Addiction is a chronic and often debilitating disease affecting millions worldwide. While addiction recovery is a challenging process, several treatment programs are available to help you overcome your addiction and achieve long-term sobriety.
Sober living programs offer a unique approach to addiction treatment by providing a safe and structured living environment that promotes sobriety and personal growth. They can be an excellent option for individuals in early recovery who need additional support and structure to stay sober.
What Is a Sober Living Program?
Sober living programs are also known as sober living homes, recovery housing, or independent living. They are a type of residential treatment facility that offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.
Sober living houses exist primarily to help to recover addicts transition from a highly structured environment, such as an inpatient treatment facility, to a less restrictive living situation while maintaining abstinence. Even highly motivated people can experience a setback in their recovery from destructive living conditions, so having a safe and peaceful sober house is crucial, particularly for people in early recovery.
Sober living environments can be an excellent option for individuals who have completed an inpatient rehab program but are not yet ready to return to their daily life.
How Does Sober Living Program Work?
Sober living facilities give people recovering from substance use disorders a structured routine that promotes healthy habits and positive behaviors. At the same time, they provide a sense of accountability and responsibility. In fact, most residents in sober living homes are required to follow strict rules and guidelines designed to promote sobriety and encourage personal growth.
However, people who reside in sober living facilities can usually come and go as they please as long as they follow certain rules. Examples of rules and guidelines that may be a part of a sober living program include:
- Attending support group meetings or house meetings
- Maintaining a clean living space
- Participating in household chores, usually assigned by a house manager
- Being respectful to other residents
What Is a Sober-Living House Like?
Sober living houses vary in size and structure and may be run by nonprofit organizations, private companies, or individuals. The houses are often designed to resemble a typical home, with shared living spaces, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
A house manager oversees the whole place, while residents are typically responsible for their own meals and groceries and may take turns preparing meals or contributing to a shared food budget. Some sober-living homes may also provide meals or have a meal plan as part of their program.
Residents in a sober-living house are expected to follow certain rules and guidelines. Many homes also have a curfew and require residents to check in with staff members or other residents before leaving the house.
Pro-tip: Sober-living homes can vary widely in terms of their services, amenities, and costs, and it’s important to do research and ask questions when considering a sober-living home. When choosing your recovery housing, make sure that the sober-living home is licensed and accredited by the appropriate regulatory agency in your state.
Sober Living Services
In addition to providing a safe and supportive living environment, sober-living homes may also offer various services and resources to residents, such as counseling, job training, and educational programs. These resources can help residents live a happy and successful life by building life skills, establishing a sober support network, and achieving long-term success in their recovery.
Sober living houses also encourage residents to participate in various activities and events designed to help them build a sense of community within the facility. These group outings and social gatherings also help sober living residents connect with others like them who are also undergoing addiction treatment.
Aside from providing safe and stable housing for residents, sober living homes also provide a host of sober living services that may help them achieve long-term success in their recovery. These services include counseling, job placement, and life skills training.
Types of Sober Living Houses
Not all sober living homes are the same. Each transitional living program may have its own unique set of rules and guidelines. Some programs may also be geared towards specific populations, such as men, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, or individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders.
Here are some of the most common types of sober living programs:
- Extended Care Sober Living. This type of sober living program is designed for individuals who have just completed an intensive inpatient or outpatient treatment program. Extended care sober living provides a structured environment for residents to continue their recovery process while receiving additional support and guidance.
- Halfway Houses. Halfway houses are transitional living environments that provide a bridge between inpatient treatment and independent living. Most halfway houses require their residents to finish a formal treatment program
,andtheyonly let them stay for about a year. Most residents of halfway houses come from either a correctional or inpatient treatment facility. - Gender-Specific Sober Living. Gender-specific sober living environments are designed to provide a supportive and safe environment for individuals of a specific gender. These programs address gender-specific issues and allow individuals to connect and support one another in a shared experience.
- LGBTQ+ Sober Living. An LGBTQ+ sober living facility is often designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. These programs address the unique challenges faced by individuals in the community and provide a community of support for individuals seeking recovery.
- Faith-Based Sober Living. Faith-based sober living homes incorporate religious or spiritual beliefs into the recovery process. They are best for individuals who wish to incorporate their faith into their recovery.
- Dual Diagnosis Sober Living. Dual-diagnosis sober living environments are designed for individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders. These programs provide specialized treatment and support for individuals who are facing complex challenges in their recovery.
Different types of sober living facilities will also have differences in the services they provide. For example, many sober living homes do not offer clinical services or provide addiction treatment.
In these types of sober housing, residents who are receiving formal treatment like partial hospitalization or an intensive outpatient will have to attend their sessions at their treatment center and return to the recovery home at night.
Sober living programs can vary in length and intensity, depending on the individual’s needs and the program’s structure. Some programs may last only a few months, while others may last up to a year or more. The level of support and amenities provided can also vary, depending on the program’s location and type.
Benefits of Living in a Sober Home
In general, sober living homes offer a range of benefits to individuals in recovery, including:
- A safe and supportive living environment that promotes sobriety and personal growth
- Structure and routine that fosters self-discipline and time management
- A sense of community and accountability with other individuals in recovery
- Access to support and resources, such as 12-step programs, counseling, and other mental health services
- Opportunities to develop life skills, such as budgeting, cooking, and time management
- A smooth transition from inpatient rehab to independent living
- Reduced relapse risk
If you or a loved one is seeking top-rated structured sober living, don’t hesitate to call Design for Recovery at (424)327-4614 today.
Sober Living Eligibility Requirements
How do you know if you’re eligible for sober living services? While each sober living program may have its specific eligibility requirements, there are some general guidelines you should keep in mind when considering whether a sober living home is right for you.
Completed Detoxification and Treatment
Before entering a sober living home, it is typically necessary for individuals to complete a detoxification program. Detox helps to rid the body of drugs and alcohol and manage withdrawal symptoms in a medically supervised environment. It is an important first step in the recovery process and can help to set the stage for success in sober living.
At Design for Recovery, residents must have completed detoxification and treatment for their addiction prior to enrollment. Our program is not designed to provide detox or primary treatment services but rather to support individuals in their ongoing recovery journey. We require that our residents have at least 30 days of sobriety and a commitment to maintaining their sobriety while in our program.
Willingness to Follow House Rules and Guidelines
Sober living homes typically have rules and guidelines in place that residents are expected to follow. These may include curfews, restrictions on visitors, and requirements for attending house meetings and maintaining cleanliness in shared spaces. Individuals considering a sober living home should be willing and able to follow these rules to ensure a safe and supportive environment for everyone in the house.
Willingness to Participate in the Community
Sober living homes are designed to provide a sense of community and support for individuals in recovery. For it to work, residents must be willing to participate in house meetings, engage in positive social interactions with other residents, and work together as a team to maintain a safe and supportive sober environment for everyone in the home.
Willingness to Make Changes
Entering a sober living home can be a transformative experience, but it requires a willingness to make changes in one’s life. This may include making changes to one’s daily routine, developing new coping strategies for dealing with stress and triggers and being open to feedback and suggestions from others in the house.
Financial Responsibility
Residents of sober homes must pay their own rent, ranging from $500 to $5000. A sober residence usually integrates insurance into an available payment method to make the cost more affordable. However, final costs will still vary depending on various factors such as location, type of residence, services, and amenities provided by the program.
At Design for Recovery, we require that residents be financially responsible for their stay in our program. We offer affordable rates and payment plans to make our program accessible to those in need, but we require that residents have a plan for paying for their stay in our sober living homes.
Commitment to Sobriety and Recovery
Finally, it’s vital that all residents have a genuine commitment to sobriety and recovery. This means being willing to abstain from drugs and alcohol and actively participating in recovery-related activities such as 12-step meetings, counseling, and group therapy.
Allow Design for Recovery sober living homes to help you become comfortable with your new normal and begin to thrive in recovery. Reach out to us today!
Programs in Our Sober Living Homes
If you’re looking for a place where you can get guidance, counsel, and motivation to successfully push through your recovery journey, you are in the right place.
In our sober living homes Los Angeles, we have various programs to help improve your life skills and set you up for success.
One-on-One Mentoring
One-on-one mentoring is a crucial aspect of addiction recovery. Through sponsorship in 12-step programs and within the recovery home as well, residents have access to the experience, strength, and hope of individuals who are further along on their sober paths.
Medication Monitoring
Design for Recovery coordinates with psychiatrists and medical professionals to ensure that residents are getting the care they need. Many men turn to substances initially as a way of self-medicating undiagnosed mental health problems. For these individuals, it is absolutely essential that they receive the proper pharmacological needs that their conditions warrant as directed by their physicians. Many of Design for Recovery’s residents also benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which helps mitigate withdrawal symptoms and alleviate cravings.
Money Management
Because addiction and its associated lifestyle lead to poor decision-making, many people arrive in sobriety with considerable debt on their hands. Design for Recovery’s staff works with each individual to determine their financial situation and plan accordingly. Through a combination of budgeting, debt relief programs, and employment support, men at Design for Recovery can begin to take steps toward financial freedom.
Employment Support
Unemployment, precarious employment, and losing a job are all common among people with substance abuse problems. For many newly sober men, getting a job or finding a career can be daunting prospects. Design for Recovery works with residents to get them placed in jobs while they live there. Working while pursuing addiction recovery not only fosters accountability, integrity, and self-sufficiency and prepares men for lives outside of a recovery home.
Family Services
No one can get sober alone. Design for Recovery is committed to including family members in the recovery process. Staff members work with residents and families to repair relationships and foster productive communication.
Sober Living Programs Services Offered
At Design for Recovery, we understand that recovering from substance use disorders is a journey that requires ongoing support and guidance. That’s why we offer a comprehensive sober living program that provides individuals in recovery with the tools and resources they need to build a strong foundation for a new sober lifestyle.
Here are some of the key elements of our sober living program that can benefit you or a loved one in recovery:
Semi-Private Rooms
At Design for Recovery, residents have multiple sleeping arrangements available to them. Depending on their circumstances and needs, residents sleep in single occupancy rooms or in rooms with two to three fellow house peers.
Group Meals
Design for Recovery holds regular group meals during which residents come together as a community. The house also holds regular meals for both residents and family members. These are great opportunities for families to see how far their children have progressed.
Transportation
Residents at Design for Recovery have regular transportation needs, ranging from 12-step meetings to outpatient therapy appointments. Design for Recovery coordinates transportation in advance for all residents, and staff or residents with more sober time provide support and supervision on all outings.
Urinalysis
At a sober living home, it is essential that residents remain confident that their fellow housemates are sober. Living at Design for Recovery means existing in a safe and trigger-free space where everyone is 100% committed to addiction recovery. As such, Design for Recovery regularly conducts drug tests on our residents, helping them stay accountable to themselves and their peers.
On-Site Staff
Design for Recovery’s staff members possess years of experience in addiction recovery. With trained staff members on-site 24/7, residents can be assured that their living quarters are safe and that they will always have access to necessary resources.
How is our Program Different from Other Programs?
At Design for Recovery, we believe that our sober living program stands out from other programs in several important ways. Here are some of the key features of our program that set us apart from other sober living homes:
Individualized Care
We believe that every individual’s journey to recovery is unique, and our program reflects that belief. Our program offers individualized care and support to each resident, tailored to their specific needs and goals. Our team works closely with each resident to develop a customized recovery plan, taking into account their unique challenges and strengths. We believe that this personalized approach is key to helping our residents achieve lasting sobriety.
Strong Focus on Accountability and Responsibility
Our sober living program emphasizes personal responsibility and accountability, which we believe is essential for maintaining sobriety over the long term. We hold our residents accountable for their actions and encourage them to take responsibility for their recovery journey. Our program also includes regular drug and alcohol testing to ensure that all residents are maintaining their sobriety.
12-Step Program and Peer Support
Our program includes a strong emphasis on the 12-step program and peer support. We believe that participation in the 12-step program can provide a solid foundation for recovery, and we encourage our residents to attend regular meetings and work on the steps. We also provide opportunities for residents to connect with their peers and build a supportive sober community.
Life Skills Development
We recognize that sobriety is just one aspect of a healthy and fulfilling life, and our program includes a focus on skills development. We provide opportunities for our residents to develop skills such as budgeting, time management, and job readiness. We believe that these skills are essential for helping our residents build a strong foundation for a successful and fulfilling sober life.
What Are You Waiting For?
Enroll Now in Our Sober Living Program at Design for Recovery in Los Angeles, California.
FAQs about Sober Living Programs
Sober living houses are designed for people in recovery from substance abuse who need a supportive and structured environment to help them stay sober. Sober living houses can be especially helpful for those who have completed an inpatient or outpatient rehab program and need continued support to avoid relapse.
Our sober living program is designed for individuals who have completed a primary addiction treatment program but may need additional support and structure to maintain their sobriety. It’s also a good fit for those who may not have a supportive home environment or who may face other challenges in their recovery journey. At Design for Recovery, we welcome individuals from all walks of life who are committed to maintaining their sobriety.
The length of stay in a sober living home can vary depending on individual needs and circumstances. Some residents may only stay for a few weeks or months, while others may stay for a year or more. Generally, the longer a person stays in a sober living home, the better their chances of maintaining long-term sobriety.
The length of stay in our sober living program can vary depending on each individual’s needs and goals. However, we generally recommend a minimum stay of 90 days to allow residents enough time to establish a strong foundation in their recovery and begin building the skills and habits necessary for long-term success. Some residents may choose to stay longer if they feel they need additional support or if they simply feel comfortable in the sober living environment.
The cost of sober living can vary depending on the location, amenities, and level of support provided. Some programs may offer financial assistance or accept insurance, while others may require residents to pay out of pocket. It’s important to research different programs and understand the costs involved before making a decision.
At Design for Recovery, we understand that the cost of sober living can be a concern for many individuals in recovery. Our program fees are competitive and are based on a sliding scale, depending on the level of care and services required. We also accept some insurance plans and can provide assistance with financing options.
Research shows that sober living houses can be effective in helping people maintain sobriety and avoid relapse. Studies also suggest that residents of sober living houses had higher rates of abstinence from drugs and alcohol compared to those who did not participate in a sober living program.
At Design for Recovery, we strive to provide a supportive and structured environment that fosters sobriety and personal growth so you successfully complete your substance abuse treatment and go back to healthy living.
Finding a reputable sober living home can be challenging, but there are some resources available to help you make an informed decision. The National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) is a nonprofit organization that provides standards and accreditation for sober living homes. You can also ask for recommendations from your primary treatment program or consult with a mental health professional.
Other ways to find a sober living home may include:
- Searching online for sober living programs in your area
- Asking for recommendations from a healthcare professional, therapist, or support groups
- Contacting a local addiction treatment center for referrals
- Attending 12-step meetings and asking other members for recommendations
- Referral from the criminal justice system
Community Health Needs Assessment – Cottage Health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.cottagehealth.org/population-health/community-health-needs-assessment/
Mericle, A. A., Mahoney, E., Korcha, R., Delucchi, K., & Polcin, D. L. (2019). Sober living house characteristics: A multilevel analyses of factors associated with improved outcomes. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 98, 28-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.12.004
National Alliance for Recovery Residences. (2022, July 27). Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://narronline.org/
Polcin, D. L., Korcha, R. A., Bond, J., & Galloway, G. (2010). Sober Living Houses for Alcohol and Drug Dependence: 18-Month Outcomes. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 38(4), 356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2010.02.003
Polcin, D. L., Korcha, R., Bond, J., & Galloway, G. (2010). What Did We Learn from Our Study on Sober Living Houses and Where Do We Go from Here? Journal of psychoactive drugs, 42(4), 425. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2010.10400705
