Otter House Recovery

A sober living is transitional living, often between inpatient care and independent living post-treatment. It is considered a “bridge” to ease the individual back into living on his or her own in the “real world.” It reinforces the lessons learned in rehab while providing social support to help remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol. It also serves to help the individual prepare for the daily challenges and stressors of everyday life.

Structured sober living homes offer more intensive peer support programs than traditional sober living homes. House managers and staff work with residents to help them develop new skills and coping tools that are designed to avert the possibility of relapse. Structured sober living homes are so-named because they provide more daily structure in residents’ lives. Because structured sober living homes offer more resources and one-on-one attention, they are not only safe and trigger-free living spaces for people recovering from substance use disorders, but effective recovery tools in their own right.

Structured sober living homes recognize that long term sobriety depends on much more than just physical abstinence from drugs and alcohol. While living in a structured sober living home, residents not only work to stay sober, but they cultivate new values, including responsibility, honesty, and integrity. Structured sober living homes help residents rebuild their lives from the ground up, often providing guidance on employment, school, and conflict resolution. Like other sober living homes, structured sober livings can function as a “bridge” between a treatment center and independent living, but they are also a very effective first line options to recovery for addiction.

Sober living costs vary independently depending on location, level of structure, and other specific benefits and amenities offered by the program. For example, some sober living homes supply groceries and offer weekly drug testing, transportation to 12-Step meetings, and employment support—potentially resulting in higher costs than a sober living that does not offer added services. However, some sober living homes are more affordable than living independently, since rent is often split between many people.

Otter House Recovery offers a range of room and pricing options in an effort to meet the needs of diverse people. If you are interested in living at Otter House Recovery and you want to get a sense of what rent would cost for you, it is best to contact us directly so that we can discuss your specific needs. We also understand that people who are recovering after years of active addiction often have complicated financial situations. It is our goal to ensure that everyone, no matter their situation or background, has a chance to recover from alcohol or drug addiction.

The most basic and fundamental rule at a sober living home is abstinence from drugs and alcohol—this is often enforced via random drug testing. However, most sober living homes require residents to abide by certain other house rules as well, such as curfew, completing chores, and regular attendance at local 12-Step meetings.

Rules regarding jobs and vehicles vary independently depending on the sober living home. Since residents often come to sober living at different points in their sobriety, some sober living homes may require a gap of time before the individual is allowed to return to work.

However, reentry into the workplace is highly encouraged at sober living homes, with some even offering resume and employment support services.

Rules regarding vehicles also vary depending on the sober living home. Most sober livings allow residents to have a vehicle, although some places consider it a privilege that can be taken away if certain rules of the house are broken.

Residency at a sober living home can range from 30-60 days to a year or longer, depending on the specific needs of the individual. Sober living is meant to help the individual build a sturdy foundation of recovery before transitioning to independent life post-treatment. It is a process that depends largely on the behavior, attitude, length of sobriety, and other characteristics of the individual.

When people enter sober living homes, the amount of time they stay can vary considerably from person to person. Individuals who are recovering from severe addictions often have a lot of work to do to ensure long term sobriety. After all, withdrawing from drugs and alcohol for a short period of time is rarely sufficient. Most people who have successfully “quit” drugs and alcohol on their own can tell you that!

Sober living homes generally offer flexible programs that allow people to stay for however long they need. They are unique among addiction resource centers in that they emphasize length of recovery rather than short-term solutions. Most people benefit from staying at a sober living home for a considerable period of time. In fact, research indicates that people who remain involved in a formal recovery program for longer are less likely to relapse in the long run.

Part of the reason sober living homes encourage people to stay on a long-term basis is so that residents have an opportunity to rebuild their lives. Sober living homes recognize that sobriety depends on much more than physical abstinence from drugs and alcohol. In order to remain sober for the long haul, it is important for people to build and develop sober lives that they won’t throw away so easily. 

While staying at a sober living home, residents have the opportunity to build sober social support systems that will stay with them for life. They work on unresolved interpersonal issues and learn new ways of coping with difficult situations. Residents also work toward new academic or career goals, so that they can stand on their own two feet by the time they graduate. All of this takes time.

Sober living homes can improve the chances of remaining abstinent following inpatient treatment. It provides social support among individuals with similar goals. It is a safe and structured environment that nurtures and prepares the individual for reentry into the real world. Some of the most important benefits that residents receive in sober living homes include:

• Constant guidance and support
• A strong sober social support system
• Improved life skills
• A smoother transition to independent living
• Lowered risk of relapse
• A safe, trigger-free space to pursue recovery
• Help finding employment
• Improved relationships with friends and family