For those working towards recovery from addiction, the road can be full of challenges. In fact, 40 to 60% of those in recovery face a relapse. Current drug addiction treatments must go well beyond the detox and therapy of getting off an unwanted substance. More and more, the aftercare of someone in recovery is key to maintaining success. Aftercare now often includes opting to live in a sober living home either during or after rehab. What are sober living homes?
Many recovering from addiction opt to continue their recovery in a sober living home as they transition from full rehab. Read on to learn more about sober living homes and if they might be the right choice for you or your loved one.
What Are Sober Living Homes?
Sober living homes are a place that is intended to assist you in maintaining your sobriety. Usually, a person will leave a more restrictive recovery program and before completely reentering everyday life will move into a sober living home.
The sober living home has other residents who are also working on their recovery. These homes are drug and alcohol-free and should work to support your sobriety.
This is a place where you’ll live with people who share similar circumstances and are trying to stay clean and avoid reverting back to the use of drugs or alcohol.
In many sober living homes, you are free to leave to go to a job and live some of your life independently. Yet, you’ll need to have regular screenings for drugs or alcohol and abide by the rules.
Sober Living Homes Vs Residential Programs or Halfway Houses
Sober living homes and residential programs or halfway houses are very different. Often in a residential program, the recovering addict must remain on site while a resident.
In a sober living home, it’s much different. The goal is that you resume life but still keep yourself surrounded by others who have the same goals of sobriety that you’re striving to achieve.
You can leave to go to work or meet with family. You can come and go to partake in hobbies, healthy ones, of course.
The idea is that you reenter society and attempt to regain a normal life, yet still keep people around you who will support the sobriety you’re working to maintain. Some addicts struggle with returning to their previous friend groups because they were people whom they once used with.
What to Expect from Life in a Sober Living Home
It’s important to understand that moving into a sober living home is not like going to rehab for your addiction issues. Before you move into a home, you should have been to rehab and worked to address your issues related to addiction.
While the sober living home may have some resources and professional support for you, it is not a rehab facility. You should opt to enter when you are already clean.
The goal of the home is to help you maintain that sobriety while being around others who are working towards the same thing. It’s a way to not have negative influences around you and instead have people who will help to hold you accountable.
Preparing to Live in a Sober Living House
If you have been in rehab, it’s possible that as part of your transition out of rehab, they will help you find a sober living home that’s right for you.
When you seek a place, you’ll want to be forthcoming about your situation. It can only help you if the home has a good picture of your issues and what you’ve done to address them. Be prepared to share the following:
- Insurance information, if they take insurance or you’ll be getting professional services while there
- Details of drug or alcohol abuse
- What substances you’ve struggled with
- Medical history beyond the addiction
- Mental health status
- Previous rehab experiences
Rules and Regulation of Sober Living Homes
Wondering what to ask of a sober living home? One of the things you’ll need to carefully understand is the rules and expectations of the residents who stay in the sober living home.
Every home is slightly different. But you can expect the basic rules to look something like this:
- No drug or alcohol use either at the home or while away from it
- Follow the set curfew
- Be respectful of other residents and staff
- Offer emotional support to each other
- Do house chores and participate in house activities
- No overnight guests
- Sleep at the house
- Agree to participate in drug and alcohol tests
- Regularly attend therapy or peer support meetings to maintain sobriety
- Cover your part of the home expenses
Depending on the home, there may be cell phone or internet restrictions.
How Long Can You Stay?
The length of stay will vary depending on the resident. Remember, the goal is to assist in maintaining sobriety while working to reenter a normal living situation or be out in society.
The length of stay will depend on the needs of the resident. There isn’t a right or wrong amount of time. Most residents use the time to feel more secure in their sobriety. Then as they feel more confident and secure, consider moving on to more independent living. The average stay in a sober living home is between 166 and 254 days.
Cost of Living in a Sober Living Home
You might wonder, are sober living homes covered by insurance? If not, how much do they cost? This will vary greatly depending on several factors. Some insurances will help cover the cost as it’s considered an extension of rehab. However, many insurances don’t cover the cost. Then its cost comes down to location and the type of home.
If you’re renting a room in a sober living home, you can consider area rent prices to help get a picture of what to expect in costs. Of course, the more amenities available in the home, the more costly it will be.
Sober Living Homes
Addiction doesn’t end when you leave a rehab facility. The statistics are scary for relapse without the right type of support for the addict. Of course, recovery from an addiction can be achieved in many ways and it depends on the individual what will work for them.
Let’s consider the pros and cons of moving to a sober living home.
Pros
One of the biggest benefits is the recovery-focused environment it provides for the person in recovery. It improves the chances of maintaining sobriety because you have others around you supporting that goal.
Many homes offer programs that help to support sobriety. These might include:
- 12-step programs
- Group meetings
- On-site sponsors
- Other accountability programs
The rules of a sober living home also help to support and maintain sobriety. Many homes will evict a resident if they relapse. This provides powerful incentive to maintain healthy choices.
Cons
Not all sober living homes are alike and some are better than others. They are not subject to licensing requirements which means that they can vary greatly from home to home.
Often finding the right fit comes down to what you can afford.
Find a Sober Living Home Near You
We want to help you find a sober living home that will not only suit your needs but is close to where you live. Here’s a breakdown of sober living programs by province.
Ontario
- The Farm in Stouffville
- Cochrane District Detoxification Centre
- Medical Detox Ontario
- Neworld Medical Detox
- Breton House – Algoma Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Centre
Quebec
- Centre Attitude
- Centre André-Boudreau
- Centre de Readaptation Ubald-Villeneuve
- Centre Walgwan
- Mawiomi Treatment Services
New Brunswick
- Teen Challenge Canada-Atlantic Men’s Centre
- Wolastoqewiyik Healing Lodge
Nova Scotia
- Round Lake Treatment Centre
- Alcove Addiction Recovery for Women
- The Salvation Army Edmonton Centre of Hope
- Fresh Start Recovery Centre
- Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre
Manitoba
- The Salvation Army Booth Centre Ministries
- Native Addictions Council of Manitoba
- Teen Challenge of Central Canada-Brandon Women’s Centre
- Teen Challenge of Central Canada-Winnipeg Long-Term Men’s Program
- Union Gospel Mission Winnipeg
Saskatchewan
- Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc – Prince Albert
- Robert Simard Centre
- The Lighthouse Stabilisation Emergency Shelter
- Freedom Outreach Teen Challenge
- Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc – Saskatoon Centre
Alberta
- Alcove Addiction Recovery for Women
- The Salvation Army Edmonton Centre of Hope
- Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre
- Simon House Recovery Centre
- Maskwacis Young Spirit Winds Society
British Columbia
- Round Lake Treatment Centre
- Union Gospel Mission Recovery Programme
- Turning Point Recovery Society – Vancouver (Men & Women)
- Wagner Hills Farm Society – Men’s Campus
- Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC
Often these centres offer detox, therapy, and aftercare. However, you want to be sure to ask them to spell out services when you contact them.
Use a Sober Living Home to Support Your Recovery
If you or someone you love is working towards recovery, you want to do everything possible to make that goal successful. A sober living home is one more step towards maintaining that sobriety.
If you’re looking for help for an addiction or mental health problem, we can assist you. Contact us to discuss your needs and learn about what our programs could do for you.
