Respite

Whatever you are navigating, you don't have to do it alone. Come take a break with us.

A peer-led respite center is a voluntary, home-like, non-medical space where people can take a self-driven break with the support of others with similar lived experience. We have scheduled and ongoing activities available, welcoming an exploration of diverse wellness tools. Our space is colorful, accessible, and being created with love for our community.

Filling the gap between inpatient and outpatient services, our respite will be an opportunity to get away before reaching a point of crisis or a stopping point after crisis before going back home, focusing on preventative care and sustainable wellness. Individuals can stay, for free, overnight for up to 7 nights per month. This alternative to hospitalization is a life saving resource.

Our LGBTQ+ led peer respite (welcoming all communities 18+, centering those not usually centered) is the first in Central Florida and the first intentionally focused on underserved communities in the nation.

Peer respites exist and prosper in other states, help our goal of making this currently unavailable service a reality locally by getting involved.

Scheduled for soft launch at the end of 2023 and open to the public February 1st, 2024!

As a community-led organization we rely on you, the community, so that we can help one another. There are many ways to help!

Volunteer

We love volunteers! Tell us how you want to get involved in helping and let us know if you have specific skills or services you would like to volunteer. For questions about volunteering please email mary@peersupportspace.org

Online Volunteer Form

Donate Supplies/Services

We are in need of professional services, art supplies, plants, self-care books, appliances, desktop/monitors, fuzzy blankets, candles, and more.

Donations can be mailed to:

P.O. Box 677032

Orlando, FL 32867

Item Wish List

Help Us Reach Our Funding Goals

Your donation will see to it that those in the most need of support are getting it and that funding is not a limitation to helping. We are looking to raise $50,000 to finish renovations!

Donate Now

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and for doing your part to help our community heal.

Peer Services Save Lives.

Peer support empowers people to make the best decisions for them and to strive towards their goals in their communities. Peers are an essential component of recovery-focused systems and are key across settings and stages of recovery.

According to a recent article in the Psychiatric Times:

Persons in recovery from obstacles to mental wellness have insider knowledge of what it takes to have a life well lived, credibility and trustworthiness fostered by their lived experience, their passion to give back, and their dedication to making recovery a reality for others. Peers can also make invaluable contributions to better outcomes by advocating for, transforming, expanding, and providing effective mental health services.

According to Mental Health America:

Peer support is an evidence-based practice for the treatment of mental health challenges. Both quantitative and qualitative evidence indicate that peer support lowers the overall cost of mental health services by reducing re-hospitalization rates and days spent in inpatient services, increasing the use of outpatient services.

Peer support improves quality of life, increases patient engagement and self-management, and increases whole health.

Peers help increase hope, empowerment, self-efficacy, quality of and satisfaction with life.

Psychiatric Times (2018)

Respite users were 70% less likely to use inpatient or emergency services.

Psychiatric Services. (2015)

Peer support has been shown to decrease substance use, unmet needs, and demoralization.

Psychiatric Times (2018)

Respite users show statistically significant improvements in healing, and empowerment.

American Journal of Psychology. (2008)

Peer staff are better able to engage people in caring relationships.

Psychiatry Services (2006)

Respite guests experience improvement in self-esteem, mental health symptoms, & social activity.

Outlook. (Vol. Spring 2002)

Overnight Peer Respite Services