A sober living house is open to anyone who is recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol. A person can stay there after leaving a residential or outpatient treatment facility or while undergoing another treatment program. Sober homes have strict rules in place, aimed at helping their inhabitants maintain a healthy lifestyle. This can be difficult without a supportive, clean environment following alcohol abuse treatment.
People living in sober homes usually have to pay their own rent, buy their own food, and do the same things they would do for themselves if they lived in a regular home. These programs hold no affiliations with hospitals or local drug treatment centers. Sober house programs rely on funding from local, private-run agencies as well as rent and boarding payments received from sober house residents. Learning to function in everyday life without drugs becomes the overall purpose of a sober living program. Likewise, residents are expected to pay living costs from wages earned through employment. Some programs may allow full-time students to cover costs through a school loan and/or from family members.
How Do People Pay for Sober Living?
But sober living homes can be beneficial for anyone in recovery who does not have a supportive, substance-free environment to go home to. Oxford House facilities are the best examples of Level I sober living homes. The houses are run by residents and emphasize peer support as an essential component of recovery. The best facilities employ compassionate staff and enforce strict rules that support the recovery process. All of a sober house’s residents are expected to pursue better health and a substance-free life. Sober living homes—sometimes called halfway houses—are helpful forms of aftercare, which allow patients to maintain focus on their sobriety around supportive peers following formal treatment.
The cost of a sober home depends on the services provided and the area it’s in. When you realize a sober living home is the best choice for you, often the first question is about how much it’s going to cost. Prices vary depending on location, living arrangements, and program offerings. Typically, the cost is about the same as living in a modest apartment or home.
Level IV: Service Provider
Most homes have household meetings nightly, and residents often attend treatment, support group meetings or other wellness activities together. Sober living homes are maintained through fees, and residents can usually stay as long as they want. Unlike many halfway houses, sober homes are not monitored by state agencies. States that regulate these facilities require a maximum number of residents, often fewer than 10.
- Fees are calculated on a sliding scale and residents stay in the house for 3 to 6 months on average.
- Sober living homes, sometimes known as halfway houses or recovery residences, offer individuals recovering from addiction a supportive and drug-free environment to continue their journey toward sobriety.
- If you are not court-ordered or mandated to be in the residence, then you may leave the sober living home at any time.
However, it’s important to check with your insurance company about specific coverage and what co-pays or deductibles you are responsible for if any. You can contact your insurance company by calling the toll-free number on your insurance card or visiting their website. sober house You can also contact a representative from the sober living home to discuss payment options. Sober living homes offer a supportive environment, accountability, and guidance that can empower you to maintain sobriety and lead a fulfilling life long-term.
Sober Living Homes: Being Halfway to Full Recovery
Some nonprofit organizations offer scholarships or grants to qualified applicants to assist with the cost of sober living. Note that actual costs vary based on location, lifestyle, and specific needs. Start by contacting the facility directly to set up an appointment to meet with the staff. Sober living homes often have an interview procedure before they take on new residents to ensure that residents are motivated and ready for this level of care.
- However, if there are appropriate homes nearby, consider the pros and cons of local versus traveling out of state.
- These homes cost less than inpatient treatment facilities, as mentioned, which makes sense because inpatient rehabs charge for detox and that’s expensive.
- There comes a time when they have to return to the real world, full of the challenges and stress that may have caused substance abuse to begin with.
- In the United States, 60.1% of individuals ages 12 and older use at least one substance (like tobacco, alcohol, or an illicit drug), according to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- That can be a good time to get to know future roommates and decide whether that particular house is best for you.
