Peer-Run Respites Grant Program

The Peer-Run Respites funding opportunity is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, specifically through the Division of Care and Treatment Services. This initiative reflects the state’s commitment to expanding recovery-oriented, peer-led behavioral health supports that are grounded in lived experience. The program is designed to fund the development and operation of peer-run respite facilities that provide short-term, voluntary residential support as well as warmline services. These programs aim to prevent behavioral health crises, reduce hospitalization, and connect individuals with appropriate community-based resources. The purpose of this funding is to establish and sustain peer-run respite programs that operate in home-like environments and are led by individuals with lived experience in mental health, substance use, or co-occurring conditions. These facilities must offer between three and six private guest rooms and maintain a safe, welcoming, and accessible setting. Programs are required to operate continuously, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year, and must provide both in-person respite stays and warmline services. Stays are generally short-term, ranging from one to five days, and are accessed voluntarily through self-referral, emphasizing autonomy and recovery-oriented care. Funding supports a wide range of operational and programmatic costs necessary to establish and maintain these services, including staffing, facility-related expenses, and program delivery. However, programs are explicitly prohibited from providing clinical services or medication management, reinforcing the non-clinical, peer-support focus of the initiative. Services must be provided at no cost to participants, and programs must not exclude individuals based solely on whether they experience mental health or substance use challenges. Collaboration with community partners such as crisis services, healthcare providers, and peer organizations is strongly encouraged to enhance service delivery and continuity of care. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to incorporated, peer-run nonprofit organizations in which at least 51 percent of the governing board identifies as individuals with lived experience. Applicants must submit formal attestation documentation confirming this requirement. Programs must also demonstrate the ability to serve individuals from multiple counties, with priority given to proposals that expand access in underserved geographic areas. Organizations may propose new programs and are not required to be operational at the time of application, but must clearly outline their implementation timeline. The application process requires submission of a narrative response not exceeding 12 pages, along with several required documents including a budget form, IRS Form W-9, position descriptions, and board attestation materials. The narrative must address program design, organizational capacity, experience, and alignment with grant priorities. Applications are evaluated using a 100-point scoring rubric across these categories, with particular emphasis on how well the proposed program meets the needs of the target population and aligns with recovery-oriented principles. Key dates include a question submission deadline of June 5, 2026, with responses posted on June 12, 2026. Applications must be submitted via email by July 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Award notifications are expected around August 17, 2026. The funding period spans five years, beginning January 1, 2027 and ending December 31, 2031, with annual renewals contingent on performance, compliance, and funding availability. This is a non-matching grant funded through State General Purpose Revenue, and it represents a significant investment in peer-led behavioral health infrastructure across Wisconsin.

Align responses directly to scoring rubric; emphasize recovery-oriented design and peer leadership; clearly demonstrate capacity for 24/7 operations and partnerships