Sober Living Recovery Homes: Finding Sober Living Near Me
What is a Sober Living Home?
Sober living homes, sometimes referred to as transitional living arrangements, halfway houses, or recovery residences, can be a step down from formal substance use treatment programs. These homes can offer an in-between option for individuals after they complete a treatment program and before they return to their homes and lives. This transition can provide continued support while residents learn to apply their newly learned self-reliant skills to real-life situations while they remain drug- or alcohol-free in a community environment.
Sober living homes are substance-free living environments for individuals who want to be abstinent from substances and maintain their recovery. They are located nationwide.1
Some sober living homes let residents stay as long as they wish, others have limits on how long a person can live there. These homes are also not monitored by state licensing agencies because they do not offer formal treatment. However, they may be part of coalitions or associations that ensure that the programs follow certain guidelines regarding health, safety, quality, and adherence to a model that emphasizes 12-step or other mutual-help group involvement.2
Referrals to a sober living home may come from several different sources. In a study of individuals in a group of sober living homes, 25% of residents were referred by the criminal justice system, 23% by family or friends, 20% by self-referral, and 13% by a residential or inpatient treatment program.2
Research indicates that living in a sober living home increases abstinence. Per another study, individuals who stayed in sober living homes had improved abstinence rates at 6 months compared to baseline, and the abstinence rates at 12-month and 18-month follow-up points were similar to those at the 6-month point.3
Who Lives in Sober Living Homes?
Anyone who feels they need more time to solidify habits and coping mechanisms before they return to everyday life should consider a sober living home. Typically, sober homes do not restrict those who apply to live there and most have completed a drug rehab program prior to moving in. Sober living homes are populated with groups of people who are in recovery and striving to maintain abstinence. They provide a peer-support network of individuals with similar experiences and goals.3
Gender-Specific Sober Living Homes
Some sober living facilities provide substance-free transitional housing for only men or only women, meaning men live with men and women live with women. Recovering from addiction is a vulnerable process. When individuals are surrounded by others just like them, who are facing the same challenges and have similar recovery goals, it can make aspects of recovery easier since individuals who are more alike than not relate to one another, share similar experiences, and ways of perceiving the world.
How Much Do Sober Living Home Programs Cost?
Prices vary depending on location, living arrangements, and program offerings. Typically, the cost is about the same as living in a modest apartment or home.
What to Expect in Sober Living Homes
Each home may be structured differently, although individuals are typically expected to comply with house rules, remain abstinent from all substances, attend house meetings, and complete chores.3 Many people in sober living homes work to pay their residence fees. Some homes may help residents find a job or have connections to local employers to ease the transition into employment.1
Sober living homes may also be tied to local treatment programs. Substance use treatment providers may offer oversight in some instances, although this is not always the case.
Some programs may require residents to participate in 12-step programs; others may strongly recommend participation.1 Oxford House recovery homes operate nonprofit and self-sustaining sober living homes. A study found that more than 75% of individuals in this type of transitional residence attend 12-step meetings at least once a week.2 Individuals in sober living homes may also attend regular counseling and therapy sessions as well as receive treatment for other medical conditions while in residence.1
What is the Difference Between Sober Living and Halfway Houses?
Sober living houses and halfway houses are often used interchangeably as they both provide a substance-free living environment for those suffering from addiction. Differences between the two can stem from funding, length of stay, and requirements to apply to live there. Sober living homes typically do not limit the length of stay and may not require previous attendance in a formal addiction treatment program. Halfway houses, on the other hand, typically have a time limit and require residents to either be attending a treatment program or have recently completed one.
Tips for Choosing the Best Sober Living Home
Anyone who struggles with drug or alcohol use disorders may benefit from a sober living home. These programs can be a beneficial part of a treatment continuum, wherein individuals move between levels of care as their personal recovery dictates. It may be the last step before returning to everyday life. Individuals often go back into the workforce, back to school, and start integrating back into their “normal” lives while living at a sober living home.2
Some sober living homes stipulate that individuals spend at least 5 nights a week in the sober living environment but allow for residents to spend a night or two at their own home as well.2 This can help to ease the transition back into living at home full-time and returning to all obligations there.
Some of the best resources for finding a sober living home are treatment facilities, 12-step groups, or medical and mental healthcare professionals. Additionally, tips on finding and choosing a sober living home include:
- Find a home that is centrally located to meeting, counseling, or therapy session locations.
- Be sure that all rules are understood and agreed upon.
- Listen to or seek out personal referrals from people who have lived, or are living in the sober living home to decide if it is the right fit for you.
- Read facility reviews.
- Talk to people in your treatment program or 12-step group for recommendations.
- Make sure you can afford the cost.
Sober living homes may or may not be accredited or licensed through a state, local, or national agency. The National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) sets national standards that affiliate agencies can use to certify recovery residences and that individuals can use to find a sober living home with a high standard of care.
Where Can I Find Sober Living Homes Near Me?
American Addiction Centers (AAC) offers sober living arrangements nationwide at Resolutions – Recovery Residences. Call us at to get more info.
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