What Are Qualities of the Best Sober Living Homes?

If you have recently completed an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab program, you may be thinking about enrolling in a transitional housing program to continue your recovery journey. While there are many different options to choose from across the country, it may not always be easy to determine which one is the best choice for you.

As you begin your search for a sober living home, there are six primary characteristics that we believe are extremely important and will help ensure that you receive the highest quality care possible while you continue your recovery journey.

1. Recovery support services

Having a supportive place to live and stay sober is an essential part of maintaining your sobriety, but recovery support services also play an important role in that. According to the National Institute on Substance Abuse (NIDA), recovery support services are those that provide a setting where fellow peers in recovery can share their experiences and provide mutual support.1 These services are designed to help individuals establish wellness, manage their symptoms, and achieve and maintain abstinence. A high-quality sober living program will provide access to peer recovery groups such as 12-step groups, NA, and AA in addition to recovery support programming that walks each client through the various stages of sober living after rehab. Many times programs like these also incorporate the assistance of a mentor or sober coach, who is also in recovery and who will walk with clients through the struggles and challenges of early recovery.

2. Organized accountability

Maintaining long-term sobriety will require the accountability and the assistance of others. One of the primary functions of a high-quality sober living home is to keep you accountable to your sobriety goals with regular, scheduled interventions. If you’re searching for a transitional living program that will keep you focused on your sobriety, you should consider those that provide regular drug and alcohol testing, host weekly house meetings with your peers in recovery, require that you meet certain program requirements as you progress through your sober living program, and require that you maintain regular communication with your sober coach, program coordinator, or another mentor figure. A transitional housing program that provides this type of organized accountability is most likely run by an organization that understands the complex needs of individuals in recovery and has the resources to meet those needs.

3. Employment and education assistance

While you were overcome by your addiction, there were most likely many aspects of your life that suffered, including your employment status. Whether you quit your job, were let go, or were continually struggling to perform under the influence, now you have the opportunity to turn over a new leaf as you pursue a healthier lifestyle in recovery. Finding and maintaining employment can be difficult after leaving rehab, so it’s important to find a sober living program that will provide employment and/or education assistance. Eudaimonia Recovery Homes, for example, provides employment assistance by helping clients locate job opportunities, fill out applications, update their resume, and prepare for interviews. We also help clients create an educational plan if they choose to go back to school instead or while working. Employment and education are both essential to establishing a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle and can also help you develop a new sense of purpose while you are adjusting to a new and unfamiliar lifestyle.

4. Safety

Safety should always be the utmost priority for any transitional housing program. And as an individual in recovery, both you and your family will want to make sure that you’ll be safe at all times throughout the course of your transitional living program. High-quality sober living houses should provide off and onsite support staff, have house managers within each household, and strictly enforce resident rules and regulations. Admissions team members should also screen each individual client before they are admitted into the program to make sure they are a good fit and will not pose a danger to any of the other residents. Having a safe and sober place to live is one of the four major dimensions that support a life in recovery, so safety should always be a priority when selecting a sober living home.

5. Well-maintained accommodations

The outward appearance of a sober living house is often a reflection of the care and support you will receive while enrolled. A high-quality sober living home should provide clean, updated homes with comfortable beds and furniture, fully functional appliances, adequate space for its residents, and a structurally sound facility. Additionally, you should always feel comfortable in any transitional living home you choose, so if you don’t feel like you will be able to thrive in a particular sober living home, it’s okay to continue your search elsewhere.

6. Cultural awareness and competency

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that in order to support the recovery of an individual, addiction services must be culturally aware and competent. This includes being responsive and respectful to the unique beliefs, practices, and needs of diverse individuals, actively addressing diversity while providing services, and seeking to reduce any differences in access and outcomes.2 Simply put, this means that a high-quality transitional housing program should provide services that are sensitive to the unique needs and beliefs of a wide range of people groups and cultures. For example, traditional sober living homes may not cater to the needs and concerns of an individual who identifies with the LGBTQ community. But if you are an LGBTQ individual, you may not feel comfortable in a traditional sober living environment or it may not meet your individual needs. To address this issue, Eudaimonia Recovery Homes offers an LGBTQ sober living home in Austin, Texas that is designed to address the unique needs of that population while also providing recovery support services that are geared toward LGBTQ individuals.

We understand that choosing a transitional living program can be an overwhelming decision, but you don’t have to make the decision alone. Eudaimonia Recovery Homes provides all of the above qualities and more and our admissions specialists are happy to answer any and all questions you have about our sober living programs. We offer transitional living homes in Austin, Houston, Chicago, and Colorado Springs and we are always available to speak with you about your options. Please call today to get started.

References:

• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide/evidence-based-approaches-to-treating-adolescent-substance-use-disorders/recovery-support-services
• https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery