You can also look into Oxford Houses, which provide all recovering users the opportunity to develop comfortable sobriety without relapse. Due to how interchangeably these terms are used, it is important to ask questions about expectations and structure to determine which home is the right fit for you. We came from very humble beginnings, and would love to tell you our story of success and recovery. The information provided by AddictionHelp.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice. View our editorial content guidelines to learn how we create helpful content with integrity and compassion. The use of this website is subject to our privacy policy and disclaimer.

Because a large number do not have a stable living environment that supports abstinence from alcohol and drugs, ORS developed SLHs where clients can live while they attend the outpatient program. The houses are different from freestanding SLHs, such as those at CSTL, because all residents must be involved in the outpatient program. Most residents enter the houses after residing in a short term homeless shelter located near the program.

Level 4: Service Provider

Sometimes they are designed specifically for formerly incarcerated folks. Other times, they function as a more intensive residential facility, meaning that there is consistent recovery programming, requirements, and staff present in the house. Over the years, sober living houses have evolved to meet the needs of those in recovery. Selecting the Most Suitable Sober House for Addiction Recovery As such, sober living associations now make finding a residence easier. There are also plenty of independent sober living houses that have not changed their protocols much since the late 1940s when these residences came to be. Choosing a sober living environment is a big decision and there a number of key features to consider.

Residents in a sober living house should understand and agree to all house rules when they move in. Depending on the violation, residents may be put on “probation,” have to pay a fine or make amends to another resident or write an essay about what they did. In cases of serious or repeat violations, residents may be asked to leave the home. Most of recovery homes are privately owned or owned by treatment organizations. Sober house operators are often in recovery themselves, and nearly all sober houses are run by House Managers.

What are Sober Living Homes?

We also include a discussion of our plans to study the community context of SLHs, which will depict how stakeholder influences support and hinder their operations and potential for expansion. The study design used repeated measures analyses to test how study measures varied over time. Because the two types of houses served residents with different demographic characteristics, we conducted disaggregated longitudinal analyses for each. For a more complete description of the study design and collection of data see Polcin et al. (2010), Polcin et al. (in press) and Polcin, Korcha, Bond, Galloway and Lapp (in press). If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse, we can help. To reach a state of sober living, you must first dig deep within yourself and understand the root of your substance use.

Most of them view their homes as a necessary component of a successful recovery. Specific nuances of each rule depend on the sober living home or manager. As you’re searching for the environment that’s right for you, ask each potential recovery home what their rules are. Today, sober houses are “free-standing,” independently owned and operated.

How One’s Living Environment Impacts Substance Use and Recovery

Some residents probably benefit from the mandate that they attend outpatient treatment during the day and comply with a curfew in the evening. For some individuals, the limited structure offered by freestanding SLHs could invite association with substance using friends and family and thus precipitate relapse. This could be particularly problematic in poor communities where residents have easy access to substances and people who use them. A critically important aspect of one’s social network is their living environment. Recognition of the importance of one’s living environment led to a proliferation of inpatient and residential treatment programs during the 1960′ and 70’s (White, 1998). The idea was to remove clients from destructive living environments that encouraged substance use and create new social support systems in treatment.

• While these facilities maintain much in common, there are key differences in the formation, funding, regulations and logistical aspects of sober living vs. halfway houses.
• For instance, some homes request residents to check in with a house manager, and some houses will require periodic drug tests.
• Like level 3 sober homes, integrated sober residences have clinical services and life skill developmental programs.
• There are a few of them that offer some therapeutic treatment and support, but in most cases, it is not available.

In most sober-living environments, bedrooms are shared, but some do provide individual rooms. Typically, there are rules about shared living spaces and individual room maintenance and chores, visitor hours, meal times, curfews and Twelve Step meeting requirements. Sober living houses are often recommended for folks finishing up a drug rehabilitation program.Leaving the structure of a treatment program can be jarring, sometimes triggering a relapse. As such, sober living houses serve as a space to transition into a life without addiction, developing tools and community while getting used to the demands of daily life.

What are halfway house rules?

Those on the fence of which way to go should know that sober living offers a great option to re-build and take the next step. Usually, halfway houses accept insurance and have much more strict requirements on behavior. Halfway houses and other treatment organizations offer clinical care. Learn more about our addiction treatment programs and transitional living today.