One of the most challenging times for someone recovering from drug or alcohol addiction is when they leave a residential treatment center and head back to their daily life. Without the supervision and structure of a treatment program, a person in recovery can be tempted to return to old habits. The risk of relapse is particularly high in the first few months following treatment. Studies have identified that 65% to 70% of people relapse within the initial 90-day period.

A sober living house acts as a bridge between residential treatment and returning to daily life. Receiving additional support in the early days post-treatment can significantly enhance the chance of achieving long-term sobriety. This is particularly related to the peer support and solidarity offered at a sober living home where all residents are on the recovery journey together. As the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states, peer support programs during and following treatment can help maintain abstinence.

Here you will find information about sober living houses, what they do, and how you, or your loved one, can take full advantage of the support on offer and enjoy a life free from addiction.

The Difference Between Halfway Houses and Sober Living Homes

Sometimes people use the term halfway house and sober living home interchangeably. Although they are related, they are not the same thing. Both residences provide a space where people can live as a group and ease themselves back into daily life following a stint away from home. However, the way they work, the length of stay, and the funding options differ.

What Are Halfway Houses?

Halfway houses date back to the 1830s when they housed children and adults that had committed crimes or had been released from prison. These facilities still exist today and are used primarily for those who have been incarcerated or are unhoused. Halfway houses are often designed specifically for those that received treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol while in prison. Halfway houses can be government funded or run by private organizations that receive government grants. Residents may sleep in dorms, and attendance can be court-ordered for a set period.

What Are Sober Living Houses?

Sober living houses also date back to the 1800s when religious organizations set up residencies where people were required to abstain from alcohol. More modern versions were opened in the 1940s and focused on supporting rehabilitation from substance abuse. These facilities are generally more pleasant and less crowded than halfway houses. Sober living houses are also called sober residences, recovery houses, and recovery residences, among other names.

Who Pays for Sober Living Homes?

Sober living houses are usually peer-run facilities encouraging continued substance use disorder recovery. Occasionally they are run by a charity or an addiction treatment center as a less structured and more informal version of the inpatient treatment plans they offer. Sober living houses allow residents to live together in a drug and alcohol-free space. Residents pay rent to live there at a value similar to renting privately in the local area. As individuals pay rent and expenses, there is generally no time limit on how long they can stay. The facilities are usually pleasant and can include private rooms and bathrooms.

Many sober living homes are not government-funded and are self-supporting or operated by charities or addiction treatment centers. Some recovery houses accept donations of clothing, household goods, and other items for use by residents or to sell to make money to offset the facility’s costs. Some government funding for sober living homes is available, however. An example is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which offers grants to organizations that provide addiction treatment and recovery services.

What Do Sober Living Houses Offer?

Studies suggest that recovery from severe substance use disorder involves three critical components: sobriety, improvement in global (physical, emotional, relational, spiritual) health, and citizenship (positive community reintegration). Recovery residences are abstinence-based living environments that offer support for these three elements.

Sobriety

All sober living homes have a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of drugs or alcohol. Usually, residents have recently completed inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment for substance use addiction. Sometimes, sober living houses also act as a stand-alone approach for substance misuse problems, meaning that someone will go straight there without first attending a residential treatment center.

Most sober living homes do not offer formal addiction treatment but utilize programs in the broader community. Some sober houses provide forms of peer-led counseling or promotion of 12-step programs as favored by organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Improvement in Global Health

Sober living homes encourage participation in group meetings, household tasks, and sometimes, holistic practices such as meditation and mindfulness. Individuals in sober homes share a common goal of long-term sobriety and wellness. Members of the sober living community support and motivate each other to avoid relapsing into past behaviors.

People who live in sober homes report that they are non-judgmental and safe spaces where they can focus on their continued recovery. As the others in the house are in the same situation, they can be authentic without having to explain their addiction or recovery needs. By encouraging a sense of community and togetherness, recovering people are motivated to bond with others, support each other, and continue sobriety to retain their place in the house.

Positive Community Reintegration

While living in a recovery residence, individuals are encouraged to find work, study, or participate in volunteer opportunities. This enables residents to accept responsibility for themselves and their future and establish a daily routine and purpose. Life skills training is often implemented and includes how to manage money, time, motivation, relationships, stress, and other factors more effectively. These skills will enable someone to function well in society when they leave the facility.

7 Reasons To Go to a Sober Living Facility

For many, the thought of returning home after addiction treatment can be daunting. Substance abuse can affect all aspects of a person’s life, including how they function in their family, work, and community. This effect can cause ongoing problems and make someone reluctant to return home after addiction treatment.

Other reasons why going to a sober living house may be the best choice for you or your loved one include the following:

No substances allowed: Sober homes reinforce the message that you can live a happy and healthy life, alcohol and drug-free. Some addicts returning to their former life may be concerned that being in places and around people linked to their previous drug use will cause them to relapse. For example, this may not be the case if you live with friends or family who drink alcohol. Regular drug and alcohol testing can also encourage a person to stay clean.
Peer support groups: Bonding with others in the same situation can be highly beneficial. Working together to identify triggers and ways to overcome them can help individuals identify coping mechanisms they have yet to determine for themselves. Often residents will form bonds that continue long after they live together in a sober house.
Working with families: Some sober living homes will encourage family involvement in a person’s life while they are living at the facility. This provides the individual with a support system for long-term recovery and helps repair relationships that may have been affected by the individual’s drug and alcohol use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) advises that families should be open to the options of support groups or family therapy and counseling, which can improve treatment effectiveness by supporting the whole family.
Continued therapy: Often, drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs include various techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to address the causes of someone’s addiction. Therapy will also provide methods for coping with stress and unpleasant situations in everyday life without resorting to drugs.
Working towards goals: Many sober living facilities require residents to identify goals and how to achieve them. This may include getting a job or going back to school. These goals and the progress being made are reviewed regularly. Making residents accountable for their progress keeps them motivated to succeed. Encouraging work or study also gives the individual a daily routine and purpose in life that keeps them focused on things other than their addiction.
Healthy lifestyle choices: For someone in recovery from a severe substance addiction, it may have been some time since they were able to take proper care of themselves. Sober living homes often teach life skills through classes such as healthy eating education, cooking courses, fitness and exercise classes, and holistic therapies such as yoga and meditation.
Rehab aftercare programs: The staff within recovery residences can assist individuals with finding housing and employment after they leave the sober living home. They may be able to refer people to addiction specialists in their local area that can support them in continuing their addiction recovery. Sometimes, it is possible to remain connected to the sober living house even when someone no longer lives there. This can involve the need to provide regular updates on the progress that someone is making once they fully return to society.

Types of Sober Living Houses

All sober living homes differ regarding how they are managed, the services they provide, and the facilities on offer. The National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR) identifies four levels of sober living housing depending on the type of care they provide as follows:

Level I – Oxford housing: This is the most common type of sober living home in the US. Oxford House Inc is a non-profit, publicly-supported organization that provides the network that connects all Oxford Houses. These recovery residencies are self-run and self-organized. Oxford House Inc states that the concept works for both men and women, but not in the same house, and therefore Oxford Houses are single-sex only. The optimum number of members per house is 8 – 15.Oxford Houses have a minimum of six people, since this is what is required to be considered effective. To be accepted into an Oxford House, the prospective resident is usually interviewed by current residents, and they will then take a vote to see if the person can move in.
Level II – Monitored sober living homes: Within these facilities, a house manager or resident has often been allocated to manage the recovery house. Monitoring includes regular house meetings and drug testing.
Level III – Supervised housing: These are more formal facilities with a hierarchy of qualified staffing. There is a focus on developing life skills, and clinical procedures are offered in the broader community.
Level IV – Residential treatment housing: Often managed by professional health care providers, these are the most structured type of sober homes and offer services in-house. They are closely related to standard inpatient treatment facilities, although they may provide some additional freedoms to patients.

What Rules Apply in a Sober Living House?

All sober houses have a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of drugs or alcohol. Some recovery houses insist on random drug testing to ensure residents remain sober. Individuals who breach this are usually removed from the home immediately to protect the other residents.

Other rules depend on the type of facility and its ethos; some sober homes are stricter than others. If rules are violated, the repercussions can include being made to apologize, write an apology letter, pay a fine, or, in the case of extreme breaches, someone may be asked to permanently leave the house. Examples of rules that may apply are as follows:

Nothing that promotes drug or alcohol use: This can consist of drug paraphernalia, advertising, packaging, or even discussions related to this theme.
Being contactable and transparent about your whereabouts: Although residents have more freedom than in a residential treatment center, away from the support of their peers in the sober living home, they may be tempted to return to old habits. Sober house rules often include the need to be accountable at all times to mitigate the risk of relapse. Some recovery houses may implement random spot checks to ensure that residents are where they said they would be.
Compliance with curfews: Similarly, depending on how structured the sober living house is, there may be rules around how late residents can stay out or how often it is possible to sleep elsewhere.
Participation in treatment programs: Many sober living houses do not offer treatment services, but some insist that residents must attend outpatient treatment programs. This could include group or individual therapy at the attached addiction treatment center or 12-step meetings through organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Mandatory attendance at house meetings: These meetings can be formal and structured or adopt a more informal approach. A structured version may include each participant reviewing how they did that week in their recovery and set goals for the week ahead. Less formal sober living homes may hold meetings to discuss house matters such as chore lists and any disagreements that have arisen between residents.
No intimate relationships with other residents: To ensure that residents remain focused on their recovery, many recovery houses insist that residents do not have intimate relationships.
No guests overnight: Sober living homes usually do not permit guests to stay overnight in residents’ rooms. The guest may not be in the same situation or mindset as the resident and could pose a threat to them or others within the recovery house. There is also the risk of outside guests bringing drugs or alcohol into the center.
Payment of rent and living expenses: Residents in sober houses pay rent which may include living expenses such as food and utilities, or this may need to be paid on top.
Courteous behavior toward other residents and staff: Sober living houses aim to provide pleasant living conditions where residents can focus on their continued sobriety, avoid undue stress, and receive peer support. If someone is being threatening, violent, or using offensive language, they may be asked to leave to retain harmony within the house.

How Effective Are Sober Living Houses?

Many studies have shown that the best-practice rehabilitation treatment provides continuity of care post-discharge. Sober homes allow individuals to continue with elements of their recovery treatment even after their formal rehab program has finished. This continuation of support, motivation, and, in some cases, therapy will significantly enhance their chance of long-term sobriety.

The risk of relapse when someone leaves addiction treatment is particularly concerning. One study into people being treated for heroin addiction showed a considerable risk of death from overdose in the month following treatment. This indicates the need for greater health education of drug users and the implementation of relapse and overdose death prevention programs. Sober living houses can assist in educating drug users and reducing the chance of relapse. One study into Oxford House recovery homes found that they reduce relapse by providing closer monitoring and referring additional services to residents with a history of severe addiction.

In addition to reducing the risk of relapse, recovery residences have other benefits. One study of 330 residents at 49 sober living homes in California found that residents had increased odds of total abstinence and employment. The same research also identified operational characteristics that improved the success rate of sober houses. This included the facility’s location and whether residents must be sober for at least 30 days before admittance.

Can Anyone Go to a Sober Living Home?

Sober houses have been proven to support the recovery process of people who have undergone treatment for substance use disorder. However, the American Psychological Association identifies some situations where a sober living house may not be appropriate:

If the individual is not in recovery from substance use disorder or has co-occurring issues such as mental health concerns.
If someone requires medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, or specialized therapies, they should be referred to a residential treatment center instead.
If the person does not meet the demographic criteria. Some recovery residences are single-sex only or designed for people in a certain age bracket or life situation, such as adolescents or veterans.
If someone is unwilling or unable to support the culture of recovery within the sober living house or cannot abide by the house rules.
If the recovery residence cannot meet their needs. Although some Level 4 sober living homes offer addiction treatment, some needs may still not be catered for within a particular facility.
If the person is a threat to themselves or others and will undermine the house’s cooperative, supportive and pleasant environment.

How To Choose a Sober Home for Yourself or a Loved One

There are many factors to take into account when choosing a sober living house. Some of the things that you may wish to consider are as follows:

Location: As people are encouraged to use sober living homes as a transition back to daily life, it may be appropriate for the facility to be close to where the person wishes to live in the future. This way, if they get a job locally, they can continue to work there after they have left the recovery residence and attend any medical appointments or counseling.
Size: Recovery houses range in size. 8-15 residents are considered the optimal number for an Oxford House, so you may wish to look elsewhere if there are more or fewer people.
Amenities: The amenities differ from facility to facility, so you may wish to decide what is essential for you before you choose a house. Some sober residences have gardens where residents can enjoy fresh air and nature. Some may have a games room, gym, or swimming pool.
Length of stay: Many sober living homes do not restrict the length of stay as long as the person continues to pay rent and expenses. Some people live in them for a few months, whereas others stay for years. Occasionally, more structured or popular recovery houses may have a limit of 6 months or a year.
Accreditation and management: Sober homes can have accreditation, and those with addiction treatment options will also have qualified medical personnel. The National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR) developed a national standard for sober living homes. Licensed affiliate organizations certify recovery residences that meet this standard. It is essential to find out what services are on offer and if they meet your needs.
Record of success: Established recovery houses will have testimonials from previous residents. Knowing how people have fared before can help you feel confident about the effectiveness of the sober living home. It is also helpful to speak to current residents and get a feel for how happy they are in the facility, what the atmosphere is like, and how well-managed it is.
Cost: Rent at a sober residence is generally in line with market value for the area. The amount varies considerably between states and depends on the amenities on offer and the standard of accommodation. As a guide, rent can be as low as $300 or $400 per month up to $1500 per month or more in exclusive areas. In some centers, utilities are included, whereas, in others, they need to be paid on top. Residents cook and eat together in some recovery houses, meaning that contributions may be required toward food bills.
Requirements for entry: Some sober living homes will require proof that a person has completed an accredited addiction treatment program before being considered for residency. Sometimes, prospective residents will need to undertake screening for drugs or alcohol.

How Can I Pay for a Sober Living Home?

You may have decided that staying in a recovery house is the best option for you or your loved one but are concerned about how you can afford it. This can be particularly challenging if you have just had to pay for addiction treatment and have been unable to work due to being in a residential facility. You can explore some options, though:

Insurance: if you have health insurance, it may pay for elements of your sober home as an extension of the addiction treatment that has already been funded. This could include participating in therapy sessions that require staying in the recovery house. It is less common for insurance providers to pay living expenses, but it is still worth enquiring about this.
Payment plans: Some sober living homes have payment options tailored to individuals’ needs. It may be possible to rent a smaller room for less money each month, for example, or they may offer financing that is paid back over time. Some recovery residences may even provide the first month for free, allowing residents to settle in and find work. Sometimes sober houses can offer reduced rents or scholarships to qualifying residents.
Finding employment: Many sober living homes insist that residents have some employment or regular study. Working while you are living there can help offset some of the costs, and the recovery home may be more willing to offer credit or financing if they know someone is employed.
Apply for a grant: Generally, grants are offered to recovery residences and not to individuals; however, there are some avenues you can explore. One example of government funding for rehabilitation is the SAMHSA block grants. Alternatively, some charities or not-for-profit organizations offer support to individuals in recovery. You can search for these online, or the management of the sober home you would like to live in may know of organizations that have previously supported their residents.
Apply for a loan: Sometimes, it is possible to receive a loan from a bank or other lender for medical or hardship reasons to cover your stay in a sober living house. Depending on the type of loan, the terms can be quite favorable and potentially more favorable than those offered by the recovery house itself.

How Do I Find a Sober House?

There are resources available that can help you to find the recovery residence that is right for you. Examples of trustworthy sources include the following:

The SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator or free helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Through these resources, you can search for recovery centers near you.
Rehab.com can help you with information about addiction and where to find drug and alcohol recovery centers. Call free at 888-702-1717.
Your doctor can provide you with information about sober living homes in your local area.
Your friends and family may know of local recovery residences, someone who has been to one or assist you in your search for suitable facilities.

If you or a loved one is due to finish treatment for drug or alcohol addiction and are worried about the temptations of daily life, staying in a sober living house may be the right choice for you. Proven effective in reducing the chance of relapse, sober homes are a collaborative and supportive environment to transition back to everyday life. With many types of recovery residences located all over the country, you are bound to find the right one for you. Your sober living community will provide you with invaluable peer support and motivation to continue on your journey to a life free from addiction.

A Complete Guide To Sober Living Homes