Sober living is an important step in the recovery process and can be the difference between long-term sobriety and relapse — this is why it is vital to find the best sober living home available to you.
The process of recovery often involves rehab or detox first, then transitioning to a local or out-of-state sober living house. For those looking to overcome an addiction and commit to their sobriety, a sober living home and an addiction treatment program, like a Huntington Beach rehab may be exactly what you need. It doesn’t matter whether you choose an out-of-state option or a local option like The District’s California sober living homes, the most important thing is to find a facility that can provide you with high-quality care and access to aftercare support like an alumni program.
Finding the Best Sober Living Homes in the US
Since rehab programs last around 30-60 days, recovering substance abusers will want to think about their recovery after rehab. This is where sober living homes fit in the journey of recovery. Whether they choose in-state or out-of-state addiction treatment after leaving rehab depends upon the individual’s specific needs and preferences and their sober living program following rehab will likely be dependent upon these same factors. Whatever you choose, there are a few things to look for when searching for the best sober living houses near you or in the country. Let’s take a look at a few.
One thing you want to make sure is in place is a responsible house manager. A sober living programs like The District Recovery, our house managers are vetted to ensure they will be able to handle all the responsibilities as well as hold client residents accountable for their sobriety.
Many times, rehab programs will have sober living houses as a part of their aftercare program, this can be a good way to find what you’re looking for, especially if your time at the inpatient program was a good experience. That said, outpatient rehabs also have connections with sober living communities as well. Regardless, one thing you want to look for when searching for a sober living home is that they are partnered with evidence-based treatment programs, this lets you know that they take recovery seriously.
You can use treatment locator tools on the web to find quality substance abuse treatment centers all across the nation. The best way to get a better understanding of how these treatment programs operate and if they have quality service and a sober living community backing them is to give them a call.
Great rehab programs will have aftercare treatment options lined up for each and every client so that when they leave a facility, they are set up with things like an alumni program, a sober living community, and more to ensure that they will see continued success and long-term recovery.
What To Expect from a Sober Living House
Regardless of whether you choose a sober living home in-state or out-of-state, these facilities share many common characteristics, according to this study examining the role and future of sober living facilities.
Researchers concluded the following:
- Every sober living facility has rules that all residents must follow. While sober living homes do not provide the same intensive environment as residential rehab, expect regular testing for drugs and alcohol. These facilities operate a zero-tolerance policy for substances for the benefit of all residents.
- Residents at sober living homes will have certain responsibilities and chores, varying from location to location. Expect a roster for laundry, dishes, and trash disposal. Adhering to these guidelines and routines is mandatory.
- Most sober living homes hold regular group meetings.
- Guests are not typically welcome to stay at sober living homes.
- Although sober living homes do not usually insist that you are engaging with formal addiction treatment, you should be actively pursuing your recovery in some form. Most facilities will encourage you to attend local meetings of 12-step support groups like AA and NA.
- Sober living home residents must meet all financial responsibilities, including rent and bills, in order to remain in the facility. Assuming you meet your financial obligations, stay sober, and follow the house rules, sober living homes typically allow you to remain in place for as long as you like. For anyone looking to make a smoother transition from the cocoon of residential rehab into the harsh reality of daily living, a sober living facility could be the difference between sustained sobriety and relapse.
Assuming you feel the safe and substance-free setting of a sober living facility sounds like the right place for you on the continuum of care, how much do sober living homes cost?
How Much Does a Sober Living Home Cost?
Sober living homes might not be especially cheap, but they are much more affordable than residential rehab. Of course, this reflects the delivery of a completely different type of service.
To assess the rough cost of basing yourself at a sober living home, you should look at the cost of renting a room in the locality.
The price of sober living facilities varies significantly, with the following variables impacting the bottom line:
- Location of the sober living facility
- Number of residents
- Size of the facility
- Extent of amenities
- Shared or single rooms
- An organization operating the sober living home
You will find that some health insurance providers will meet the cost if you’re considering a sober living home, so check if your provider will oblige.
Choosing Between a Local or Out-Of-State Sober Living Home
A sober living house provides recovering addicts the time and space they need to ease back into society. Patients typically stay 6-9 months. During this period, there are meetings, group discussions, and continued work with sponsors to help addicts learn the sober living lifestyle. Distance from one’s home environment makes it easier for recovering substance abusers to be free from distractions. Even those deep in addiction realize that a change of scenery is needed when they are looking for recovery. An out-of-state sober living home can be a much better option for some. That said, for others, it can be better to be closer to family to have continued support from those individuals. For many people in successful recovery, one of the key contributory factors is the support of friends and family on hand, so choosing a facility allowing you to take full advantage of your social network can be beneficial.
Ultimately, you must evaluate your situation and establish whether a local or an out-of-state sober living home will be best for your situation. Take your time, consider the pros and cons. Always call the facility and talk to them about the environment, job opportunities, or to discuss any special needs you may have.
Find Sober Living at The District
Finding the best sober living home is not an easy process, it will take some time and phone calls to determine what is best for you or your loved one, starting with a simple online search for “what are my sober living home options”.
To shortcut the process and to learn more about who we are at The District and what Orange County rehabs we partner with, please don’t hesitate to give us a call today. We have all the tools and experts in place to help ensure that you or your loved one get the care and treatment that they need to conquer addiction and stay sober long-term.
Please give us a call today at 844-287-8506 to learn more about how The District can help you find the best sober living home for your situation.
