Sober living homes provide addicts a living environment that supports sobriety and recovery.

People who have common experiences, and who want to tackle their addictions together share these homes, typically after completion of or during rehab. Sober living homes help people get one step further away from their drug and alcohol lifestyles.

Think of these homes as a “midway” point between the cloistered habitat of a treatment center, and regular life.

Why Sober Living Homes?
If you've completed a drug or alcohol treatment program, jumping back into the same addiction environment can be difficult. These old places can be stressful. And they can produce the triggers addicts are trying to avoid. For many, a transitional base can help smooth the process of recovery.

Sober living homes are less structured than a treatment facility. They don't provide drug or alcohol treatment services or detoxification. They are not required to be licensed by the state. They are simply a place where each resident supports the other.

By putting their residents on a regular schedule, sober living homes establish the structure and routine of regular life.

A Typical Home
All sober living homes are different. But most have similar structures designed with the residents' recovery in mind.

  • A home is usually a single-family residence or multiunit complex in a residential neighborhood. The number of residents ranges from six to 30 depending on the size of the home. Everyone shares a bedroom with at least one other person. Most homes are not co-ed.
  • Residents stay anywhere from 90 days to one year.
  • Rent ranges from $250 to $1,500 depending on the amenities and location. Utilities are usually included.
  • Each resident must be financially self-supporting. Rent must be paid on time. Most homes require the residents to either work or be enrolled in a college or vocational school
  • Residents must follow a strict set of house rules with violations of these rules resulting in fines or ejection from the house.
  • The biggest rule: zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol. Even over-the-counter medicines such as mouthwash or cold medicines are prohibited.
  • Other strictly enforced rules include violence, threats, fighting, theft, sex, and violation of curfews.
  • Some homes are peer-run with professional supervision. These types of homes are usually less expensive.
  • Many homes require attendance at 12-step (AA or NA) meetings, especially during the first 30 days of residency.

Daily Life in Sober Living Homes
Not all sober living homes are the same. But in general, you can expect there to be common aspects shared by most facilities. Here are a handful:

  • Your day usually starts early with mandatory attendance at a variety of classes, counseling sessions and/or training.
  • Each resident is assigned a daily chore.
  • Some sober living homes require their residents to work outside the home or volunteer, particularly in the field of addiction recovery.
  • Random drug testing is held once a week. If you refuse the testing, it's grounds for disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the house.
  • Meals are usually held family-style at set times during each day.
  • Counseling—for issues of low self-esteem, trauma, and emotional pain—are sometimes provided.
  • Life skills training activities are scheduled during the week and may include career counseling, anger management, spiritual sessions, and fitness training.
  • Family members are often encouraged to visit (during scheduled hours) and attend counseling sessions.

Benefits of a Sober Living Home
There's no guarantee a sober living home will keep you clean. It's just one more step on your road to lasting recovery. But for many, these homes are a needed transition to regular life. Here are several benefits:

  • They focus on sobriety in an environment where everyone shares the same goal.
  • They offer a schedule and routine that normalizes the lives of the residents, preparing them for life on their own. You'll learn to manage your time and budget your finances.
  • They offer structure and enforce strict rules that help the residents adapt to the rules in regular life.
  • They offer life skills training—career, social interactions, housekeeping, fitness, etc. This training will better prepare the resident to meet the demands of regular sober life—a life many haven't experienced for years.
  • They offer an expansion of your sober network. You will meet other addicts who may become lifelong friends.

Summary

Sober living homes can provide the right transition between addiction treatment and regular life for many people. They provide an environment for addicts to support addicts. And they offer weekly training and counseling that put residents one step closer to lasting recovery.

Residents will be introduced to structured daily living, with zero tolerance rules to help them change their behaviors before heading back to regular life.