The benefits of a sober living house are well documented and include decreased substance use, improved relationships with family and friends, and better employment opportunities with higher income potential. If you are ready to try it, this blog article is a must-read for understanding how to get into a sober living house. Here are the next three steps:
- Researching sober living houses
- Understanding the requirements for admission
- Preparing for your stay
Finding the right sober living house is a very personal and important decision. While it may feel overwhelming right now, once you’ve read this article and done your research, you will probably be surprised at how easy it was to make the right choice. So let’s get started!
Researching Sober Living Houses
Sober living houses have several distinguishing features. Here are three aspects you may want to consider when conducting your research:
- Accreditation. Accredited sober living houses are formally recognized by non-biased, third-party groups, such as the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). Groups like this have published standards that were created to protect residents, ensure safe environments, promote healthy living, and encourage support for recovery. Pro tip–NARR has “affiliates” in many states. If you want to verify a sober living house’s accreditation, their affiliate map tool is a great place to start.
- Types of Populations Served. Sober living houses might serve a general population or a specific one. They might be gender-specific or co-ed. Because shared experiences can promote understanding and trust in recovery, you might see some sober living houses that focus on veterans and offer support for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other examples could be sober living houses focused on helping parents through substance use while teaching parenting and family skills or a sober living house geared towards a specific age demographic, such as young adults or seniors.
- Level of Structure and Supervision. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes Best Practices for Recovery Housing. They outline the levels of recovery support from level 4 (most structured with clinical support) to level 1 (least structured, peer-run). Level 2 housing is most commonly referred to as sober living. Having a few places in mind where you would like to start or end might reduce some of the overwhelm that could appear during this process.
Understanding Requirements for Admission
Standard admission criteria for getting into a sober living house include the following:
- Proof of sobriety
- Willingness to follow house rules (this could include curfews, willingness to complete assigned chores, or regular attendance at house meetings)
- Proof of ability to pay
- Completed application (applications will vary but are likely to include personal questions about your medical history and substance use, among other things)
- References (could be a sponsor or counselor or similar)
- Personal interview
Preparing For Your Stay
Once you have been accepted into a sober living house, you can start preparing for your move. Your sober living house might have a recommended packing list, but some everyday items to consider bringing include:
- Clothes
- Toiletries (make sure they do NOT contain alcohol)
- Prescription medications
- Important documents, including your driver’s license and insurance card
- Things that relax you or inspire you, such as books, hobby-related supplies, a yoga mat, or exercise equipment
Finally, having the right mindset is also important for this step in your recovery journey. While you will likely have more structure, you will also have more support. Many people feel a strong connection with the people they meet during a sober living house stay. Recognize that the early stages of recovery can be difficult for most people, so try to give others and yourself extra patience and time to adjust.
Entera Sober Living
At Entera, we know the path to sobriety can be difficult, but it can also be fun. We are committed to holistic wellness that will offer you a fresh perspective on recovery, and our plans are customized to every individual. We offer detox, inpatient, and outpatient treatment, so no matter where you are in your journey, we are ready to help. If you have been looking at treatment options for you or a loved one, please give us a call today to discuss how we can support you on your journey.
