1872 Southridge Avenue Ste 1/2, Menomonie, WI 54751
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Serving Hands At Southridge 1872 1/2
Pros
The place is incredible and saves lives.- It is a women and children's shelter that also accepts pets to keep families whole.
- The staff are understanding, caring, kind, and helpful.
- The resource is helpful and valued in town.
- The facility is warm and friendly.
- The staff, the support group, and other guests are awesome.
Cons
They felt the place could be better and urged that The Bridge to Hope implement complete checks.- They claimed that The Bridge to Hope allows women to lie about their situation to receive free help and a place to stay.
- They alleged that The Bridge to Hope does not look into such claims and shows bias against men.
- They argued that The Bridge to Hope should not receive funding until it changes how it operates.
Review
Serving Hands At Southridge in Menomonie operates as a women-and-children shelter that also welcomes pets, making it a lifeline for families in crisis who need a safe, temporary place to regroup. This community is best suited for those facing housing insecurity, domestic violence, or displacement who prioritize a warm, welcoming environment and staff who demonstrate real empathy and practical help. The facility earns high marks for its compassionate culture, with staff described as understanding, kind, and helpful. For families with animals or those who rely on community donations, the shelter’s pet-friendly, donation-friendly stance strengthens the sense of belonging and community support during upheaval.
However, this is not a traditional assisted-living setting. For seniors seeking long-term residency with regulated care, ongoing medical oversight, and stable, licensed support, alternatives should be pursued. The reviews contain a troubling caveat: concerns about checks and eligibility processes tied to a partner organization (Bridge to Hope) that may affect safety and fairness. One report suggests that individuals could misrepresent need to obtain free housing, and that intake may not adequately vet all residents. While many voices emphasize warmth and safety, these red flags mean risk assessment and due diligence are essential before committing a family member to residence here for anything beyond crisis shelter use.
On balance, the strongest positives, exceptional staff engagement, genuine warmth, and a community-oriented atmosphere, offset several practical limitations. The staff and volunteers are repeatedly described as supportive, accessible, and resourceful, ready to help with immediate needs, donations, and everyday arrangements. The ability to bring pets into the stay is a meaningful differentiator for families who would otherwise face separation, and the donation-driven outreach fosters a sense of local solidarity that can be invaluable during upheaval. These strengths matter most when crisis management, not long-term continuity of care, is the priority; they create a stabilizing heartbeat that can buy time for families to regroup and plan next steps.
Yet the caveats are not trivial. The most visible concerns center on governance and intake integrity. A strong, well-intentioned community can be undermined if checks are inconsistent or perceived as lax, making it harder to guarantee safety for all residents. When a review notes that violence risk and deception have influenced who stays, caution becomes essential. In practice, this means any family evaluating this option should insist on clear policies, transparent intake criteria, and ongoing supervision of residents, especially if the eventual goal is to transition to a more permanent, licensed living arrangement. Kindness from staff cannot substitute for robust safeguarding.
Practical guidance for decision making follows: clarify the intended duration of stay, the level of supervision, meals, case management, and the range of supports offered. Ask about security measures, visitation policies, and how the shelter coordinates with other social services to help families stabilize housing, employment, and, if needed, child-care support. If residency is contemplated for an aging parent or someone with health needs, place a premium on licensed medical oversight and access to professionals, tools that this setting may not consistently provide. Use this resource as a bridging option, a temporary shelter, rather than a long-term solution.
Ultimately, Serving Hands At Southridge earns a high overall rating for a crisis-facing, family-centered shelter, driven by compassionate staff and a welcoming culture. For families in need of immediate safety, pet-friendly sheltering, and community donations that cushion the blow of displacement, it represents a compelling, practical option. For seniors or anyone requiring steady, licensed care, alternatives with clearer medical oversight and longer-term stability are advisable. The presence of strong staff and a caring community offsets many day-to-day inconveniences, but the questions around intake checks and safety guardrails require direct answers before committing. When used with clear expectations and thorough due diligence, this option can be a lifeline in the right moment.
4 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Cable or satellite TV
Dining room
Fully furnished
Garden
Housekeeping services
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Telephone
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Chippewa Valley Regional (21 miles away)
24-hour supervision
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Special dietary restrictions
Transportation arrangement (medical)
Transportation to doctors appointments
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