What is a Sober Living House? Benefits & When to Join
You should choose which sober living house to reside in based on your specific needs and their focus. You could stay at a few different types of sober living houses and may change your living arrangements before finding the right fit. Don’t be discouraged if one doesn’t work out, as there are plenty out there that will fit your needs better. Sober living recovery homes are a great outpatient treatment option for people that are recently out of treatment. Especially after going through inpatient treatment, drug rehab, and detox, trying to acclimate yourself back into the real world can be a difficult process.
- Many homes offer flexible schedules and understand the importance of maintaining employment.
- Some SLHs offer intensive outpatient services, including on-site medical care.
- Sober living homes don’t require accreditation, a state license or oversight from a behavioral health care provider.
- A central objective of SLHs is to provide a positive living environment that reduces exposure to relapse triggers.
Sober living houses as a recovery option for methamphetamine dependence. Poster presented at the Translational Research on Methamphetamine Addiction, Pray, Montana. However, the decision to live in a sober living home will depend on individual needs and preferences.
Types of Sober Living Houses
Ethos Structured Sober Living is an all male community in recovery located in the heart of West Los Angeles. Our primary purpose is to foster long-term sobriety through the cultivation of accountability, camaraderie, & character development. 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.
This home allowed sober individuals to feel safe and a part of a community, which inspired more houses like this to be created. After completing an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, you or a loved one might want to stay within a community of other sober individuals while you get back on your feet. Most sober house residents, however, stay for 6 to 9 months before moving on to full independence. Of course, there are a slew of additional factors that influence the overall quality, effectiveness, and fit of a sober living program. Residents of the halfway house must complete or be enrolled in rehabilitation.
Addiction and Mental Health Resources
A supportive and structured environment is a cornerstone of the success of sober living houses. While some sober living homes may incorporate evidence-based therapies and holistic approaches, the primary emphasis is fostering a community prioritizing healing and well-being. Scientifically, numerous studies have underscored the efficacy of sober living houses in promoting long-term sobriety. Physically, residents experience benefits like detoxification, improved health, and reduced cravings. Psychologically, the structured and supportive environment of a sober living home fosters emotional healing, resilience, and enhanced self-esteem. The types of services and programs that each sober living home offers will vary depending on the residence and a person’s specific needs.
- You can also contact a representative from the sober living home to discuss payment options.
- Someone’s family and friends could become a barrier to recovery, or may even trigger relapse.
- Many of these homes will also reject individuals with a criminal background.
- Sober living homes are known for strictly enforcing rules, and violations usually result in eviction.
- Creating your own sober living house is not abnormal as long as everyone involved is set on sticking to sobriety and continuing addiction treatment.
- Most of the time, residents share communal spaces, like kitchens, living rooms, and backyards.
Most residents find a job to pay out of pocket or set up a payment plan with the home. Some sober living homes are covered by private insurance, government funding or Medicaid. Some residents also pay for sober housing through scholarships, loans or credit cards. The daily schedule at sober living homes is heavily influenced by the residents’ current stage of recovery. Some homes are highly structured, with strict schedules and consistent eating and meeting times.
Sober Living Vs Halfway House: Similar, But Not Synonyms
Sober living homes rarely offer professional services within the home.5 Instead, most residents will stay in a sober living home while attending IOP or outpatient treatment. In a halfway house, the living arrangements vary widely depending on the house type. In this setup, you share a single living space with multiple individuals, with bunk-bedding or multiple beds set up in a single room. Alternately, some halfway houses have smaller rooms that you share with roommates.
A new house member must be interviewed by current residents and must receive an 80 percent vote of approval to be accepted. Residents elect officers every six months, do chores and pay rent. Sober living is just like it sounds, a place to stay where you’ll have a supportive community and can start your new life free from alcohol or other drugs.
What’s the Difference Between Sober Living and Halfway Houses?
Everyone staying in the house has to be on the same page and contribute to the upkeep of the space. If you are interested in finding a sober living home for you or a loved one, we encourage you to visit for more information. If you have an interest in starting a sober living home as a business, please sober house vs halfway house visit Typically, as long as you follow the rules, you may live in the home for as long as you want. Poster presented at the meeting of Addiction Health Services Research, San Francisco, CA. At Design for Recovery Sober Living, this journey is navigated with utmost care and structured support.