What Sober Life is Like in Sober Housing

Life in sober housing is very different from life in an inpatient treatment center, but it still gives residents the ability to receive the support they need. Sober homes are a type of transitional living facility that are often most suitable for individuals leaving inpatient care and moving back into their normal lives. But what is it really like to live in one of these facilities?

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Following the Rules

Life at a sober home is different than in a treatment center because there is no one watching you at all times. You are free to come and go from the facility as you please, yet you still must follow a certain number of rules set by the sober home. These rules often include:

• A curfew for residents
• A promise to attend a 12-step group regularly and/or obtain a sponsor
• A promise to abstain from alcohol and drugs while living at the facility
• A promise to pay an agreed upon rent on time

Certain facilities may ask residents to agree to different rules, but these are the most often enforced. According to a study from the NCBI, there is usually “an invitation for residents to stay in the house as long as they wish provided they comply with house rules.”

Upkeep and Management of the House

Sober houses encourage residents to become friends.

Residents are able to leave for work and other approved activities when necessary, spend time with friends, and be a part of the larger community. However, they are also expected to manage the facility itself through doing chores, paying for maintenance fees, and performing other actions that are usually agreed upon when the individual moves in. This allows residents to form a bond with one another over the general upkeep of the home and to become a community of their own as well.

In addition, “some houses have a ‘residents’ council,’ which functions as a type of government for the house.” In many cases, residents must get together for a mandatory meeting every Sunday to discuss the run of the house and any ways to improve it.

Living Arrangements

“Social support” is an important part of the sober home’s recovery model, according to another study on these facilities (NCBI). Because of this, residents are required to be involved in household issues as well as provided with social activities that facilitate positive interactions. Most sober homes also mandate that residents share a room with at least one other individual.

Not only does this “help limit social isolation and reduce costs,” it also allows residents to check up on one another by making sure that everyone is following the rules and no one is struggling. When an issue does come about, it is often handled by the entire group of residents, as well as any individuals who may also own the home.

Living a sober life is a struggle for someone with an addiction, but in one of these facilities, residents receive extra support as well as the freedom to slowly ease back into their everyday lives. Life in a sober living home is structured but also more flexible than life in a treatment center, which is why many individuals choose it. Call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) toll free anytime for help finding sober living houses.