Serenity Inns was born out of concern for drug addiction and homelessness in the community. Leaders came together from five Lutheran churches located near the epicenter of Milwaukee’s drug trafficking area. These ELCA Lutheran congregations - Reformation, All Peoples, Cross, Hephatha, and Incarnation - ministered to those in zip codes 53208, 53212, 53205, and 53206, whose neighborhoods are economically distressed and where substance use disorder, trauma, and homelessness are amongst the highest in Milwaukee. Together, these faith leaders created a vision, announced in December 2001, to serve these communities with residential recovery housing.

Milestones

• 2001 - Vision Announced

• 2002 - Sober Living Home Secured

• 2004 - First Resident Moves Into the Inn

• 2016 - Alumni House Added

• 2024 - New Residential Treatment Facility Opens