The idea of needing a sober living home, sometimes referred to as a “transitional living home”, can be a scary one. However, sober living homes are often the perfect solution for individuals who have struggled with alcohol or substance addiction. Some living situations do not support a person in early recovery, either due to stressful relationships, other inhabitants who currently use alcohol or substances, or other factors which are not compatible with sobriety. Sometimes a person’s habits of using alcohol or other substances may center around their home environment, and returning to that situation too soon may be too risky in the early weeks of a recovery journey. 

Regardless of the reason for looking for sober living in Georgia, these residences can provide the structure, accountability, and peer support that could be a crucial key to successful recovery from alcohol or drugs. 

What is a Sober Living environment? 

These can be homes, apartments, or townhouses, where individuals in recovery can live in a community setting. The primary focus of these residences is on maintaining a substance-free living environment, creating a supportive community of peers who are facing similar challenges. Sober Living Homes do not include any formal treatment services such as counseling or outpatient programming, however, they may include peer-led support groups such as AA, SMART, or Celebrate Recovery as well as work closely with outpatient programs to ensure their habitants are getting the care they need during the first weeks or months of recovery. 

What type of Sober Living homes are there? 

The National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) is a 501-c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the availability of well-operated, ethical and supportive recovery housing. They have developed a set of standards for Sober Living homes to help give clarity to individuals seeking this type of support. Most facilities fit into one of the below categories:

Level 1 – Peer-Run: Residences most often informally composed of individuals who are friends or acquaintances in recovery. Peer-run homes are usually governed democratically by their residents and may or may not feature periodic house meetings, drug screenings, and/or a senior resident holding other residents accountable, but there are no paid, clinical positions within such homes.

Level 2 – Monitored: Typically single-family homes or apartments supervised by a senior resident or a house manager who is often compensated, either monetarily or via free or discounted rent. House meetings and drug screenings are generally mandatory, and house rules are often well-defined.

Level 3 – Supervised: Facilities which are usually licensed and feature organizational hierarchies, administrative oversight, and policies and procedures. Life skills development is emphasized, and clinical services are provided outside of sober living services. Staff are certified, and drug screenings are standard.

Level 4 – Integrated: Services tend to be provided in a more institutional environment and are often transitional services for those completing an addiction treatment program. Clinical services are provided in-house with a strong emphasis on life skills development. Staff are credentialed, and drug screening is mandatory and administered on a frequent basis.

Who uses this option? 

Anyone who needs extra support during recovery can utilize sober living environments at any point in their recovery journey, provided they are able to remain sober while residing in the home. Typically, sober living homes (or SLH) are most used when a person has just completed a detoxification program or a residential treatment program for alcohol or substance addiction. Detox and Residential treatment facilities provide a safe “bubble” for patients to safely discontinue use of alcohol or substances, and are removed from their every day life, work, family, and friends. However, many patients find they need a little more structure in the days and weeks immediately following discharge from detox or residential. Going home to the fast pace of their previous life, stressful or unhealthy relationships, or unhealthy work environments can prove too much to bear in early sobriety. 

SLH’s works as a “step down” from the protective bubble of residential treatment to ease patients back into a normal life where they have lightly monitored or unmonitored access to work, family, and friends. Most houses require “check ins” daily or multiple times per day, to ensure the safety of the residents as they transition back into their lives. Many SLH’s have a “house manager” who lives on site or in close proximity, in order to ensure safety of the residents, that house rules are followed, and sometimes to provide drug/alcohol screenings for residents. 

How long do you stay in Sober Living? 

The amount of time spent in a SLH is completely depended on the needs of the resident. Some people may need just a few weeks to feel grounded and ready to return to their home life, while others may choose to reside for a year or more. Individuals may discuss their progress with their therapist, their doctor, their treatment team at an Outpatient Program such as Centered, and their family to determine what length of time makes the most sense for them financially and health-wise. 

What do you do in Sober Living? 

Residents may share a room with another resident in recovery, but the will almost certainly share an apartment or house with other residents. The primary point of SLH’s is to provide structure, accountability, and support as you being to integrate back into your local community, work, and friends and family. You may choose to return to your career, with limited hours or full time hours depending on your situation, during this transition. You may be asked to participate in daily or weekly peer support groups, including leading them at times if you are able. You may be asked to participate in community meetings with other residents to discuss living issues such as the division of household chores, cooking, or cleaning. You may also be asked to join other residents in engaging in volunteer or charity work, in an effort to feel connected with your community and provide a sense of renewed purpose. You may have house rules such as how to check in/out of the home, limited hours to be alone, curfew, and required random alcohol/drug screenings. All of the rules should be designed to help individuals in recovery re-establish a healthy living routine, encourage attendance to support group meetings, therapy sessions, and or outpatient programming, and above all support successful and long-lasting sobriety. 

What are the costs?

Residents typically must cover the cost of living in SLH’s, although a few may accept insurance. Some SLH’s include the cost of food and incidentals in their total price, while others do not. Typically, a resident is responsible for their own food, toiletries, clothing, and and prescription medicines they may need. Some SLH’s may provide experiential activities such as hiking trips, holiday gatherings, bowling or movie nights, or other fun activities designed to help foster a sense of community within the house as well as introduce residents to recreation without substances or alcohol. These experiential activities may be included in the house fee. The fees for these type of homes vary greatly depending on the amenities offered, so contact any residences you may interested in to understand the financial commitment involved. 

Do Centered clients stay in Sober Living? 

Sometimes there is a need for a more structured and monitored sober living environment while attending outpatient addiction treatment at Centered. We know our clients are looking for the top rated sober living homes in Georgia that are safe, reliable, and supportive. This is why we have developed relationships with local sober living providers for both men and women, many of whom are members of the Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR).

These resources also make our program available to people who live outside of our area who wish to commute to attend our program in person during the week. While this option is not a replacement for those who need residential care, it can provide a safe, supportive way for a person to begin their recovery journey at Centered. 

Accountability and Support in Recovery

Sober living homes that are members of GARR are required to adhere to a set of standards and take pride in the valuable services they offer in support of recovery. These options also allow for people to continue their treatment from full-time to part-time and begin to reintegrate more with society by working and/or going to school while continuing with our program.

Contact us today if you’d like more information about being able to enroll in our program and connect with one of our sober living partners. We’re ready to help! Call Now at 800-556-2966