Monarch House

What is Monarch House Peer Run Respite?

A free short-term voluntary program that offers 24/7 peer support in a home-like setting to people experiencing mental health, substance use, or other difficult life challenges for up to 7 overnights.

Mission:

To provide a supportive, home-like environment where people can explore, discover, and direct their path to healing and wholeness with support of team members who also have similar lived experiences and challenges.

About Monarch House

About the House

Monarch House is a house located in a residential neighborhood of Menomonie, WI. Filled with natural sunlight, plants, wood floors, and cozy vibes, Monarch House has a personality all of its own. Guests have access to the entire house, which includes a living room, TV room, library, art room, kitchen, dining room, and gym. There is also a patio area outside and ample free on-site parking behind the house.

With four private bedrooms, every guest is given their own room to call home during their stay. Guests may also come and go from the respite as they please with no assigned mealtimes, bedtime, or curfew.

Monarch House is within walking distance of the Menomonie Public Library, Lake Menomin, the Red Cedar Trail System, and Downtown Menomonie. The Community Bus Route travels near the house with a bus stop at the Public Library.

Accessibility

  • Ramp to entrance

  • One van accessible parking spot

  • One first floor accessible bedroom and accessible bathroom

  • First floor kitchen, living room, dining room, TV room, library, and art room

Amenities

  • Full kitchen

  • Washing machine and dryer

  • Living room

  • TV room

  • Art room and art supplies

  • Library

  • Gym and exercise equipment

  • House phone

  • Wi-Fi

  • Computer and printer

  • House bicycle

  • Smoking area

  • Patio

  • Free on-site parking

Every Stay is Different

A big part of what makes peer run respite unique is that every single stay at Monarch House is a different experience—for both new and returning guests! Several factors, such as who all is staying at the house and the time of year, can affect your experience as a guest.

Some folks stay to have quiet time to rest, relax, and reset. Others spend their time at Monarch House connecting with one another, exploring the house and greater community. Everyone has different needs during their stay, which shapes what each day looks like.

We firmly believe that we all can learn from one another and that everyone—guests and team members alike—have the ability to offer connection and support to each other.

What a Stay Cannot Offer

Monarch House is not a shelter, detox, or a clinical/medical facility. All guests are responsible for their own medications; we cannot hold or handle them. We do not offer any clinical services (e.g. therapy) or structured programming. We also cannot offer transportation to or from the respite. Guests may stay up to seven nights; we cannot accommodate any extensions.

Staying at Monarch House

Interested in Staying?

All respite stays begin with a conversation over the phone with one of our team members.

This is a self-referral process, so only the person interested in staying can request a respite stay for themself. Friends, family, and providers may encourage those they care about to contact us, but cannot request a respite stay on behalf of someone else.

Potential Guests

  • Aged 18+ and in Wisconsin

  • Seeking peer support to navigate challenging situations

  • Eager to take control of their healing journey

  • Capable of managing their basic needs independently

  • Aligned with and can uphold the values of the respite

Our Potential Guest Process

  • Give us a call to inquire about staying (715-505-5641)

    • Please leave a voicemail if no one is available to answer the phone

  • A team member will answer (or return your voicemail) and share some general information about Monarch House, peer support, and what our potential guest process is

  • You will be offered the opportunity to complete our potential guest form over the phone

    • If there are no rooms available, the team member will let you know and still offer you opportunity to complete the potential guest form

  • You will be asked to share about what’s going on in your life that makes you interested in staying at the respite and about what you are hoping to experience and/or achieve during your stay

  • You will also be asked several questions and given information related to how the respite operates and some of our policies and procedures

  • Both throughout and at the end of the conversation, there will be opportunity for you to ask any questions that you have

    • If any point you decide that Monarch House is not a good fit for you, that is absolutely okay! Please let the team member know and the potential guest form will be shredded

  • Once you and the team member have answered all of each other’s questions, the initial call is done

  • The team member will then connect with another team member (a third person) to make sure that all questions were asked and enough information was shared both ways in order for you and our team to determine if Monarch House is a good fit at this time

  • Within the next four hours, the team member will call you back to ask any further questions and let you know if you are invited to stay

    • If it is determined to not be a good fit at this time, the team member will offer to explore other potential resources with you

  • If you are offered an invitation to stay, you and the team member will work together to set up an arrival time at Monarch House

    • If there are no rooms available, the team member will let you know and share more about what that process looks like

  • Upon arrival, you will be asked to review and sign our entrance agreement

  • After the entrance agreement is signed and a short orientation to the house is completed, your stay finally begins!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • While we appreciate that you care, all potential guest calls are self-referral only. You can only go through the potential guest process on behalf of yourself.

  • Monarch House is located in Menomonie, WI. Out of respect for the privacy of our guests, we only share our address to guests who are invited to stay at the respite.

  • Nope! Monarch House is a FREE resource for anyone 18+ living in Wisconsin. Our funding primarily comes from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

  • Monarch House is not open to the public. Anyone not currently staying at the respite must call beforehand to schedule a time if they wish to tour the space, which may not be possible depending on the wishes of current guests.

  • No, we are not able to have children stay overnight. However, children may be able to visit you in the common areas of the respite depending on the wishes and needs of the other guests in the house.

  • We are not able to accommodate pets or Emotional Support Animals.

  • Monarch House is mainly funded by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Guest Feedback

  • "I came here and did absolutely nothing! My mind was able to rest. I feel much more confident in myself and I am so grateful for this place! I’m glad I will be able to use this resource in the future and will share my experience with others!! THANK YOU SO MUCH PEER SUPPORTERS at Monarch House! Thank you for being so genuine! MUCH LOVE to everyone."”

  • "Sometimes life feels really scary and impossible. I liked hearing about how some of the other guests were able to survive through some situations I would dread. It gives me hope I can survive too."

  • "I think it is so important to have access to a supportive place that is less sterile and restrictive as a psychiatric hospital would be. Not everyone needs that environment but they may need a safe space to go that is not their home. I don't think a stay in a psych hospital would have been nearly as helpful for my recovery as Monarch House has been. I was given a chance to reset, but I didn’t have to stop my life. This place is a hidden gem."

  • "I really needed a break from my life and Monarch provided a safe, comfortable way to achieve that."

  • "Going to the hospital feels very invasive. I much prefer to stay at Monarch House where there is support and freedom."