Published: February 2026 | Last Updated: February 2026 | Reading Time: 8 min

What Are Sober Living Homes?

Sober living homes are shared residential environments designed to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. They provide a substance-free community with structured rules and expectations while allowing residents the freedom to work, attend school, and manage daily responsibilities. Sober living homes are not treatment programs — they are recovery-supportive housing that complements ongoing clinical care.

NARR Levels of Recovery Residences

The National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) classifies recovery housing into four levels:

Level 1: Peer-Run

Democratically run homes with peer governance. No on-site professional staff. Residents support each other's recovery. Lowest cost option with minimal formal structure.

Level 2: Monitored

House manager provides oversight and structure. Drug testing, house meetings, and recovery meeting requirements. Most common type of sober living home.

Level 3: Supervised

Professional staff on-site. Clinical services available (or closely coordinated). More structure, including life skills programming. Higher cost with more comprehensive support.

Level 4: Service Provider

Integrated clinical and housing services. Licensed clinical staff on-site. Structured therapeutic programming included. Highest level of support, closest to residential treatment.

Common Rules and Expectations

Abstinence Requirements

The foundational rule of all sober living homes is complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This is enforced through random drug testing, breathalyzers, and immediate consequences for violations (typically discharge).

Recovery Participation

Most homes require attendance at recovery meetings (12-step, SMART Recovery, or equivalent) — typically 3-7 meetings per week. Some also require individual therapy or counseling.

Employment and Productivity

Residents are expected to work, attend school, or actively seek employment. This requirement builds routine, financial responsibility, and a sense of purpose.

Household Responsibilities

Chores are shared among residents, including cooking, cleaning, laundry, and yard work. This builds community responsibility and life skills.

Curfews and Check-Ins

Most homes have evening curfews (typically 10-11 PM on weekdays, slightly later on weekends) and require residents to sign in and out.

Benefits of Sober Living Homes

Evidence-Based Outcomes

Research from UCLA and other institutions demonstrates that sober living residents show significant improvements in substance use outcomes, employment rates and income, criminal justice involvement, and mental health symptoms.

Structure Without Institutionalization

Sober living provides enough structure to support recovery without the institutional feel of residential treatment. Residents manage their own schedules, finances, and daily decisions within a supportive framework.

Affordable Transitional Housing

Sober living is typically more affordable than independent housing while providing recovery support. Shared living costs, structured environments, and the peer support community create value beyond the financial.

Practice for Independent Living

Sober living serves as a rehearsal for independent living — residents practice managing money, maintaining employment, building relationships, and navigating challenges while still having a safety net.

Finding the Right Sober Living Home

Questions to Ask

• Is the home NARR-certified or state-accredited?
• What is the drug testing protocol?
• What recovery meeting requirements exist?
• What is the house manager's background and availability?
• How are rule violations handled?
• What is the cost, and what does it include?
• What is the application and intake process?
• How long do most residents stay?
• Are there gender-specific options?
• What is the house culture and community dynamic?

Visiting Before Committing

Whenever possible, visit a sober living home before moving in. Meeting current residents, seeing the living conditions, and getting a feel for the community dynamic helps ensure a good fit. Many homes offer tours or trial stays.

What Sober Living Does Not Provide

Sober living homes are not treatment facilities. They typically do not provide on-site therapy or counseling (Levels 1-2), medical services, detoxification services, or psychiatric medication management. Residents are responsible for arranging their own clinical care, though homes often maintain referral networks with local treatment providers.

FAQ

How is sober living different from rehab? Rehab is a clinical treatment program with professional staff providing therapy, medical care, and structured programming. Sober living is recovery-supportive housing where residents manage their own care while living in a substance-free community. Many individuals transition from rehab to sober living as a step-down.

Can I be kicked out of a sober living home? Yes. Violation of house rules — particularly substance use — typically results in discharge. Most homes have clear policies about consequences for rule violations, often following a progressive discipline model for minor infractions.

Do sober living homes accept couples? Most sober living homes are gender-specific and do not accommodate couples. However, some communities have separate homes for men and women in close proximity, allowing couples to maintain relationships while living in gender-specific environments.

What if I cannot afford sober living? Options include state-funded recovery residences, scholarship programs offered by some homes, sliding-scale fees, and shared-room arrangements at lower cost. Some homes partner with vocational programs that help residents find employment.

References

• Polcin, D. L., et al. (2010). Sober living houses for alcohol and drug dependence: 18-month outcomes. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 38(4), 356-365.
• NARR. (2023). National Alliance for Recovery Residences: Standard for Recovery Residences.
• Jason, L. A., et al. (2007). Communal housing settings enhance substance abuse recovery. American Journal of Public Health, 96(10), 1727-1729.

Written by the Valley Spring Recovery Center Editorial Team

Ready to take the first step toward recovery? Contact Valley Spring Recovery Center today at (201) 781-8812 or reach out to our admissions team for a confidential consultation.