Welcome Video
See what a day in the life is like at at Design for Recovery sober living homes in Los Angeles, CA.
What is a Sober Living home?
A sober living home is a place where people in recovery from addiction can live together and support each other as they rebuild their lives. Sober living homes are run by experienced and passionate staff members who help residents stay on track with their recovery goals.
Sober living homes typically have rules and structures designed to support residents as they work to regain sobriety and rebuild their lives. These may include curfews, daily check-ins, chores, and regular group meetings. Sober living homes also provide residents with resources and support to help them find jobs, reconnect with family, and get back on their feet.
For many people in recovery, sober living homes offer a much-needed sense of community and support. They provide a safe and structured environment that can help residents stay sober and rebuild their lives after addiction.
People suffering from addiction rarely recover without help. Substance use disorders cause serious damage to the reward centers of the brain that affect willpower and motivation, so individuals find it very difficult to stay sober through the force of will alone.
In many cases, years of substance abuse can damage people’s lives to such an extent that their resources become very limited.
Damaged relationships with friends and family members, poor employment prospects, and other health concerns are complications that make it more difficult to get sober, stay sober, let alone live prosperously in sobriety.
The best course of action for anyone who wants to get clean and sober is to seek help and make use of the resources of addiction experts. Sober living facilities give residents an opportunity to live in a safe, supportive, and alcohol and drug-free environment.
People who enroll in sober living homes in Los Angeles agree to be drug-tested and to remain committed to pursuing a sober lifestyle. Living with other sober individuals is hugely beneficial. Residents have the privilege to live lives removed from the triggers to drink and use drugs that they might normally encounter back home. Having a community of others who are facing the same challenges is also a powerful source of support.
Characteristics of Sober Living Houses
Some characteristics include:
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Residents must be abstinent from drugs and alcohol
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Alcohol and drug-free living environments
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A strict curfew is typically enforced
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Chores are assigned to residents on a rotating basis
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Meals are usually provided and there is a set schedule for them
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Peer-support groups
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12-step meetings
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Residents are expected to attend regular group meetings
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Visitors are typically not allowed overnight
Sober living houses provide a structure and support system that can be vital in early sobriety. For many people, the transition from treatment back to home can be difficult, and sober living houses make that process considerably smoother.
Residential sober living facilities help residents develop long-term recovery plans and rebuild their lives. Most structured sober living homes in Los Angeles provide resources for residents to go to 12-step meetings, explore the underlying issues behind their substance use disorders via counseling, repair relationships with family members, build a sober social network, get help for untreated mental illnesses, and learn valuable life skills. Sober living homes in Los Angeles are not just a way to get sober, but a means to maximize success in life in the challenging years to come.
History Of Sober Living
Sober living homes began at the dawn of the 19th century when religiously devout landlords made sobriety a condition for renters. Many of these landlords were part of the Temperance Movement. The movement to create sober living environments for people was spearheaded by Christian organizations like the YMCA and the Salvation Army.
Their motivation was not based on the desire to help people recover from problems with substance abuse, but rather on the conviction that alcohol and drugs were social evils that society would be better off without. After World War II, addiction entered the limelight and Alcoholics Anonymous and other self-help movements emerged.
Rapid urbanization made it difficult for anyone, let alone people suffering from addiction, to find housing. The deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals left many people with addiction problems suddenly homeless. In Los Angeles, California, members of Alcoholics Anonymous began forming “twelfth step houses,” where residents could live together in a safe and supportive environment.
These homes, which often required or encouraged residents to attend 12-step programs, numbered in the dozens by the 1960s. By the 1970s, Oxford Houses became a successful model for a sober living house. These homes, rather than being run by one landlord, were communally run on a democratic basis. Instead of mandating 12-step meeting attendance, Oxford Houses’ only requirement was sobriety, though most residents were involved in 12-step programs.
Today, the majority of sober living homes in Los Angeles make use of the peer support that Oxford Houses pioneered, while managers exercise leadership to support residents’ journeys toward long-term sobriety.
What Studies Say About Sober Living
While it can be tempting to go back to one’s normal life right away after quitting drugs and alcohol, this is usually a bad idea. Without doing the work necessary to build a strong foundation of sobriety, relapse is highly likely.
Research shows that individuals who continue to work on their recovery after leaving formal treatment programs have lower rates of relapse down the road. Researchers speculate that this is because treating addiction is a lifelong process, and learning to implement the tools necessary to get relief takes time. Sober living homes provide the opportunity to do this necessary work.
When people feel like they are “cured,” they usually abandon these tools and inevitably return to old habits of substance abuse. Attending treatment for a short period of time is also rarely sufficient to repair the damage wrought by addiction.
When people return immediately to their lives after withdrawing from drugs at a detox center, they often return to the wreckage of their prior addiction, namely shattered relationships, poor employment and financial prospects, and mental illness. Staying in a recovery network longer allows individuals both the time and the resources to build a better life for themselves in sobriety. Sober living homes in Los Angeles are the best way to extend a person’s recovery program.
A study on sober living in The Journal of Psychiatric Drugs showed that the benefits of these facilities are not limited to merely lowering rates of relapse. Residents measurably improve in terms of their employment outcomes, academic success, psychiatric symptoms, and even likelihood of getting arrested. Because sober living homes focus on providing holistic help to each resident, graduates emerge not just clean and sober but prepared to live successful sober lives.
Sober Living vs Halfway House
After completing inpatient treatment programs became popular, halfway houses were developed to meet the needs of individuals who weren’t prepared to immediately enter the workforce. These facilities provided transitional living arrangements for recent rehab graduates who needed additional support before the beginning of their normal lives.
These programs, while helpful for many, have a number of limitations that sober living homes lack. Halfway houses are mostly government-funded, meaning they are particularly vulnerable when governments cut spending.
They tend to be somewhat inflexible in terms of the recovery model, often forcing residents to comply with their specific program rather than operating democratically. However, the biggest disadvantage of halfway houses is that they often stipulate a limit on how long residents can stay. As a result, many people who go to halfway houses find that they are forced to leave long before they are ready.
Halfway houses resemble sober living houses in some respects. Unlike halfway houses, though, sober living houses allow residents to stay as long as necessary, often over a year. Since sober living homes are funded by residents, they tend to be more democratically run and less vulnerable to the whims of a landlord or state budget. Many people also opt for sober living homes over halfway houses because they are uncomfortable with formal treatment facilities.
While halfway houses are designed specifically for people who are finishing inpatient treatment programs, sober living homes can be utilized as a first-line approach to recovering from substance use disorder. Compared to halfway houses, sober living homes offer residents far more control over the nature of their recovery program.
Is Sober Living the Right Option For Me?
While sober living homes are open to people who have not attended formal addiction treatment, they are often recommended by caseworkers at inpatient and outpatient treatment centers as part of an aftercare plan.
Aftercare plans are programs designed to facilitate long-term sobriety for people who have graduated from formal treatment programs. Beginning a new life after getting sober can be difficult. Sober living houses are a great resource for individuals who desire help and support as they face these challenges during early recovery.- People who have finished a formal addiction treatment program and want to continue working on their substance use disorder
- People who want to work on building a supportive sober community
- People interested in finding help with employment or applying to school
- People who need help developing important skills and values, such as accountability and honesty
- People who need support for mental health issues in addition to their addictions
- People who are worried that their “normal lives” contain too many triggers to use drugs and alcohol
It is important to understand that these facilities are much more than a place for sober people to sleep. Addiction experts recommend that anyone in a sober living work actively to address their addiction issues. To that end, many sober living home residents are enrolled in outpatient programs where they receive counseling, medication monitoring, and other services.
Many sober living homes in Los Angeles offer some or all of these services and require residents to follow an intensive schedule geared toward recovery. These more hands-on facilities are known as structured sober livings.
How to get into a sober living home?
People usually go to sober living residences after they have done drug or alcohol addiction treatment, and their treatment provider may give them a referral for one. However, many residents enroll in sober living homes without going to rehab. You don’t need any special qualifications to enter a sober living home aside from a commitment to recovery and a desire to work on oneself. All you need to do is pick up the phone and enroll.
How much does Sober Living Cost?
The cost of rent at a sober living can vary depending on the location and amenities of the sober living residence. In general, sober living homes are less expensive than traditional treatment facilities or inpatient programs. This is because sober living homes do not provide 24-hour medical care or supervision. Sober living homes typically require residents to pay rent, which generally covers the cost of food, utilities, and other expenses. Some sober living homes may also require residents to contribute to a shared household fund. Not all sober living homes accept insurance, so residents may need to pay for their stay out-of-pocket.
How can I pay for sober living?
A negotiated payment plan
Managers of sober living homes are aware of the financial struggles that individuals with addiction often face. As a result, many of these managers offer flexible pricing options, such as sliding scale rates, and help residents secure employment in order to pay for their stay on a deferred basis. This helps to make sober living more accessible to those who may not have the financial means to afford it upfront.
Financial help from family or friends
Although it may seem unlikely, asking for a loan or gift from family and friends can be an effective way to raise money for a sober living home. When people come together and contribute their resources, it is often possible to accumulate large amounts of money. Additionally, your loved ones are likely supportive of your desire to achieve sobriety and will likely view this as a worthwhile investment in your future. Asking for their support may be worth a try.
Crowdfunding
Websites like Go Fund Me can be useful in reaching out to a large number of people for support. By sharing your story and your goals for the future on the site, you can ask for help from your loved ones and encourage them to share your message with their social networks. While it may not completely cover your expenses, every little bit helps and can help you move closer to your goals.
Taking out a personal loan
Instead of viewing the cost of a sober living home as going into debt, it may be helpful to think of it as an investment in yourself. By getting the help you need to overcome your addiction, you will likely be able to increase your earning potential and ultimately recoup any money you spend on treatment. In this way, the costs associated with sober living can be seen as a worthwhile investment in your future.
How Long Do I Have To Stay in Sober Living?
Sober houses differ in terms of their expectations for residents. While some programs have specific timelines, by and large residents are allowed to remain in sober living houses for as long as they are willing to pay rent. The most important factor determining one's length of stay should be the needs of the individual resident.
Some residents might find that they are prepared to leave after just a few months. Others might need a year or more to work on repairing relationships, setting up their employment, academic, and living plans, and become confident in their sobriety. While everyone recovers at a different pace, it is worth repeating that long periods spent in substance abuse treatment are correlated with a reduced risk of relapse.
Do you need to find sober living home in your home state or elsewhere?
There are often many triggers that can lead to a relapse, so it is usually advised to relocate from the place where your addiction started. This will help you recover more quickly and won't put you in close proximity to potential relapses. DesignForRecovery welcomes people from all over the United States and provides a sober environment. There are many sober living residents who have graduated from the program, but they are from different parts of the US.
How to Find the Perfect Sober Living Home
While sober living homes vary widely, quality facilities share a few commonalities. These include:
- Well-trained and experienced managers
- House rules and expectations
- Readily accessible staff on duty 24/7
- Daily schedules as opposed to a free-for-all
- Regular drug-testing to ensure the sobriety of all residents
- Safe and clean facilities
Design For Recovery Sober Living
The Sober Living Network, an organization that sets standards for sober living homes, maintains a list of approved facilities. Facilities that are members of their Sober Living Coalition are guaranteed to be safe, well-managed, and ethical. If you are interested in researching sober living homes near you, you can consult their directory via their free search tool.
For residents of Los Angeles, Design for Recovery offers a structured facility for young men struggling with addiction. Their 12-step based program is based on principles of honesty, integrity, accountability, responsibility, and service.
Design for Recovery Sober Living understands that recovery from a substance use disorder is about more than physical abstinence, but rebuilding lives from the ground up. If you are ready to make a change, check out some of our testimonials or contact Design for Recovery today.
Sober Living Resources
FAQs on Sober Living House
Yes, sober residences help people remain sober and gain long-term sobriety. Residents are typically required to abstain from drugs and alcohol and to follow certain house rules designed to promote sobriety. These rules may include maintaining employment, attending 12-step meetings, and participating in household chores. Sober living homes provide residents with structure and support that can be vital in early recovery.
Most sober living houses have a set of house rules that residents must follow to stay in the facility. These rules are designed to help residents stay on track with their sobriety and avoid any triggers that could lead to relapse. Some of the most common rules include:
– No drinking or using drugs on the premises
– Curfew hours
– Chores and housekeeping duties
– Regular attendance at meetings and therapy sessions
– Random drug testing
If residents are found to violate any of these rules, they may be asked to leave the sober living facility. Sober living homes provide a structure and support system that can be vital for people in early recovery, so it is important to follow the rules and make the most of this opportunity.
According to a research study conducted by NCBI, the average stay at a sober living home is between 166 days to 254 days.
However, the length of time you stay in a sober living home depends on many factors. These can include your recovery goals, your progress in recovery, the state of your support system, and your financial situation. Most importantly, the decision of how long to stay in a sober living environment should be made in consultation with sober living staff members as well as your family.
