Life Connections Peer Recovery Services

On september 22, 2018, life connections opened the doors to rhonda's house, the first and only peer-run respite center operating in iowa. Rhonda's house provides a meaningful alternative to locked, in-patient hospitalization for the residents of rural eastern iowa who are experiencing a mental health crisis. During 2022 a new facility of 5 bedrooms and 2 baths was purchased to serve as rhonda's house. The peer-run respite center provides a safe and welcoming environment for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis and who voluntarily choose temporary respite services to restore their wellbeing. Rhonda's house serves individuals living throughout the five- county catchment region of eastern iowa. At rhonda's house, residents receive recovery support services from well-trained peer recovery specialists. Rhonda's house is open and operates seven days per week, 24 hours per day. During 2024, 149 individuals were served at the respite house. Service participants are permitted to stay at rhonda's house until they decide they are ready to return home or for a maximum of seven days. A stay at rhonda's house includes assignment to a private bedroom and the right to reside at the facility for 24 hours per day.

Since 2018 lcprs has accomplished so much, from utilizing a house genesis hospital owned and running a recovery center in a church. We now own our own property of a five bedroom house, our own office, and leasing our two suite property to run the recovery center. We have served over 677 individuals in the respite house since october 2018, 149 of those being in 2024. Over 8,000 peope served unduplicated at the recovery center since 2018 and over 1500 in 2024. We developed and sustain iowa's largest peer run organization, started and sustaining an annual fundraising event since 2024, secured a reliable an well versed fundraising chair, nomination chair, and active board president. We sustained extensive media and social media coverage, sustained approaches with our state senators, representatives, and a four hour long meeting with our governor.