PEWAUKEE, Wis. — The first of its kind peer-run respite home in the country is now open in Wisconsin. 

A new facility in Pewaukee, Wis., is designed to help veterans across the state.

In Pewaukee, a one of a kind home is tucked in amongst other neighbors in the area. It appears to be a regular residential home from the outside but on the inside of this beautiful home is a sanctuary for veterans in need.

“We are setting the blueprint for what a respite peer run home for veterans is supposed to look like and how it is supposed to operate,” veteran peer-run respite project coordinator Victor Kilpatrick says. “We are the trendsetters and there is no better feeling than that.”

The home is run by Mental Health America of Wisconsin under a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The home is for any veteran in Wisconsin experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.

“They can come, relax, try to take that weight off their shoulder for everyday life, relax out here and talk to us about resources they are looking for,” house manager Peter Borucki says.

The beauty of the program is that it’s run by veterans who have served in the military just like those who will be staying in the house. Those veterans also serve as peer counselors to help anyone in need. So, through their lived experiences they are able to better connect and serve veterans just like them.

“A lot of veterans must don’t know who to talk to,” Borucki says. “There are a lot of things that they may have done in the military or experience that they just don’t know how to explain it to civilians and there is nothing like talking to another vet.”

While the home has yet to take in its first veteran due to COVID-19, in the coming weeks they will be able to welcome two veterans to enjoy the home. The goal is to get the veterans to a place where they want to be during their week-long stay.

If there is a veteran interested in staying at the peer-run respite and in need of services, call (262) 336-9540. For more information on the peer-run respite home for veterans in Wisconsin, click here.