Solstice House Peer Respite

10/02/2026

Hey, Madison!

Our Fall Pop-Up Resource Fair is happening NOW at SOAR, 4513 Milwaukee St. We're here until 1 PM.

Connect with our community partners to learn about the services they offer and how they strengthen and sustain communities across south-central Wisconsin.

Featuring resource tables from:
Community Action Coalition For South Central Wisconsin, Inc. - Direct support services and community mental health resources and training.
Dane County Department of Human Services - Economic Support Specialists are on-site to provide benefits enrollment information and support.
Vivent Health - No-cost STI testing, harm reduction supplies, and more.
OutReach LGBTQ Community Center - LGBTQ-specific resources, groups, and more.

And us! - Meet with our Program Manager to learn about our approach to community-based crisis alternatives, our peer-led support circles, and more.

Come through! 💜💛💙

09/16/2026

If people deserve options when in crisis, they also deserve to know what those options involve.

988 has become a major part of the crisis response system, but questions remain about whether its implementation was truly trauma-informed and grounded in informed choice.

In their thought-provoking op-ed for Medium, mental health advocate, activist, and Intentional Peer Support trainer Vic Welle asks us to consider:

What does safety look like when people don’t know what might happen after they reach out?

Trauma-informed crisis support means:
- Informed consent
- Voice & choice
- Collaboration
- Lived experience
- Meaningful alternatives

988 is an option. But informed choice means knowing there are others, too.

Peer support. Warmlines. Peer respite. Community-based support. Trusted people who uphold the value of connection over isolation.
People with lived experience who believe in support that centers YOU

This Su***de Prevention Month, let’s keep expanding the conversation about what safe, voluntary, person-centered crisis support can look like.

Read Vic Welle’s perspective on 988: https://medium.com//why-i-wont-yet-recommend-988-as-a-crisis-and-suicide-prevention-resource-e6de74f30421

***dePreventionMonth

A lot of people might be surprised to hear that I am not recommending 988, the newly implemented “mental health 911” number, as a resource…

08/03/2026

As our community continues to grieve the killing of Corey Ruiz, we’re reminded that how we respond to people in crisis matters.

We believe another way is possible.

Whether you’re seeking emotional support or need a break through a respite stay, we offer voluntary, non-clinical, and non-carceral support rooted in lived experience. When we work with you, we center mutuality and respect for your autonomy, and your human and civil rights.

Community care means creating spaces where people are heard, trusted, and supported—not coerced or controlled.

Learn more about Madison’s only peer-run respite at soarmadison.org/programs.

07/24/2026

07/03/2026

We're still feeling grateful for everyone who came out to Black Saddle Bike Shop in June to support Solstice House.

Thanks to their generosity, the bands, and everyone who attended:
➡️100% of ticket sales were donated to Solstice House
➡️Two full bins of hygiene and personal care items were collected for our guests
➡️Four adult bikes were donated for guests' recreational use

Every donation helps us create a welcoming space for guests to rest, reflect, and connect.

Thank you for showing what community care looks like in action. 🤘

07/01/2026

TONIGHT! For those who missed yesterday's Qhere For It! support circle, check out this fantastic offering at OutReach LGBTQ Community Center, led by LGBTQIA+ folx with lived experience! 🌈

Q***r Harm Reduction Support Meeting

Looking for a judgment-free space to connect, learn, and be supported? Join our weekly Q***r Harm Reduction Support Meeting every Wednesday at 6 PM—in person or on Zoom.

✨ Peer support
✨ Harm reduction education
✨ Community connection
✨ Free & confidential
✨ No sobriety requirement

Come as you are. Your choices are respected.

Contact: [email protected] for location details
Zoom: bit.ly/HRQZOOM

***rWellness 🌈

06/23/2026

🔥 COMMUNITY CARE. LOUD MUSIC. LOCAL ACTION. 🔥

This weekend, local bands are taking over Black Saddle Bike Shop (601 N Sherman Ave Suite F) to collect hygiene and personal care items for Solstice House!

Event details:
📆 Friday, June 26
🚪Doors: 8:30 PM
🎸Music: 9:00 PM

$5 admission with a hygiene or wish list donation (go to https://soarmadison.org/support-us list of needed items)
$15 admission without a donation

Donated items help us keep the respite stocked with everyday essentials for guests who stay with us.

Can't bring an item? You can still support us by making a donation at soarmadison.org. Just select "Solstice House Peer Respite" as your donation designation.

Big thanks to Black Saddle, the bands, and everyone showing up to support peer-led care, mutual aid, and community-based alternatives.

See you Friday. 🤘

05/24/2026

A big thank you to Vic Welle from Intentional Peer Support (IPS) for leading an incredible week-long training for our staff!

This trauma-informed framework empowers us to help our guests explore their unique worldviews, better understand relational patterns, and prioritize personal growth over simply managing crises.

We’re excited to apply these insights in our work, and we're grateful for our partnership with the IPS team.

Learn more about IPS: https://intentionalpeersupport.org/ips-approach