In a groundbreaking initiative for mental health services in Central Florida, the nonprofit organization Peer Support Space is constructing a unique facility called Peer Respite Home in Orlando. Unlike traditional clinical settings, this respite home aims to provide individuals aged 18 and above, grappling with mental health challenges, an alternative space for support and care. Yasmin Flasterstein, representing Peer Support Space, emphasizes that the respite home will be staffed entirely by peer specialists—individuals trained to offer support based on their own lived experiences without judgment or clinical analysis.
The Peer Respite Home is the first of its kind in Central Florida, with a distinctive approach to mental health support. Instead of clinical supervision, individuals can seek refuge at the home for up to a week and receive assistance from their peers. Flasterstein emphasizes the role of peer support as not trying to eliminate challenges but rather walking through them together. The project, in development for nearly five years with input from over 200 individuals, envisions a space equipped with 3.5 bedrooms, a kitchen, game room, living area, and an outdoor space.
The respite home will offer various activities, including cooking workshops, gardening sessions, and expressive art activities. Flasterstein envisions the facility as a space for individuals to explore both existing and new wellness tools. Mariette Tomlinson, one of the group facilitators, expresses excitement about being part of a care model that is radical, non-traditional, and tailored to diverse and specific needs. The team aims to open the Peer Respite Home to the public in April, marking a significant step forward in redefining mental health support in the region.
