Tag Archives: Sober Living

Supporting Those in Sober Housing

Supporting Those in Sober Housing

People in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) frequently develop the need to find alternative housing – and for a number of reasons. For example, some people who are homeless find themselves relying on alcohol or drugs to cope with their struggles and need a safe place to continue their recovery. Others find that their previous living situations are not conducive to recovery. For these people and many others, sober housing can be crucial for providing security, avoiding relapse, finding community, and developing healthier methods of managing stress.

While the importance of sober housing is more accepted than ever before, organizations that offer sober housing cannot do it alone. Many individuals who are looking to treat their SUD don’t have the financial means to do so, while others may not have the resources available to find sober housing. Still others may not have access to sober housing options in their local communities. However, all individuals completing treatment need a place to practice the principles of recovery and continue to care for themselves in a safe, secure place.

What Is Sober Housing?

What Is Sober Housing

While sober housing can take many forms, the most important component is that sober housing allows people with SUD a safe place to live while in early recovery. Sober living arrangements are developed specifically for those with SUD and are designed to be a safe and healthy environment free from many common triggers. Sober housing often employs staff trained to empower residents to make changes and improve their lives.

As residents address their SUD and other mental health issues, recovery housing can provide a supportive environment that makes navigating these challenges easier. In this way, sober housing arrangements can prove to be a cost-effective and reliable resource for maintaining recovery, especially when compared to ongoing residential treatment. In addition, another advantage sober living environments have is that they serve as a valid transition from treatment to the individual’s intended living situation – instead of a cold or institutional setting, sober housing tends to look like private residences in order to maintain the feeling of “home.”

How Does Sober Housing Work?

How Does Sober Housing Work?

While sober housing options are not uniform, sober housing generally uses a tiered system to determine what types of resources patients need. Some people with SUD need more support and treatment options than others, and these homes may have these options organized over a few various levels. Depending on the level, different rules may be in place.

For those who intend to live in a sober home while recovering from SUD, there are certain ground rules that must be followed and mandatory activities that must be completed each day.

These rules often include things like:

  • All residents must pay rent on time.
  • Residents must attend individual and group therapy
  • Residents may not have intoxicating substances in any capacity. (Some homes will allow prescription medications.)
  • Residents must attend house meetings.
  • Residents must contribute to the running of the household, including cleaning, laundry, maintenance, and other duties.

Most sober houses are overseen by people who are in recovery themselves and are occupied entirely by people who have had their own struggles with substance use disorder. That way, nobody needs to fear social isolation on the recovery journey; sober housing arrangements enable people to support one another while walking the path toward recovery.

The Housing First Model

A unique approach to sober housing, known as Housing First, relies on finding permanent housing for people with SUD before seeking treatment. In this model, there are no prerequisites for becoming sober. This model allows people to make progress on their mental health disorders and SUD both before and during treatment.

The main idea behind this model is that people who have stable housing are more willing to accept treatment and more able to make significant progress. Housing First believes in reducing harm rather than preaching abstinence only. Programs in this model also vary, and staff at these homes will monitor residents daily and as needed.

Why Is Sober Housing So Important?

Why Is Sober Housing So Important?

When people have personal struggles they feel are too difficult to manage on their own, they may turn to substance use in an effort to address them in another way. However, substance use only aggravates the problem and makes the daily routine more challenging. Some people experience difficulty maintaining the employment and personal relationships necessary to manage housing on their own. While treatment can help them cease substance use, it is often difficult for people to maintain the resources necessary to return home.

In addition, many individuals complete treatment only to be thrust into the same environment as they occupied before. They may have been surrounded by other people who used substances or other reminders of substance use. Returning to that environment is, unfortunately, conducive to relapse.

Other people may not be welcome in the home they occupied before recovery or may be unable to continue to afford living there. Unfortunately, becoming homeless can lead to continued substance use disorder issues. Roughly 35% of homeless individuals have a substance use disorder. While we recommend dialing 211 or contacting the National Alliance to End Homelessness for those experiencing homelessness during recovery, proper funding for sober housing can help prevent homelessness for many of these individuals.

Sober Housing Arrangements Work

Sober Housing Arrangements Work

When given the support and care they need to continue to give attention to the principles of recovery, people can go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Sober housing is essential in helping people maintain an environment conducive to creating a meaningful future. Taking the first step in seeking help can be daunting for many, and the prospect of returning to or staying in an unsafe or triggering environment can actually derail recovery. If someone truly does want help, it’s crucial to find an environment that contributes to recovery rather than taking away from it.

Research shows that sober housing programs can improve the overall well-being of residents with SUD. People who lived in sober housing arrangements maintained recovery longer than those who did not. While this is promising, there is a shortage of affordable sober housing in the nation. For every 100 low-income households, there are only about 29 available housing options available.

This is a key indicator that policy must be adapted to make housing more affordable for those with SUD. In other words, while statistics show promise, more work must be done. This is where the efforts championed by the ECHO Foundation’s Sober Housing Initiative come in.

How Much Does Sober Housing Cost?

How Much Does Sober Housing Cost

Sober housing rates can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. While there is no unified cost structure for sober housing, there are some ways to assess the cost.

Factors may include:

  • Average rent in the local area
  • Mortgage cost
  • State funding and allowances
  • Sober housing programming considerations

For example, we’ve heard reports of cheap sober housing costs at about $400 a month, but there’s no guarantee the cost will be this low. In fact, the average sober housing rate significantly exceeds this amount in most states. For more comfortably furnished homes that include other activities and services, sober housing rent can exceed $10,000 per month and can fluctuate depending on how many people reside in the home to contribute.

Why Do Those in Sober Housing Need Monetary Support?

Why Do Those in Sober Housing Need Monetary Support?

Affordable housing is an issue for individuals in many groups, but it is especially difficult to find affordable housing that supports sobriety. For all the reasons listed above, people with SUD depend on sober housing to maintain recovery before, during, or after SUD treatment. So, what barriers are in place that are preventing people from accessing sober housing?

People Can’t Afford It Alone

While housing programs for people with SUD have been shown to be effective, free programs are rare. Many people in recovery are experiencing financial issues, job loss, legal troubles, lack of transportation, and more, which can cause difficulty paying for sober housing. By donating to a sober housing initiative, you can help ensure that people in recovery have the housing support they need to continue practicing the principles of recovery.

Suggested Reading: How Housing Funding Improves the Predicament of Those with SUD

Government Programs May Not Pay

While there are federal and state healthcare programs in place, they often don’t cover many recovery necessities. Medicaid and Medicare, for example, won’t always cover the costs of sober housing.

There are certain conditions people must meet to qualify, including:

  • Age restrictions
  • Income restrictions
  • Restrictions from the state of residence

The same can be said for other social services, depending on the situation. In Maryland, where our headquarters are located, the Department of Housing and Community Development has enacted programs that assist low-income families and offer foreclosure protection. However, residents must meet specific requirements to qualify.

Policy Changes Are Necessary

While there is research that shows the efficacy of sober housing programs, policymakers haven’t made adjustments. Unfortunately, addressing housing issues takes time and careful planning, and there are currently thousands of people in need of sober housing as a recovery tool. We can’t wait for others to act; donations are the best way to ensure people can access affordable sober housing.
Policy Changes Are Necessary

How Can I Help Those in Sober Housing Programs?

If you’re ready to help people with SUD make the recovery journey more sustainable, it’s important to consider the following steps.

Be Patient and Supportive

People who have made the decision to seek help with SUD have made one of the most difficult and influential decisions in their lives. It can be a stressful time for them, and they may be anxious regarding what will happen in the future. If you know someone who is in need of a sober housing program, listen to their concerns and be patient. Offer your patience and emotional support; even listening to someone share their story can make a significant difference in their life.

Volunteer

Some sober housing programs may offer volunteer opportunities, but this isn’t guaranteed. Volunteering can help you make connections, especially if you’re in recovery yourself, which will also allow you to spread the word about the impact of sober housing. Whether you’re participating in a community event or simply contributing to a household item drive, you can make an impact on the lives of those in recovery.

Support the Recovery Process

If you have a loved one looking for a sober housing arrangement, it’s highly advised you participate in the recovery process as much as they wish. Recovery is a lifelong process, and your support is valuable as they complete treatment and re-enter the world. If you’re engaged with moving forward from SUD, you’ll be prepared to help when they feel overwhelmed.

Make a Financial Donation

Making a financial donation to a sober housing initiative like the ECHO Foundation Sober Housing Initiative is the simplest, most effective way to help people afford safe, sober housing. Your contributions can help provide sober housing scholarships for people with SUD, as well as programming like art therapy and more. Relieving this financial stress can not only ensure safe housing for others but remove a major factor that can contribute to relapse.

Donate to Our Sober Housing Initiative Today

Donate to Our Sober Housing Initiative Today

ECHO Recovery created the ECHO Foundation Sober Housing Initiative, which is a program meant to offer financial assistance to those in recovery. We are not a sober housing facility, nor do we offer case management, but we offer assistance to those who need help finding and funding safe, sober housing.

Our mission is to help keep people on the path toward recovery, and we need your help to do it. Consider donating to our initiative today. Housing needs for people with substance use disorder must be met to prevent relapse and ensure proper care. Your donations can help support those who need sober housing to meet these needs. Thank you for your support.

Resources :

    1. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/homelessness_programs_resources/hrc-factsheet-current-statistics-prevalence-characteristics-homelessness.pdf
    2. https://www.usich.gov/news/successfully-connecting-people-affected-by-opioid-use-to-housing-central-city-concern-in-portland-oregon/
    3. https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/hpr-resources/recovery-homes-help-people
    4. https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/meeting-the-housing-needs-of-people-with-substance-use-disorders
    5. https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/HousingChoice/default.aspx
Charitable Donations Needed East Coast Sober Living Facilities - ECHO Recovery

East Coast Housing Opportunities: Charitable Donations Needed for East Coast Sober Living Facilities

Sober Living and Recovery Housing

Finding a circle of support, living with others who understand where you’ve been, and connecting with those who have the same goals are a few reasons why sober living is successful.

Most sober living residents have met their addiction head-on in rehab, and have gone through a high level of treatment. But, transitioning back into a life without drugs can be challenging. Old habits, attachments to old acquaintances, and familiar places die hard.

Recovery housing offers a safe, stable alternative. With more freedom than a residential facility, yet the same accountability for a drug-free lifestyle, monitored recovery home programs provide a bridge between newfound sobriety and lifelong sobriety.

Sober Living Makes a Difference

Being accountable in recovery from addiction sets a precedent for maintaining a long-lasting recovery. This type of living environment positively impacts those working toward a better way of life.

Sober living residents are required to:

  • Follow rules.
  • Contribute to household chores.
  • Submit to drug and alcohol testing.

In the everyday world, successful people live according to a schedule. Similarly, sober living residents learn to create routine and live according to a daily schedule. They begin to go to work (or back to work, in some cases) and find success day by day in creating life out of the ashes of their destructive addiction.

Donating to sober living facilities makes you a partner in the fight against substance abuse.

ECHO Recovery is affiliated with ongoing support programs for people struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. Recovery housing comes with access to support group meetings and clinical, and even medical, services in the local community.

Opportunities for You to Help

The number of individuals and families who have gone through addiction troubles are staggering. Most people have been touched by addiction in one way or another.

We know many people want to give back to fight the disease of addiction. Even if you haven’t experienced it in a profoundly personal way, you probably have some idea of the destruction addiction can have.

Helping people heal has a tremendous impact on our world.

Where Donations Go

The donations we receive at ECHO Recovery go toward helpful causes like providing common household items to recovery housing residents. To begin to replace what they’ve lost, because the addiction has taken everything, we need your help.

Not just in monetary gifts, but the items you donate make a tremendous difference to those staying in recovery homes. Starting a life without substances includes being responsible for normal, everyday tasks such as washing and folding laundry, cooking, doing dishes, and making a bed. Believe it or not, many individuals coming out of addiction have forgotten or never learned the basic requirements of daily life.

We are grateful to receive items that are either monetary or non-monetary. Some of the non-monetary gifts we receive are:

  • Bedding for twin-size beds
  • Paper products: towels, toilet, cups
  • Soaps: hand, dish, laundry
  • Gift cards to stores: grocery, home improvement, gas stations

Items we graciously accept that can be gently used include:

  • Lawn equipment
  • Household cleaning utensils

Monetary Gifts

Do you want to help provide a scholarship an individual who’s embarking on sober living? That is an option available to you. Would you like to make a monetary gift to cover some expenses for a group of residents? That is also a possibility.

In simply giving what you can, rest assured that your dollars will be well appropriated where most needed.

East Coast Sober Living Donations

The national opioid crisis has put a premium on space at addiction rehab centers and, in turn, sober living homes. America can’t seem to meet the needs fast enough for those suffering from addiction to opioids.

Drug and alcohol addiction rips away relationships, jobs, family, finances and freedom. The emotional, spiritual, physical and financial bankruptcy caused by addiction devastates a person and destroys several lives. Many people have lost everything to this illness we know as addiction.

Some of those in rehab have absolutely nothing. And when you’re starting from ground zero, it’s not hard to be grateful for any little thing you’re given.

However, the one thing those recovering from drug and alcohol abuse do have is themselves. They survived. They are still here and they are fighting to keep their life and their recovery going. And, they need all the help they can get. We are here to provide that help, with your support, if possible.

East Coast housing can be expensive. And starting over from rock bottom is tough. We all need a little help once in a while, and this is your once-in-a-while opportunity to help.

You can help America fight this hideous epidemic right here on the East Coast.

No matter how or in what way you feel moved to align with the purpose of fighting back against the human condition of addiction, we love that you are considering helping finance our nonprofit work of assisting people in recovery.

Donate Now or See More Item Donation Ideas:

Recovery Home Donations

Sober Living Home Success Rates - ECHO Recovery

Sober Living Home Success Rates

Do sober living homes provide value when it comes to substance abuse recovery? Of course, we will always reply, “Yes,” to this question, but can we quantify it?

There are a lot of variables in play when it comes to sober housing and determining what constitutes success. Nevertheless, we will draw upon a longitudinal study as well as other relevant statistics in order to demonstrate the great benefit of sober living homes.

If you’re looking for the universal success rate, there’s not one easy number to point to, but we can provide several related stats and facts that help paint a pretty close picture.

Sober Living Longitudinal Study in California

One of the most wide-ranging studies of sober homes came out of California last decade. Douglas L. Polcin, Ed.D., led a group of researchers who studied two different models of sober living houses from 2005 to 2010. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) funded this study, called “the first examination of sober living house residents using a longitudinal design.”

The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs published Polcin and co.’s findings in December 2010. The study tracked the results of 300 individuals who entered one of the two sober living communities on which Polcin’s team focused.

The two disparate models of sober living homes were:

  • A group of homes located in Berkeley, California with a direct connection to an outpatient addiction treatment program. At the time of the study, there were four houses and 58 beds in total.
  • A community of 16 “freestanding” houses (136-bed capacity) in Sacramento County, California. The first 30 to 90 days of residency were heavily structured, while residents enjoyed more personal freedom if they stayed longer than that. All residents had to abide by a curfew and attend 12-step meetings.

The research team interviewed all participants within their first week at one of the two sober living communities, and then conducted follow-up interviews at the 6-, 12- and 18-month marks. The study noted, “Average lengths of stay in both types of sober living houses surpassed the National Institute on Drug Abuse recommendation of at least 90 days to obtain maximum benefit.”

The average length of stay in the Berkeley sober living community was 254 days. The Sacramento County community boasted a still-impressive average length of stay of 166 days.

Sober Living Home Success Rates: The Findings

In the Berkeley sober living community, only 11 percent of interviewees said they were completely abstinent from drugs and alcohol over the six months prior to their initial (“baseline”) interview. During their stay in the sober home, that rate improved to:

  • 68 percent at the 6- and 12-month marks
  • 46 percent after 18 months

That’s right: The rate dropped between 12 and 18 months, but the researchers noted it was still significantly better than the baseline rate.

In the Sacramento County sober homes, 20 percent of interviewees said they were completely drug and alcohol abstinent over the six months prior to first entering the home. Over time, that rate improved to:

  • 40 percent at 6 months
  • 45 percent at 12 months
  • 42 percent at 18 months

Yes, the rate decreased here between 12 and 18 months, also. Why? The study noted that 68 percent of the Berkeley participants and 82 percent of the Sacramento County participants had left the homes by the 12-month mark. Arguably, the residents who stayed past that time may have been the ones who were struggling more with complete abstinence and needed extra time, driving down the rate over that final six-month period.

Sober Living Benefits: Additional Takeaways

The study noted that the alcohol and drug severity was already low among residents first entering one of these sober homes.

“Because severity was low there was limited room to improve on these measures. Nevertheless, we found significant improvement at 6 months for both alcohol … and drug (abstinence). Those improvements were maintained at 12 and 18 months,” the report said.

The researchers also found no statistically significant differences in outcomes among demographic subgroups (age, gender, ethnicity, education level, etc.) and different referral sources (self, family member, criminal justice, inpatient program, etc.)

The study also noted, “By 18 months nearly all had left, yet improvements were for the most part maintained.”

Researchers could not conclude that one model of sober living was better than the other, due to the differing demographics and objectives each model had. Ultimately, it comes down to what’s best for the individual.

In general, however, the researchers concluded that sober living houses are beneficial for people who are:

  • Completing residential treatment
  • Attending outpatient treatment
  • Seeking non-treatment alternatives for recovery (a sober, structured environment)
  • Entering a community after recent incarceration

Longer Programs Equal Reduced Relapse Rates

A related study worth pointing out has to do with the length of addiction treatment programs. For those who went to treatment for 90 or more consecutive days, the relapse rate was only 15 percent within the first year after completing treatment, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Compare that to the nearly 40 percent relapse rate within the first year among those who only received 30 days of treatment. Findings like these are why the NIDA has declared 90 days to be the new gold standard for addiction treatment program lengths.

The NIDA has never stipulated that patients need to complete all 90 days in an inpatient rehab facility. A combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment, uninterrupted, can be just as effective, especially if the individual takes advantage of sober living accommodations while participating in an outpatient program.

Even the previously mentioned NIAAA-funded study concluded, “there are several significant advantages” when pairing outpatient treatment with sober living accommodations. Among the many benefits is the lack of arbitrary discharge dates by the program, allowing the individual to decide when he or she is ready to transition to greater independence.

“Some residents probably benefit from the mandate that they attend outpatient treatment during the day and comply with a curfew in the evening,” according to Dr. Polcin and his research team.

Sober Living on the East Coast

ECHO Recovery believes strongly in helping people find access to recovery homes that are tied to structured outpatient programs. Through the generous donations we receive, we also may be able to offer financial aid to certain clients to cover a portion of their costs for staying in a sober home.

Whether you’re brand new to rehabilitation or currently in an inpatient program, ECHO Recovery can help you find sober living accommodations on the East Coast along with ongoing outpatient treatment. Contact us if you’re ready to start or continue your journey to addiction recovery.

Learn the Rules of Sober Homes

How To Pay For Sober Living Recovery Home Stays - ECHO Foundation

How to Pay for Sober Living and Recovery Home Stays

When you come to the end of a rehabilitation program, your funds may be drained from not working, and your insurance company has likely payed for all of the treatment it’s going to pay for. Perhaps you can get your insurer to cover outpatient treatment, but any other resources you may need – such as sober living accommodations – will probably be out of pocket.

So, what are your options if returning home is untenable at this time and you need to stay a few more weeks in a drug- and alcohol-free environment? A recovery home is the ideal situation you’re looking for, but paying for it won’t be easy.

Unless you have a few thousand dollars lying around after completing rehab, here are some tips for helping you pay for a recovery home stay as you continue to become accustomed to sobriety:

Will Insurance Cover Sober Living? Try to Use Your Insurance Plan

Just because the chances aren’t great that your insurance plan will cover a recovery home stay doesn’t mean you should avoid looking into it. There are so many insurance companies and unique plans out there that it’s hard to say with 100 percent certainty that you will or will not be covered.

Perhaps you have a higher-end policy that might cover this kind of expense, or if you’ve had a doctor deem sober living as medically necessary, then there’s a higher chance your insurer may cover it. Another possibility is you’ve had the foresight to add on certain options to your insurance plan, which may now cover extended care and accommodations for drug addiction.

You can’t know for sure unless you call up your insurance company directly and ask them if sober living is specifically covered, or what you have to do to get it covered. If you employer provides your insurance, you may be able to get your answers through a human resources representative at your workplace.

The moral of the story is: Don’t rule it out until you’ve asked.

Explore the Recovery Home’s Payment Options

If you’re interested in a specific recovery home, contact them to explore their payment options. They may be able to find a solution that works with your budget. They may offer financing so that you don’t have to put down the money all at once. Perhaps they will also offer a grace period before you start having to pay the loan back.

Some recovery homes are able to offer scholarships and financial aid in order to offset some of your costs. At ECHO Recovery, we take monetary and household good donations in order to help clients afford their fees and to so we can keep our recovery homes stocked with everyday communal items.

The takeaway here is to communicate with your desired recovery home and explore their payment plans before ruling out sober living completely.

Work While You Reside at the Recovery Home

Many recovery homes require you to work at least a part-time job while you enjoy their accommodations, so this can factor in to how you pay for their fees. Although the job you find (or resume) likely won’t cover the entire cost of recovery home living, it will certainly help. It may also factor into the loan terms they offer you if you approach them about a payment plan.

Seek a Private Loan

By no means are you relegated to the recovery home when it comes to seeking a loan. You can approach a bank or another reputable lender in order to seek one of the following types of loans:

  • Personal
  • Medical
  • Hardship

In fact, you may want to do this and secure your terms and then approach a recovery home and ask about their payment plans. This way, you can choose the best terms possible for your budget, and you won’t regret not exploring more payment options.

Please note that while you can take out a loan for sober living and possibly qualify for a scholarship from the recovery home itself, there are no federal grants available for “drug-free supportive housing” at this time, according to the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

Look into Nonprofit Scholarships and Sponsorships

There may be nonprofit organizations either in your hometown or located near your desired recovery home that can offer you financial assistance for sober living. It’s doubtful they will be able or willing to cover the entire cost, but any aid they can offer will help.

The recovery facility you look into may bring up this option if you talk to them about payment plans; they may work with local nonprofits in order to help their clients afford the accommodations. Otherwise, do an independent search online for a charity or nonprofit that may offer financial aid for your sober living stay.

Other Potential Options to Pay for Sober Living

And, if all else fails, or if there’s a certain dollar amount that you’re having trouble covering, there a few last-ditch efforts you can try, such as:

  • Ask a friend, family member or close neighbor if they would be willing to lend you the money until you can pay them back.
  • Sell off personal property or assets that can help you cover the sober living costs.
  • Dip further into your checking account or into your personal saving account, if you haven’t done so already. Be sure to leave enough to live off when you return home.

We understand that you would have to set aside some pride and personal comfort in doing any one of these three things, but consider what’s at stake here: your life and your health. If you finish rehab before you’re really ready and then you relapse, most of the work you did and most of what you’ve spent will have been for not. We say “most” because sometimes you can get right back on track quickly.

Think of the long-term implications of not following through with your recovery, and also think of the success you could find if you maintain sobriety for years on end. Look at rehab and sober living as an investment into your future.

Recovery Housing on the East Coast

ECHO Recovery can help you with a stable place to stay as you pursue outpatient addiction treatment or if you simply want more time in a sober environment before returning home. Our recovery homes emphasize life skills and encourage employment in addition to any treatment you’re receiving and support groups in which you’re participating.

Through various generous donations, we’re able to offer financial aid to many of our clients, as well. Find out more about the services we can provide to support you or your loved one’s walk toward recovery by clicking below.

Explore Our Recovery Housing Services

Choosing sober living

Tips and Professional Advice for Choosing a Sober Living Program

If you are considering choosing a sober living home for yourself or a loved one, take a moment to appreciate this victory. Choosing sober living is a major step toward lifelong addiction recovery. Now the question is – which sober living program is right for you? Use these tips and advice from professionals to get started.

Find Recovery Homes with Structure, Consistency, & Predictability

The last thing a recovering person needs is a chaotic or confusing environment. The best sober living facilities ground their programs and daily living in stability. Look for a facility that has staff members coordinating each day, or at least a basic framework for how activities should go. Without someone telling you what to do in your new sober lifestyle, you may end up feeling intimidated and overwhelmed. This can easily lead to relapse in the wrong circumstances.

Search for structure beyond just a daily routine. Your sober living home should have mandatory rules and regulations, including curfews and a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol-free environment. Anything less is a risk you shouldn’t be willing to take. Stability is especially important in the first weeks and months of recovery. Rules and responsibilities can give you a sense of accountability for your actions, and motivate you to continue on your path toward long-term sober living. When it comes to maintaining sobriety, the more structure the sober living home has, the better.

Don’t Compromise On Safety Or Security

As someone recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction, you’ve dealt with enough bumps in the road. You need a sober living program that ensures your safety – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ask about the home’s security measures and the technology it uses to keep the grounds safe, free from weapons, and free from intruders.

Take a look at the location of the facility. You don’t want to live in a bad part of town, where drug use and dealing are rampant. This would be counter-intuitive to your goal of sober living, and make your life harder than it has to be. A location close to your job, meetings, church, and hospitals is ideal – especially if you don’t have a vehicle or license to drive. Choose a house where you feel safe, comfortable, and cared for.

What You Can Do to Help Fight the Opioid Epidemic

Get To Know The Recovery Staff

Visit the sober living home in person to get a sense of its mood, spirit, and atmosphere. You should feel a sense of positivity, or have a gut feeling that it’s the right place for you. The people currently living there should appear well taken care of and happy – at least for the most part. Search for a sense of friendship or camaraderie among residents. Talk to some of the staff members, making sure they treat the residents appropriately.

The staff at the facility should be well trained, professional, and dedicated to the safety of residents. A strong staff is the backbone of a good sober living home. The staff should truly care about the success of the residents. They shouldn’t be afraid to enforce the rules and kick residents out who break them, such as those who bring drugs across the threshold. Finally, the staff should have experience in the field of addictions and recovery.

Avoid Scams And Fraud In The Sober Living Industry

Protect yourself from fraud in the sober living industry by watching for the common signs of a scam. This can include patient brokering, or when a recruiter “sells” patients to the sober home. Kickbacks, or when a sober home receives money for patient referrals, are also red flags for fraud. Any home that allows its residents to keep using drugs, as long as they attend treatment, is a fraudulent treatment center. Report these facilities if you happen across them.

Scams involving sober homes billing for unnecessary services have also fooled hundreds of unsuspecting people. Watch for lab tests such as urinalyses or other diagnostics that seem unnecessary or overly expensive. On the other end of the spectrum, homes that waive all co-payments and other financial responsibilities for patients are also suspicious. These facilities attract patients with addiction who do not have the means to pay for treatment, but always waiving all patient responsibility could violate contracts and laws.

Read Sober Living House Reviews

Glean valuable insights into how a program really functions by reading sober living house reviews. Reviews from clients who have participated in the sober living facility will offer deeper insights than the facility’s website or spokespeople. Look up reviews on Google or Yelp, and read them carefully before choosing a facility. Keep in mind that one or two bad reviews in a sea of good ones might not mean much. Some people may have gone through something that casts the entire experience in a bad light. Multiple negative reviews, however, should be a red flag.

The reputation of a sober living home can speak volumes about the success of its residents. Conduct an online search for the home and see what you can find. Ask around to friends and family members to get their opinions. The more you can learn about the facility before enrolling, the better. If time is of the essence, there are services such as ECHO Recovery that can help you investigate a potential sober living facility quickly and efficiently.

Reach Out To ECHO Recovery

People struggling with addiction, parents, and loved ones can contact ECHO Recovery and receive information about licensed, desirable living facilities. The ECHO Recovery Foundation is a non-profit rehabilitation charity that provides affordable sober living housing, addiction education, and recovery advocacy. ECHO Recovery helps people vet sober living programs thoroughly, to make sure they fit the bill. You’ll feel confident sending yourself or a loved one to a safe sober living environment when you conduct your search through ECHO. Start your search today.

Join The ECHO Recovery Movement By Donating