How Do Sober Living Homes Work?

Many sober living homes operate like a co-op, where a group of residents pays rent and upkeeps the home as if it were their own. In order to stay living in a sober home, everyone has to follow a set of rules, which may include meeting curfew or periodic drug testing. Some are on the campus where drug and alcohol addiction treatment is provided, and others are independent homes, apartments or condos.

They usually choose to live in either a halfway house or a sober living home. 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. Over 24 agencies affiliated with CAARR offer clean and sober living services. A sober living home provides a safe and supportive environment for the addict or alcoholic to gradually readjust to life in the real world.

Recovery Coaching

Overall, both sober living homes and halfway houses can provide a supportive and safe environment for individuals in recovery to build a foundation for a healthy and fulfilling life in sobriety. The decision of which type of residential environment is best will depend on your specific needs sober house and circumstances, as well as the level of support and structure you need to maintain your sobriety. The goal of sober housing is to separate users from their previous, substance-occupied environment, and provide them with a safe and supportive place to heal, away from outside pressures.

Sober living houses are often used as a transitional step for people who have completed an inpatient treatment program and are not yet ready to return to everyday living. Living in a sober living house provides a structured, drug-free environment with house rules and guidelines to help residents maintain their sobriety and develop life skills to support their recovery. Sober living houses typically have house managers who oversee daily operations and enforce house rules. Residents are usually required to be participating in active recovery.

Sober definition

In some cases, sober living homes will contract with licensed drug rehabilitation centers and therapists as a means for providing an even greater level of care. These types of sober livings do tend to charge higher fees, however, they are often able to provide a very affordable alternative to what would otherwise constitute high-priced inpatient treatment. The cost varies by the type of sober-living environment and length of stay.

This is one of the greatest benefits of sober living environments. Residents have the opportunity to build meaningful and healthy relationships. These friendships are not built via drugs or alcohol, and for this reason, often sustain long after treatment has ended. Many residents at Turnbridge leave with lifelong relationships and an unwavering sober support network to call when things get tough. Also like other sober-living environments, halfway houses generally have systems in place to keep residents sober, and drugs tests are usually administered to monitor for any substance use. They also often come with additional mental health, medical, recovery or educational services that help people get accustomed to their new lives.