available to talk 24/7/365

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.