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Closer to Opening Day: A Big Step Forward for Peer Perspective Inc.

There’s something incredible about watching a dream turn into something you can actually walk through, room by room. Over this past year, we’ve imagined what supportive recovery housing for women and women with children could look like here in River Falls. Now, that vision is becoming real.

We recently secured a duplex in a wonderful location, and this space will become our very first home. It has five bedrooms, two full kitchens, two laundry rooms, and plenty of shared spaces where connection and community can take root. There’s even a big yard that adds to the sense of calm and comfort we want residents to feel from the moment they arrive.

This is a huge moment for us, but it’s also just the beginning. Over the next several weeks, we will be working nonstop to get the house furnished, prepared, and certified so we can open our doors on January 1.

Creating a home like environment.

One of our priorities is making sure the space feels warm, welcoming, and truly lived-in, not institutional or temporary. To do that, we’re hoping to fill the home with quality furniture and essentials. We’re seeking:

• Brand-new mattresses for all five bedrooms

• Gently used or new bedroom furniture

• Living room seating, lamps, side tables

• Kitchen items for two full kitchens

• Décor that brings comfort and warmth

• Self help and recovery focused books

• Towels, shower curtains, bathroom decor

• Cleaning supplies, paper products

We’ll also be updating and adding items to our Amazon Wish List as we identify specific needs.

Neighborhood street showing community living

Becoming WASH certified

We’re taking all the steps needed to become WASH certified. For those unfamiliar, WASH is the Wisconsin Association of Sober Housing. Their certification isn’t just a stamp of approval. It means we’re meeting high standards related to safety, ethics, resident support, and overall program quality. It also connects us with a larger network of recovery housing programs committed to doing things the right way. For us, being WASH certified is an important part of building trust with the community and making sure our residents receive the level of support they deserve.

By integrating case management into our program, we aim to provide a structured yet compassionate framework that supports healing and growth within the community.

Whats ahead?

Here’s a quick look at the timeline as we move forward:

• December 1: We get access to the home and begin furnishing.

• Early December: Donation coordination, Amazon Wish List updates, and furniture setup.

• Mid December: Final safety preparations and WASH readiness steps.

• January 1: Opening day. A fresh start for the women and families who will call this home.

As we get closer, you can expect more frequent updates. There’s a lot happening all at once, but we’re incredibly grateful to everyone following along and cheering us on.

If you have a lead, would like to donate items, or want to get involved, please reach out at peerperspectivepodcast@gmail.com.

Our Model: The power of peer support is at everything.

As we move closer to opening day, one of the most important parts of our vision is the role of peer support. It’s not an add-on or an optional service. It is the core of what we do.

Our model is built on the belief that recovery is stronger when people feel understood, supported, and seen by someone who has walked a similar path. Peer support offers something uniquely powerful: connection without judgment, encouragement that comes from lived experience, and a kind of hope that only someone who has “been there” can offer.

We know that early recovery can feel overwhelming. There are new routines to build, emotions to navigate, and life responsibilities to manage all at once. Having peer supporters involved from the beginning provides stability, accountability, and a sense of belonging. It helps residents feel less alone, more motivated, and more capable of making long-term change.

Through regular check-ins, group support, recovery coaching, and simple everyday conversations, our team will be woven into the daily life of the home. It’s important to us that this feels like a community, not just a place to stay. Peer perspective — learning from one another, sharing experiences, building trust — is what transforms a program into a family.

We’re proud to build a model where compassion and lived experience guide the work. And we’re excited to bring that approach to the women and families who will soon call this house home.

Thank you for walking alongside us as we build something meaningful here in River Falls. The best is yet to come.