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Amber Miller
Sponsored by
The Getup
Save the planet and your wallet! Shop our hand-curated, like-new selection of secondhand clothing and gear for the entire family – from newborn all the way up to adult, plus maternity, shoes, and toys! We buy and sell brands like Patagonia, Gap, Cat & Jack, American Eagle Outfitters, Nike, Lands’ End, and more. The Getup: Community Powered Sustainable Styles. Find great deals in-store or online!
Different stages of life, like the seasons, require transformation. Just as trees shed their leaves, sometimes we must shed our identities to make space for new growth.
Amber Miller, founder of Angel’s House of Healing in La Crosse, Wisconsin, knows that support for women going through this transformation after addiction and trauma is a critical – and scarce – resource.
Amber experienced this struggle firsthand. Her mother, Angel, passed away after years of suffering from alcoholism and unhealed trauma. Amber faced the same battles herself, but she found sobriety after 11 long years.
Over those years, Amber gathered valuable insight into the world of recovery and saw ways it could improve. She found that most traditional recovery options – like rehab – focus on sobriety but don’t look at the underlying causes of addiction.
“What frustrates me the most is how outdated and ineffective so many of the current recovery systems are,” Amber says. “Women are stuck in a cycle that only perpetuates the problems instead of offering real solutions. It’s disheartening to see how few options there are for women who truly want to change.”
Named for Amber’s late mother, Angel’s House of Healing is a sober transitional living facility and recovery center for women ages 18-55. And it is definitely filling a need in La Crosse. There were previously two sober living homes for women in the area, but both closed due to lack of funding. Without a transitional housing option after rehab, it’s easy to fall back into the same patterns and succumb to old habits, Amber says. “The reality is most women in our community leave treatment and go right back to the same environment they came from – an environment that often contributed to their struggles in the first place.”
Through community support in a compassionate, growth-oriented environment, Angel’s House is set up to build a new narrative for women trying to heal. “I want Angel’s House of Healing to meet women where they are and provide the tools they need to transform their lives,” Amber says. “It breaks my heart to see so many women – and people in general – believing they can’t change.”
The house itself, a warm, welcoming two-story home in La Crosse, is furnished with quiet, peaceful spaces for residents and on-site amenities like laundry, utilities, Wi-Fi, video surveillance, and of course, recovery programming and resources. While length-of-stay will depend on the individual, Amber estimates many will reside at Angel’s House for six to 12 months. Programming has been developed based on what Amber has learned while working with life coaches, participating in retreats, and diving into personal development with books, seminars, and videos. The approach is a holistic one, focused on mind, body, and spirit through counseling and mentorship.
“I’ve worn many hats throughout my life. From babysitting and bartending to being an X-ray tech, a life coach, and a real estate investor, I’ve tried it all. Each experience taught me something unique,” she says. “My journey has been about trusting myself and taking leaps into the unknown. My life experience has been my greatest education.”
She hopes Angel’s House of Healing, which welcomed its first guests in June 2025, will create an environment women need to realize their potential. “I believe these women are the ones who will lead the next phase of humanity,” Amber says. “They’ve already proven their strength, and they just need the right environment to help them step fully into their power.”
Angel’s House is committed to drug and alcohol-free living and to supporting women who are building new lives for themselves. They welcome women in recovery, on probation, transitioning out of treatment, or leaving unstable living situations. “Angel’s House is a safe, empowering space where women can begin their journey to self-discovery. We support them in shedding old identities, developing new, healthy ones, and learning to live life authentically. This is a place where women are celebrated for every step they take,” Amber says. “It’s more than just a sober living home – it’s a community designed for personal transformation and healing. We help them practice boundaries, regulate their nervous systems, and thrive in an environment that nurtures their growth.”
At Angel’s House, Amber wears many hats once again. She manages the house, handles behind-the-scenes details, meets with the community, and gives tours. “My absolute favorite part is connecting with the women, both individually and as a group. That’s where the real magic happens,” she says.
While there is currently no staff, Amber does have an amazing group of volunteers, dubbed “Angels on Earth,” who help with administrative work, organizing events, creating resources for the women, and more. Some also bring their own practices into the house, offering workshops on breathwork, meditation, art, or other therapeutic activities, says Amber. “And many are involved in simply being there for the women – whether that’s through mentorship, support, or sharing their own personal stories of healing.”
Support from the larger community has also been pivotal in the opening of Angel’s House. Local businesses, non-profits, medical facilities, and area leaders have all helped establish Angel’s House as an integral part of the La Crosse community. “Healing doesn’t happen in isolation,” Amber says. “It takes a community to heal, and that’s what we’re building here.”
The first few months of operation have been successful, supporting Amber’s big dreams for the facility. She hopes that someday Angel’s House will expand beyond La Crosse. Additionally, she has an idea for an alumni network that will offer additional support after women leave the house. “Ultimately, I want it to be the gold standard in sober living and transformation.”
As she continues her journey, Amber focuses on providing an environment and resources that many women – like her mom – were not afforded. She doesn’t want the women she serves to just survive. She wants them to thrive by giving them space to “grow, heal, and find their purpose” inside the welcoming walls of Angel’s House.
