Sober Living Options
Sober Houses
aka Alcohol and Drug Free Housing
Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health – Bureau of Substance Abuse Services
What is a Sober House or Alcohol and Drug Free Housing?
- A sober house is a private living arrangement between a resident and the housing owner/operator with the intent of providing an alcohol and drug free living environment to individuals in the community who desire that support for their recovery from addictive disorders.
- Alcohol and drug free houses (sober houses) are not licensed by DPH and are not allowed to provide substance abuse treatment services to residents.
- The Massachusetts Association for Sober Housing does offer voluntary certification to operators of sober houses who adhere to best practice standards in the management of the house. Click here for a list of sober living options that have been certified by Massachusetts Association for Sober Housing.
- Because sober houses offer housing only, health insurance does not cover the cost.
- Towns or local governments are prohibited by both Massachusetts law and Federal law from regulating sober housing.
It is always a good idea to research the housing options you are considering so that you feel confident this is an environment where you can be successful.
Below are a list of questions that may be useful to your assessment about the quality of the sober house(s) you are considering:
Eligibility/Admission
- What are the admission criteria for the home?
- Is there a minimum sobriety requirement?
- Are those who enter the house required to complete primary treatment first?
- Are certain medications prohibited for residents of the facility?
House Philosophy
- What is management’s experience or philosophy with addiction recovery?
- Is 12 Step meeting attendance required of residents? How often?
- Are residents required to have a 12 Step sponsor?
- Are residents required to follow a Continuing Care Plan from treatment to stay in the house?
- Is there a supervisor/manager that resides in the house? If not, how much supervision is provided?
- What kind of support is offered to the residents?
- Are there any counseling services offered?
Financial
- What is the monthly cost for living in the house?
- How much deposit is required?
- When is money due?
- What are the conditions that have to be met to have the deposit refunded?
- What is the refund policy should the resident leave the house prior to the time paid for?
- What is the refund policy should a resident relapse and/or be asked to leave the home for problematic behavior?
- Are residents responsible for their own food and supplies?
Expectations of Residents
- What is the recommended length of stay? What is the average length of stay for residents?
- What is the policy on aggressive or violent behavior?
- What is the policy on possessing pornography or viewing it online?
- Are residents expected to do chores and cook for themselves? What type of chores?
- Is there a curfew? What is it?
- Are there house meetings? How often?
- How does the resident government operate?
- Are residents required to work? How long do they have before they must get a job?
- Are there any jobs that are not allowed?
House Rules
- Request a copy of the house rules and review them. Ask any questions that arise.
- Can residents have visitors at the house? What are the hours for visitors? Can visitors stay overnight?
- Can residents have overnight passes?
- For what reason(s) would a resident be kicked out of a house? What is the process? How much time
would be given to find another place to live? - Would family members be notified if a resident was being kicked out?
In Case of Relapse
- Is a resident automatically terminated from a house if he/she relapses?
- If a resident relapses and returns to detox/treatment, may he/she return to the house after completing detox/treatment?
- Does the house have relationships/contracts with detox/treatment facilities to facilitate a referral if needed?
General Area/Environment
- What is the quality of the neighborhood? Is the area safe?
- Is the location convenient to public transportation, 12 Step meetings, etc?
- What is the typical demographic of the current residents? On average, how long have they been in the house?
- Is the physical condition of the house representative of a recovery environment?
- Who is the management of the home accountable to?
- Does the home have internet access?
