A Safe Place II in Milwaukee, WI

Pros

• The program has saved lives and provided a new way to live, helping residents achieve long-term sobriety.
• It offers a peaceful and supportive environment for recovery.
• It is a great place for help, where the staff genuinely cares about individuals.
• The program helps people get back on their feet when they are down.
• Andy and his family are willing to help, offering resources and going above and beyond for those who are willing to help themselves.
• Many men have gotten clean and gone on to lead successful sober lives thanks to the program.
• The Liss family and the team maintain a welcoming environment that supports recovery.
• Andy Liss is kind, caring, and approachable, committed to helping others.
• The Safe Place is a life saver and a valuable resource for recovery within the community.
• It is a great place to start over and transition from treatment or jail back into the community.
• The program has supported long-term recovery, with residents staying for years of their own free will.

Cons

• The neighborhood is bad, though it’s a great resource.
• The sober living site is in a drug-centered part of Milwaukee, making the location bad despite the idea being good.
• It’s not a great place because a resident kidnapped a woman and held her hostage for days, with no one helping her.
• There have been overdoses over the years, and some people say terrible things about the place.
• The life for residents is hard.

Review

A Safe Place II is best suited for adult men who are serious about sustained sobriety and need a hands-on, peer-supported pathway back into everyday life. It functions especially well for those stepping out of treatment or after incarceration, offering a tightly knit operation run by Andy Liss and his family, plus a close circle of supporters. The Milwaukee setting is tough, but the core appeal is practical: clear structure, real accountability, and accessible resources that translate into real-world stability. For families, the strength lies in a community that treats recovery as a shared project, with residents encouraging one another toward steady, long-term change rather than quick fixes.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are typically those who require medical-level supervision, higher-end amenities, or a more formal clinical framework. The program rests on personal responsibility and a peer-driven culture, which can feel too loose for individuals needing continuous professional oversight. The neighborhood context adds risk factors, and while staff work to mitigate threats, safety concerns linger for some families. If the goal is a pristine, highly regulated treatment environment rather than a sober-living transition, looking at other options would be prudent, particularly for those who prefer more external structure or specialized clinical services.

Yet the strongest argument for this community is its proven, life-changing effectiveness. Repeatedly, reviews highlight real, measurable outcomes: years of sobriety, restored family relationships, and renewed purpose. The staff, especially Andy and his parents, along with Cotton and Viron, are lauded for going above and beyond, offering practical help and resources as long as residents are willing to do the work. The program’s emphasis on accountability, minimal excuses, and mutual support creates a recovery-driven atmosphere that translates into durable change, with many residents reporting a peaceful environment that supports daily commitment to staying clean.

The consistency of success is reinforced by the community’s durability. With a resident population around sixty and a track record of long-tenured members, the place functions as a genuine transition hub, from treatment or jail back into community life. Testimonials stress not only the personal wins but also the practical milestones: starting over, rebuilding routines, and reestablishing responsibilities. Longevity, people staying for years and continuing to thrive, underscores that, for those who engage, this sober-living model can anchor lasting independence and family stability rather than mere temporary relief.

Nevertheless, the environment carries legitimate caveats. The location, the drug-centric heart of Milwaukee, poses ongoing safety considerations, and past incidents have underscored that danger can intrude into a shared living setting. A hostage incident involving a resident remains a stark reminder of risk, while overdoses among residents over the years illustrate that relapse pressures persist even with strong supports in place. These factors do not erase the positive outcomes, but they demand a careful, reality-grounded assessment. The cons are real enough to influence the decision, though not so overwhelming that they invalidate the program’s proven potential for transformation.

For families weighing options, A Safe Place II offers a compelling, outcome-oriented path for a man ready to own recovery and lean into a robust support system. It delivers tangible wins, years of sobriety, regained family connections, and a stable living situation, by prioritizing accountability, practical help, and a community-driven approach. The right fit hinges on clear readiness to embrace the house rules, tolerance for the neighborhood’s realities, and a willingness to engage with a staff that has demonstrated dedication and effectiveness. Prospective residents should schedule a visit, meet the staff, and discuss safety plans, rules, and success metrics to ensure alignment with personal recovery goals.

This area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin offers a mix of amenities and conveniences that may appeal to seniors looking for a comfortable and accessible neighborhood. With several places of worship nearby, including Redemption Lutheran Church and Honey Creek Church, residents can easily maintain their spiritual practices. There are also various dining options such as Shark's Fish & Chicken, Checkers, and several McDonald's locations for convenient meal choices. Additionally, multiple pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are in close proximity for easy access to medications. For healthcare needs, hospitals like Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus and Aurora Psychiatric Hospital are within a few miles. Transportation services like U-Haul Moving & Storage offer convenience for those who may need assistance with moving or transportation. Parks such as Hoyt Park and Algonquin Park provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation in nature. Overall, this area provides a range of services and facilities that can contribute to a comfortable and fulfilling senior living experience.

Places of Worship

• Redemption Lutheran Church (0.9 miles)
• Northwest Baptist Church (1.5 miles)
• Honey Creek Church (5 miles)

Restaurants

• Shark's Fish & Chicken (1 miles)
• Checkers (1.3 miles)
• McDonald's (2.7 miles)
• McDonald's (3.2 miles)
• McDonald's (3.5 miles)
• Culver's (3.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus (2.7 miles)
• Ambulatory EEG Recordings (3.6 miles)
• Aurora Psychiatric Hospital (4.3 miles)
• Froedtert Pavilion (4.7 miles)
• Rogers Memorial Hospital (5.7 miles)
• Aurora Sinai Medical Center (6 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (2.9 miles)

Physicians

• Aurora Advanced Healthcare (3.1 miles)
• Aurora Nephrology (3.9 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group (4.3 miles)
• Froedtert Hospital (4.8 miles)
• Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center (4.8 miles)
• Aurora Health Center (5 miles)
• Rheumatic Disease Center (5.3 miles)

Parks

• Hoyt Park (3.8 miles)
• Algonquin Park (3.9 miles)
• Wil-O-Way Underwood Park (4.2 miles)
• Brown Deer Park (4.5 miles)
• Estabrook Park (5 miles)
• A C Hanson Park (5.3 miles)
• Elm Grove Village Park (5.7 miles)