Detroit Peer Respite

  • A photograph of a street in a Detroit neighborhood. The camera is focused on a white flower, which is in sharp focus in the foreground. In the background are the blurrier images of houses, cars, and a neighbor walking a dog.
  • A photo of Karen and Grey, two members of Detroit Peer Respite. They are sitting on folding chairs huddled around a firepit.
  • A closeup of a small bug scuttling across a leaf, upside down and precarious.
  • A selfie of Lance and Karen, two members of Detroit Peer Respite. Lance smiles directly into the camera while Karen looks off into the distance.
  • An aerial view of the muddy bottom of a creek beneath clear, calm water.
  • A photo of Detroit Peer Respite members sitting around a fire. The photo is taken from far away; the faces of individual members cannot be seen, but the image centers on the distinct rays of sun streaking dramatically through the trees and catching on the fire's smoke.
  • A photo of Star, a white and gray pitbull, standing in tall grass with her back to the camera.
  • A photo of Detroit Peer Respite members sitting in a circle, taken from the perspective of someone sitting in the circle. Meg stands in the center, gesturing with their hands.
  • An image of Star, a white and gray pitbull wearing a blue harness, sitting in a field of grass and smirking at the camera.
  • An image of Detroit Peer Respite members sitting in a circle around a fire. In the foreground is a large white folding table scattered with containers of food.
  • A photo of a field of tall grass, with water in the distance.
  • A photo of Karen, a member of Detroit Peer Respite, standing in a parking lot with outstretched arms.
  • A photo of Grey and Meg, two Detroit Peer Respite members. Grey is sitting in a folding chair and looking up at Meg, who stands in front of him; both are smiling.
  • A photo of Karen and Grey, two members of Detroit Peer Respite, sitting around a fire in folding chairs.
  • A photo of a mural, viewed through a chain link fence. The mural depicts a young Black person in shades of blue, holding a yellow flower against a pink background.
  • A photo of Karen, a member of Detroit Peer Respite, looking past the camera and waving.
  • A photo of Grey, a member of Detroit Peer Respite, looking at the camera and smiling awkwardly. He holds a notebook in one hand.
  • A photo of Detroit Peer Respite members sitting around a fire on folding chairs. Most of them are taking notes.
  • A photo of Detroit Peer Respite members sitting around a fire on folding chairs. Grey is standing up, draped dramatically in a fuzzy red blanket.
An image of Star, a white and gray pitbull, sniffing a colorful mirror.
An image of a single yellow flower, looking sharp in the foreground, surrounded by the blurry forms of green leaves and blades of grass.
An aerial view of the muddy bottom of a creek beneath clear, calm water.
An image of a chain link fence overgrown with vibrant green trees.
A photo of Grey and Erin, two members of Detroit Peer Respite, sitting on folding chairs. Grey is writing in a notebook while Erin eats from a bowl.
A closeup of a plant with large green leaves and small pink flowers.
An image of the sun rising over a brick building in an urban landscape.

Abolitionist Crisis Care By and For Detroiters

Detroit Peer Respite is a 100% consensual, 100% voluntary, 100% non-clinical alternative place to stay during a mental health and/or substance-related (non-medical) crisis. It’s run by and for Detroiters who have personally survived their own crises, so we can relate.

We’re a collective of abolitionist care workers from in and around the City of Detroit. Most of us are trans and/or queer women and femmes. Some, but not all, of us have job experience in the mental health and/or medical professions; but respite is not a medical or professional offering — it’s a form of mutual aid. We all have lived experience of surviving our own personal struggles.

We’re raising $5,000 to open our doors in April, for a six-month pilot project.

We’re offering community members in crisis a short-term (7-10 days) place to stay, as a guest in a host home, supported by volunteer peer support workers — folks who’ve been there, who can relate, and who receive support and training to offer care and peer support , while honoring our guests’ wishes and their consent.

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