How to Open a Sober Living Home A Complete Guide to Start a House

Although criminal justice referred residents had alcohol and drug use outcomes that were similar to other residents, they had a harder time finding and keeping work and had higher rearrest rates. Areas for further research include testing innovative interventions to improve criminal justice outcomes, such as Motivational Interviewing Case Management (MICM) and examining the community context of SLHs. Recognizing stakeholder views that hinder and support SLHs will be essential if they are to expand to better meet the housing needs of persons suffering from alcohol and drug disorders.

Secondary outcomes included measures of legal, employment, medical, psychiatric and family problems. Some measures assessed the entire 6 months between data collection time points. Others, such as the Addiction Severity Index, assessed shorter time periods of 30 days or less. SLHs have their origins in the state of California and most continue to be located there (Polcin & Henderson, 2008). It is difficult to ascertain the exact number because they are not formal treatment programs and are therefore outside the purview of state licensing agencies.

Sober Housing

This encourages healthy coping strategies and daily habits that will help residents maintain lasting sobriety. Navigating the addiction treatment landscape for your loved one can be tricky. As the opioid epidemic continues, the addiction industry has transformed into a marketplace of buyers and sellers where often times those in need receive the short end of the stick due to lack of information. If this is your first go around, you will undoubtedly hear a variety of sober living and after-care options that may all sound the same. But in fact, each resource has its own distinct characteristics that may or may not be applicable to your loved one.

• While some programs have specific timelines, by and large residents are allowed to remain in sober living houses for as long as they are willing to pay rent.
• Conversely, a court or correctional facility may mandate that a person resides in a halfway house.
• Leaving the structured safety of formal rehab can be worrying for many people.
• Sober living offers a kind of safe retreat that acts as a transitional living environment.

For others, you can remain in a sober-living environment after treatment is completed. Despite the enormous need for housing among the offender population, SLHs have been largely overlooked as a housing option for them (Polcin, 2006c). This is particularly concerning because our analysis of criminal justice offenders in SLHs showed alcohol and drug outcomes that were similar to residents who entered the houses voluntarily. The two types of recovery houses assessed in this study showed different strengths and weaknesses and served different types of individuals.

Patient Care Network

Being actively involved in the day-to-day group activities, therapies, and meetings help increase the chances of an individual staying sober. These activities affect the mind positively and give the resident a sense of belonging. Also, to avoid a relapse, the sober living home encourages residents without a job to actively commit to seeking a job and make advancements towards a career or personal goal. Lastly, residents in a California sober living 5 Tips to Consider When Choosing a Sober Living House home may take up fun activities that can add value, such as a new sport or volunteering in the community. I have eleven years as a professional specializing in addiction treatment including more than seven years with Friendly House in various capacities including Operations Manager. I have seen and directly experienced the compassionate top-tier treatment that Friendly House has to offer to every individual who becomes part of our family.

Typically, residents move into a sober living home directly after treatment, but others may transition into a sober living home after a period of abstinence followed by relapse. Sober living communities are also part of aftercare plans when someone completes rehabilitation. After completing residential rehabilitation, moving into a sober living house can help the person readjust to daily life without the use of drugs or alcohol. Sober living communities offer constructive living environments and supportive services, assisting people in recovery. The process is meant to help the person develop healthy routines and structures without the use of drugs or alcohol. Sober living facilities are group homes for individuals who have recently completed substance abuse and/ or addiction treatment program that wish to move into transitional housing prior to returning home.

What Is Sober Living?

Sober living offers a balance between living in the real world and receiving some structure and monitoring. We host nightly “family” dinners, weekly meetings, and regular outings to create an environment that promotes cohesive unity. The brotherhood between house members empowers everyone to walk through tribulations with much-needed support, and to meet our high standards. Another series of studies found that individuals who remained abstinent for less than one year relapsed two-thirds of the time. Those who remained sober for a year or more relapsed less than half the time.

Standard admission requirements ensure that all residents move into the home with accurate expectations and that they clearly understand that ongoing sobriety is not negotiable. Requiring an admission application for every resident also allows you to determine if the resident would be a good fit for your sober living home. This promotes a peaceful and harmonious environment in which residents share similar goals and get along.

Sober living homes provide residents with structure and support that can be vital in early recovery. Adjusting back into daily life after rehab can be challenging, but sober living homes offer comfortable and supportive living spaces to make the transition easier. According to the Alcohol Research Group, a sober living home’s central objective is to provide a positive living environment that reduces exposure to relapse triggers. Sober living homes provide safe, supportive, and affordable housing options to those in recovery. Sober living communities have been used as aftercare placements for clients completing treatment and places for clients to live while attending outpatient treatment.

• Choose a house manager of the appropriate gender who will help you run the sober living house.
• Substance use disorder, also known as addiction, is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
• Though he has worked in many different areas of rehabilitation, the majority of his time was spent working one on one with patients who were actively withdrawing from drugs.
• This targeted treatment addresses each client’s individual needs, identifying the tools and resources that can lead them to continued success.

Program staff should have proper training and accreditation, and the residence should submit to regular inspections to ensure the highest standard of care. Additionally, many sober living programs work in conjunction with an addiction treatment program. If you’re seeking recommendations for sober living in the Houston area, we can help. Residents may remain in a sober living home for as long as they want – if they continue following the house rules. The length of time depends on an individual’s unique journey and how long their treatment and recovery take. The goal is to transition to an independent lifestyle – free of substance abuse and addiction.

Sober Living Homes Help You Stay Sober

The best course of action for anyone who wants to get clean and sober is to seek help and make use of the resources of addiction experts. Sober living facilities give residents an opportunity to live in a safe, supportive, and alcohol and drug-free environment. Sober living homes typically have rules and structures designed to support residents as they work to regain sobriety and rebuild their lives. These may include curfews, daily check-ins, chores, and regular group meetings. Sober living homes also provide residents with resources and support to help them find jobs, reconnect with family, and get back on their feet. The duties and responsibilities of residents at sober living houses and halfway houses are very similar in nature.