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What Recovery Housing Is
Peer support and a drug abstinent home are the most essential components of recovery housing, which is also known as sober housing.
Recovery housing provides an environment that promotes long-term abstinence from substance use. Recovery housing residents are encouraged to attend 12-step meetings as part of their recovery process.
Recovery housing is not a substitute for clinical or community-based substance use disorder treatment. It does not offer medical detoxification nor is it a treatment facility. A recovery house is not an overnight shelter or a halfway house. Residents do not have to be in treatment; however, there may be a requirement to participate in a 12-step program (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) or attend other types of peer support groups.
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Recovery Housing Versus Clinical Treatment
Unlike certified residential treatment programs, which have clinical staff on-site to provide individualized care and services, recovery housing is not a treatment program. The purpose of recovery housing is to help people achieve and maintain recovery by providing opportunities for peer support and other recovery activities.
NARR level four houses sit under the category of residential treatment. These are recovery residences that provide a higher level of structure to help clients with more intensive needs in a clinical environment. Level four houses require certification by DBH.
Recovery housing is not a substitute for addiction treatment but rather the next step in long-term care. It gives residents a safe place to live while continuing their recovery journey.
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Written Rules Residents Agree To
House rules, expectations, responsibilities, and consequences are made clear in writing to residents. Residents sign the agreement acknowledging understanding.
The house has written policies for handling violations of the house rules and procedures that are shared with residents and applied evenly across all residents.
A written policy is available for residents to request a grievance hearing if they believe their rights have been violated.
Residents understand that returning to use is not allowed in recovery housing.
A copy of each signed resident agreement is kept in a file separate from the resident's financial records. The file also includes any written complaints or grievances filed by residents.
A resident handbook explains return to use policies to residents. It also establishes clear expectations regarding the conduct of residents and other individuals on recovery residence property, and what steps will be taken if these expectations are not met.
Rules regarding the conduct of residents may include, but are not limited to:
- No alcohol or illicit drugs or paraphernalia
- Prohibition against possession of weapons on site
- No smoking tobacco products indoors; designated areas may be allowed outside
- No violence or threats of violence
- No theft or destruction of property
- No illegal activity on or near the residence
- Non-Residents are not to come onto the premises unless they have an approved visitation schedule
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Who a Recovery Home Usually Fits
Early recovery after inpatient care often includes a lack of resources, social supports, or employment opportunities. These challenges are exacerbated by an inability to return to the environment where substance misuse took place (i.e., triggers). For these reasons, individuals who have completed residential treatment may benefit from living at a sober house for some period of time. In particular, they may be better able to focus on recovery and avoid returning to environments with high risk for relapse or re-creating patterns of dysfunctional behavior.
Other individuals may struggle with mental health disorders, physical disabilities, or financial problems that limit their ability to live independently in a regular residential setting. These individuals may benefit from the supportive services and structure available at a sober house. Some of these services include employment assistance, support for obtaining housing and financial benefits, and help with daily activities.
Recovery Homes are typically for individuals who have completed some form of addiction treatment. The idea is to provide residents with an opportunity to continue their recovery in a supportive and structured environment outside the walls of a formal treatment facility.
These homes vary widely in terms of structure, rules, and requirements but typically share several key characteristics:
Shared Living - Residents live together in a communal setting, sharing common areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms.
Structure and Rules - Recovery Homes have set guidelines and expectations for residents. These may include curfews, house chores, attendance at recovery meetings, and participation in group activities.
Supportive Environment - The homes provide a safe, supportive environment where individuals can continue their recovery journey. They offer guidance and encouragement from staff members and other residents who share similar experiences.
Sober Living - The primary focus of a Recovery Home is on maintaining sobriety. Residents are expected to abstain from alcohol and drugs while living in the home.
Transition to Independent Living - For many residents, a Recovery Home serves as a stepping stone toward independent living. The goal is to help individuals learn skills for self-sufficiency and build a strong foundation for continued recovery.
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How Residents Cover Housing Costs
Residents usually pay their own living expenses, such as rent and utilities. Residents often work full-time, either at an outside job or within the recovery home itself. Some residents also receive financial support from family members.
Outpatient care can run alongside recovery housing, if needed. Some people living in a recovery home are still in treatment. For example, they may have enrolled in individual counseling or one of the outpatient programs at a rehab facility while living in the house.
For people who are still active in recovery treatment, this allows them to build on their progress and continue to make gains. At the same time, it can provide much-needed structure and support while they're away from an organized rehab program.
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Finding ORH-Accredited or DBH-Registered Housing
Operators file separately for each address in which they operate.
Ohio Recovery Housing (ORH) is the accrediting organization for recovery housing throughout the state of Ohio. ORH is an affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). ORH sets up standards and accredits recovery houses that meet or exceed NARR's national standard, which are reviewed every two years.
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Other Recovery Supports Nearby
The term recovery support includes peer recovery supports and other forms of assistance and services that promote long-term stability and quality of life for people with mental health or substance use disorders. Peer recovery supporters are individuals who have personal, lived experience in recovery from a substance use or mental health disorder, and may have been formally trained to support others in their efforts to achieve similar goals.
The Ohio CareLine connects callers when they are struggling with personal or family challenges. When callers need additional services, the Careline will assist them in connecting to local resources.
Mutual support groups sit alongside and complement professional treatment in the continuum of care. There are many types of peer support available today, including:
- Self-help groups
- Support groups
- Twelve-step groups
- Faith-based recovery programs
- Peer-support services
- Recovery residences (including sober living houses)
- Recovery coaching
- Wellness supports
Mutual self-help groups can be an important part of the continuum of care.
Mutual support groups sit alongside each of these service types.