What Is Sober Living?

Sober living homes, also known as sober houses, are transitional living spaces for people who want to maintain sobriety. It provides a safe environment for people to focus on their recovery after substance abuse treatment.

People who have undergone addiction treatment in rehab centers often struggle to stay sober as they adjust to the real world. In sober living homes, you can learn essential skills and techniques for recovering addicts before returning to your everyday life.

The life skills that sober living homes provide can help you prepare for the next chapter of your life. It also offers a community of empathetic peers.

What to Expect in a Sober Living Home

Sober living homes are typically located in secure, serene neighborhoods to provide a stable housing environment. It’s a comfortable, home-like place where you can feel safe and relaxed.

There are also various activities that you can expect to take part in throughout the day. Although your experience may vary. Some activities you can expect include:

Daily Activities in Sober Living Homes

A typical day in a sober living home usually begins with chores such as:

• Tidying the bedroom
• Cleaning the bathroom
• Helping with breakfast

After that, you may take part in

• House meetings
• Twelve-step meetings
• Mandatory drug tests
• Counseling sessions either inside or outside the home

You can enjoy healthy meals in the evening, followed by group therapy sessions. Nighttime is often reserved for free time when you can call loved ones, read books, or watch television.

Can You Still Go to Work While in A Sober Living Home?

If you have a job, you can go to work as scheduled. You can also schedule meetings or counseling sessions around your work hours.

However, if you don’t have a job, your afternoon activities can include:

• Looking for a job
• Household chores
• Community service

Common House Rules of Sober Living Homes

There are many well-established rules in sober living homes, as the structured environment is one of the main reasons they help with recovery. Some of the house rules set up in sober living homes include:

• Abstaining from drugs and alcohol 
• Attending house meetings or 12-step meetings
• Completing specific chores 
• Participating in random drug testing
• Following a curfew
• Signing in and out when being away from the home
• No overnight guests

Benefits of Sober Living

Sober transitional living spaces like sober homes can help you by limiting your access to drugs and alcohol.

Sober living gives you time to develop healthy coping mechanisms that can help you avoid a relapse.

Why Choose Sober Living

Sober living gives you time to develop healthy coping mechanisms that can help you avoid a relapse. You’ll learn to deal with internal and external triggers such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma

Substance abuse may have taken years of your life, so sober living homes can help you regain them. Lastly, it allows you to build meaningful sober relationships and bonds.

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Who Lives in Sober Living Homes?

Sober living homes are for people who have completed a treatment program but need additional support to sustain long-term recovery.

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Is There a Difference Between Sober Living and Halfway Houses?

Both sober living homes and halfway houses support people recovering from substance use disorders. Both of them also offer access to resources that can help you with early recovery.

However, halfway homes and sober living homes have key differences:

Halfway Houses

• Usually run by government agencies or sponsored by the state
• Accommodates people who have been previously incarcerated and have a history of drug or alcohol addiction
• Less expensive
• Has fewer amenities
• Lacks privacy; tends to be crowded with residents
• There is a limit on how long you can stay
• You must be enrolled in a treatment program or have recently completed rehab

Sober Living Houses

• Run by medical professionals and experts in sober living
• Accommodates anyone with a history of substance abuse
• More costly, although it is likely covered by insurance
• It offers plenty of amenities to ensure a comfortable stay
• Residents get their own rooms for privacy
• You can stay for as long as you want
• Doesn’t require you to be in a treatment program

Types of Sober Living Houses

Most sober living environments provide separate homes for men and women. However, there are mixed-gender homes and homes that specifically cater to LGBTQ+ people.

People can experience specific challenges in recovery depending on their gender. By providing separate homes, facilitators can provide gender-specific care to improve the chances of success.

Sober Living for Men

Men are more likely to seek treatment for their substance abuse than women.¹ But they face other challenges that make lifelong recovery difficult, such as:

• Men are less likely to stop drinking on their own
• Men tend to be more skeptical of early treatment
• Men who relapse report positive feelings about their experience
• Men have a higher risk for mental disorders and dual diagnosis
• Men tend to have poor treatment outcomes (e.g., more frequent relapses)

Given these struggles, men-only homes usually focus on early treatment, mental health support, relapse prevention, and aftercare programs.

Sober Living for Women

Women are more likely than men to quit drinking alone.² They also have better treatment outcomes and are less likely to relapse.¹

However, they face the following challenges in alcohol recovery:

• Women are less likely to seek treatment
• When they do seek help, it’s from primary healthcare settings (e.g., hospitals and mental health clinics), which leads to poorer outcomes
• Women are more likely to feel depressed after a relapse
• Women who seek treatment reported higher rates of sexual abuse

Women-only houses tend to focus on providing mental health support for their residents.

LGBTQ+ Sober Living

People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer are at higher risk for substance abuse than their heterosexual counterparts.

Below are some of the struggles they face in recovery:

• Limited access to treatment facilities that focus on care
• Many LGBTQ+ patients deal with trauma and mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety)
• Lack of support from loved ones
• Discrimination in healthcare settings

Sober living homes for the LGBTQ+ help them recover by focusing on self-acceptance, peer support, and mental health.

Other Sober Living Facilities

In addition to gender-specific sober living, some homes cater to different age groups and populations. These include:

• Teenage sober living houses
• Young adult sober living
• Veteran sober living homes
• First responder sober living homes

Certain age brackets can experience specific challenges when recovering from addiction. The same can be said about military veterans and first responders.

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How Much Do Sober Living Homes Cost?

Sober living homes are generally less expensive than inpatient treatment centers. This is because they offer fewer services. But, many sober living homes have mandatory support group meetings.

They also tend to be affiliated with addiction treatment centers that provide outpatient programs. Both of which may add to the costs. Most homestays will cost between $500 to $1,200 monthly, with all services included. But they can be anywhere between $300 and $2,000, depending on the neighborhood and amenities. 

What Amenities Do Sober Living Homes Offer?

Some services and amenities that may increase the cost of sober living are:

• In-house recovery programs and training
• Phone, internet, and cable
• Laundry services
• Health and self-care amenities (e.g., spa, gym)
• Recreational amenities (e.g., pool)

Many sober living homes are covered under insurance plans or government funding. So make sure to check with your provider.

How to Find a Sober Living House

If you or your loved one needs to go to a sober living facility, contact your local healthcare professional or medical professional for a referral.

They will be able to discuss the best available options and can help locate nearby locations. You can also visit the websites of sober living homes in your area to find one that suits your needs.

Summary

Sober living homes provide a structured living environment that prepares you for reintegration into society. It provides necessary life skills and techniques to help you maintain sobriety.

It also provides a therapeutic space where you can get support from peers who are also recovering from substance abuse. There are also specific types of sober living homes that cater to your gender, age, and in some cases, profession.

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