Will I Have My Own Room in a Recovery House?

Compared to the carefree lifestyle of addiction, entering a drug treatment program can seem stifling and restrictive. Likewise, the prospect of moving into a recovery house may also intrude upon a person’s sense of privacy.

Recovery houses, also known as sober living homes, provide transitional housing for people not quite ready to take on everyday life on their own. Recovery house programs employ a community living approach with a special emphasis on the importance of supporting one another in recovery.

For help finding a sober home that works for you, get help today at 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?).

Recovery house programs vary considerably in terms of:

• Rental costs
• Amenities offered
• Funding sources
• House rules
• Room assignments

It’s only natural to want to have your own room considering the length of time you’ll likely be staying in a recovery house. In general, a person’s specific needs and room availability dictate whether he or she will have to share a room or not. In any event, the high degree of variability between programs warrants a bit of “shopping around” before choosing a program.

Recovery House Programs

Most sober homes have shared rooms, but you can find a private room if you prefer that.

The concept for recovery houses began with the emergence of inpatient and residential treatment programs during the 1960s and 70s. These treatment settings incorporate a social support network component that’s proven invaluable to encouraging continued abstinence and success in recovery. Since that time, the need for transition stage environments where addicts can get their bearings in the “real world” without having to go it alone brought about the recovery house program model.

According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, a dysfunctional living environment can quickly derail a person’s recovery efforts after completing drug treatment. Returning to a home wrought with conflict, substance abuse and chaotic schedules does not bode well for someone wanting to stay clean and sober.

On average, people in recovery face the highest risk of relapse during the first six months after completing drug treatment. While living with a group of strangers for months at a time extends past most anyone’s comfort zone, the importance of living in a stable home environment after treatment must take precedence over all other factors.

Sober Living Philosophy

The philosophy behind sober living is steeped in the 12-step support group model, which promotes support, encouragement and accountability among group members. Recovery houses implement these principles within a community-based living environment.

While residents in recovery houses may come from different walks of life, they’re all facing similar challenges and obstacles on a day-in, day-out basis. The importance of being able to confide in someone who understands the pull of addiction can make all the difference, especially during times when the use to use is strong.

Having your own room in a recovery house offers a certain degree of privacy and space and homes that provide this accommodation are likely in demand. As the addiction lifestyle tends to grow more and more isolating along the way, a big part of recovery has to do with learning to feel comfortable around others while at the same accepting of oneself. In this respect, having to share a room in recovery house carries certain benefits.

Get help today at 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?).

Types of Recovery Houses

In general, no regulations dictate how sober living recovery houses must operate. Consequently, recovery houses can vary from state to state as well as from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Since residents must pay for room and board as a condition of their stay, monthly rents can range anywhere from $400 for modest accommodations to $10k a month for resort-type living environments. More often, the lower the rent the more likely you’ll be sharing a room with someone else.

The size of the house also has a bearing on room assignments depending on how much of a profit the homeowner wants to make. This means the number of people per recovery house can range anywhere from six to 30 residents. Homes offering little to amenities may house barrack-style bunk beds or twin beds, while those on the upper-end provide private bedrooms and posh furnishings, which all come at a cost.

Recovery House Program Structure

Recovery house programs share some similarities with halfway houses in terms of the community living model, though recovery houses have far few regulations to follow. According to the National Center for Biotechnology, the basic structure that makes up a recovery house includes:

• No actual treatment services offered, though most houses do require regular attendance at 12 Step support group meetings
• No drugs or alcohol use permitted, nor can any substances be brought on the grounds
• Residents pay for rent and required fees
• Residents perform house chores
• Residents must maintain employment or be looking for work
• Attendance required at house meetings

These rules work to prepare those in recovery for the types of responsibilities and obligations they’ll face once out on their own. In effect, the only difference between living in a recovery house and living on one’s own lies in the support network that these programs provide.

Funding for Recovery Houses

While most anyone can own and run a recovery house, some programs do operate as nonprofit organizations, which make them eligible for government grants. Programs listed as nonprofits will likely not offer private rooms in order to make the most of available funding. Unfortunately, programs that rely on government funding remain vulnerable to funding cuts with each passing year.

Overall, private-run recovery houses located in middle- to upper-class neighborhoods offer the best chance of finding a house where you’ll have your own room.

Considerations

After leaving a drug treatment program, a lack of support and understanding can drive a person to isolate and eventually start using again. While sharing bedrooms does cut down on overall costs, this practice does help limit social isolation, which can be easy to fall into while in recovery.

More oftentimes than not, underlying emotional issues drive a person to escape through drugs and alcohol. These traits also tend to come with poor relationship and/or communication skills. The emphasis recovery houses place on community and social supports works to help a person develop the types of coping skills that support ongoing abstinence. Call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?). Help is available.