What is a Sober House?   by Ryan Garcia

The term sober house or sober living home is unfamiliar to most people, unless of course, if you are working in the field of recovery or have a friend or relative in the field. A sober house is often confused with a boarding house, halfway house, hostel, recovery support house, and shelter. In reality, it is a residential facility that provides an affordable alcohol- and drug-free environment for positive peer group recovery support. In a sober living home, a recovering addict or alcoholic has the chance to become self supporting.

A typical sober house is a single-family house, duplex, or a compound that is located in a quiet residential area. Most of these facilities are privately owned and less than 30 percent are registered as non-profit organizations. Coalitions and networks of sober living homes help set quality assurance standards. A sober house is required to meet high health, management, and safety standards.

Residents need to abide by the rules. Violations can result in fines or in the worst case scenario, the offender is asked to leave the facility. The main rule is zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs including aftershave, cold medicines, and mouthwash. And as such, random alcohol and drug testing is in effect. Using Listerine or other 52 proof mouthwashes or alcohol-based cold medication will trigger a false positive test and can be intoxicating if consumed in large quantities. Needless to say curfew violations, sex on the premises, theft, and violence are also not condoned.

Life in a sober house is communal. Depending on the size of the property, there are between six to 30 residents per house or unit. Residents share a bedroom with at least one other occupant. Most sober living homes are gender specific. All residents need to attend a minimum number of weekly meetings with groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Rent is determined by location, number of occupants, and services provided. Residents are not required to make security deposits or first and last months. They are also not subjected to a credit check. Utilities are part of the rent. In many sober living facilities, residents can pay their rent on a weekly basis and even have about a two- to three-week grace period to make the first payment. A recovering addict or alcoholic is welcome as long as he or she has the desire to stay sober, can abide by the rules, and can pay the rent.
More expensive sober living homes have emerged in recent years. These high-end facilities provide gourmet chefs, gym and yoga trainers, and personal lifestyle coaches. They also provide sports facilities like basketball courts, swimming pools, and tennis courts. Those who can afford to stay in an expensive sober house are recovering addicts and alcoholics who want complete anonymity and confidentiality.