For many people, a sober living house offers this support in a safe, drug-free setting. Let’s look at what these homes offer, the different types, and how they compare to other places like halfway houses. Sober living homes are group homes designed for individuals recovering from addiction. Unlike residential treatment facilities, these homes do not provide addiction treatment.

In general, individuals with a history of vagrancy, incarceration or inadequate social support are at high risk of relapse. But sober living homes can be beneficial for anyone in recovery who does not have a supportive, substance-free environment to go home to. Oxford House facilities are the best examples of Level I sober living homes. The houses are run by residents and emphasize peer support as an essential component of recovery. Oxford House is a network of drug-free, self-supporting houses or apartment buildings.

What Is It Like to Stay in a Sober Living Home?

For many, the thought of returning home after addiction treatment can be daunting. Substance abuse can affect all aspects of a person’s life, including how they function in their family, work, and community. This effect can cause ongoing problems and make someone reluctant to return home after addiction treatment. Sober living homes encourage participation in group meetings, household tasks, and sometimes, holistic practices such as meditation and mindfulness.

All sober living homes have a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of drugs or alcohol. Usually, residents have recently completed inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment for substance use addiction. Sometimes, sober living houses also act as a stand-alone approach for substance misuse problems, meaning that someone will go straight there without first attending a residential treatment center. A sober living house is a place where people recovering from addiction can live together in a safe, substance-free environment.

Williamsburg House

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As a way to help the tribal communities impacted by the fraudulent sober living home practices, the attorney general’s office launched a $6 million grant program for tribal nations and non-profits. Reva Stewart (Diné) runs Turtle Island Woman Warriors, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that offers assistance to Native people who have been victimized by the scam. The group’s website includes a portal where individuals can verify and report sober living homes. People reach out looking for their loved ones whose disappearances or deaths are suspected to be tied to fraudulent homes. Into Action is an addiction treatment center specializing in personalized treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, conveniently located in Houston, Texas and led by experienced master’s level counselors and medical professionals. Avoid any facility that does not keep records or does not have clearly stated admissions requirements.

• While sober living houses and halfway houses share a focus on providing safe, substance-free environments for newly sober people, there are some differences.
• Establishing a sober lifestyle is difficult during the early stages of recovery.
• At least five people died in sober living homes in April 2023 from drug and alcohol use, medical examiner records show.
• The two were close, living in the family’s home in a historic tribal village surrounded by high desert and mesas.
• Beyond meeting housing codes, sober living homes must prioritize the health and safety of residents, particularly those considered vulnerable adults.

If you or someone you know is considering a sober living house, HealingUS is here to guide you every step of the way. Remember, recovery is more than stopping substance use—it’s about building a thriving, fulfilling life. With the right support, a sober living house can be the first step toward a strong, independent future. Some are run by private companies, others by nonprofit groups, and some even by former residents. What they all have in common is a shared commitment to staying free from drugs and alcohol to support everyone’s sobriety.

She continues her advocacy efforts to help people impacted by the sober living crisis through her non-profit Turtle Island Women Warriors. Her group, Stolen People Stolen Benefits, prioritizes helping any Indigenous person affected by the ongoing scheme. Fraudulent sober living homes were accused of billing the state for services that were never provided.

Thousands of Native Americans suing Arizona over sober living homes

• When Anders arrived to collect Jeffrey’s belongings with his oldest son and daughter-in-law, Anders asked a man who came to the door how residents could have access to alcohol while seeking treatment.
• Sober homes are designed to provide safe and supportive group living free of alcohol and drugs.
• Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
• Amplifying the voices of Arizonans whose stories are unheard; shining a light on the relationships between people, power and policy; and holding public officials to account.
• The same research also identified operational characteristics that improved the success rate of sober houses.
• The homes billed AHCCS for patient care in excess of $1,000 per day per patient.

These homes help residents create a new, sober life while receiving support from others who are also in recovery. Whether you’re coming from a rehab program or just need a supportive place to stay sober, understanding what a sober living house offers can help your recovery. Recovering from addiction is hard, and having the right support can make a big difference.

• Over half died as officials ignored calls to address lax oversight later shown to have contributed to thousands of patients being recruited into sham treatment programs.
• Sober living houses are usually peer-run facilities encouraging continued substance use disorder recovery.
• Some sober living homes have exercise equipment, fitness areas, recreational space, pools and cookout areas.
• Numerous studies have shown that most people who live in sober homes after attending treatment have low rates of relapse and are able to live productive lives.
• AHCCCS declined to comment or to make Director Carmen Heredia available for an interview because of the ongoing class-action lawsuit.

Q: How do you adjust well to sober living?

“We knew that that would probably be the harder path, that it would be more complex, and that there would be more fallout,” Hobbs said. That included catching legitimate providers in the dragnet and Indigenous people being left without services. Hobbs said that the state’s response was broad, which included shutting down any providers suspected of fraud and finding the loopholes allowing them to operate. Stewart said she couldn’t comment on how she is helping with the lawsuit, but she has shared the information she has gathered over the years, including the stories of people directly impacted by the fraud.

Arizona cracked down on Medicaid fraud that targeted Native Americans. It left patients without care.

But it wasn’t until the 20th century that they became the structured, supportive homes we see today. In the 1950s, groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) highlighted the value of group support and sober housing, leading to the growth of sober living houses across the U.S. All sober houses have a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of drugs or alcohol. Some recovery houses insist on random drug testing to ensure residents remain sober. Individuals who breach this are usually removed from the home immediately to protect the other residents.

Skyrocketing Reimbursements and Fraud Allegations

Reimbursement claims had ranged from roughly $150 to $2,500 for the same service, according to interviews and internal records. Staff would later https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ find one provider charged AHCCCS $60,000 for one treatment session with a single client. The 105-page lawsuit was filed on behalf of sober living facilities it claims were racially discriminated against during the state’s crackdown on fraudulent sober living homes. Program staff should have proper training and accreditation, and the residence should submit to regular inspections to ensure the highest standard of care. Additionally, many sober living programs work in conjunction with an addiction treatment program. If you’re seeking recommendations for sober living in the Houston area, we can help.

Hannah BassettInvestigative Reporter Health

She pursued new initiatives, like additional mental health services and housing options for Medicaid recipients. She also had a more hands-off approach to agency operations, including fraud prevention, than her predecessors, according to former AHCCCS employees. Reva Stewart, a community advocate who started a nonprofit to help victims and their families, estimates the crisis led to hundreds of deaths, extending beyond those that occurred in sober living facilities. She said many people recruited into programs were reported missing and some lost access to treatment or became homeless when the state’s crackdown led to the abrupt closure of facilities that housed people. Today, sober living programs are often run by professional addiction treatment programs and are staffed by licensed clinicians rather than volunteers or religious communities. A sober living program is one way that individuals in early recovery can help themselves during their initial period of sobriety.

In May, the cap on reimbursement rates went into effect, sober house though it’s not clear what prompted AHCCCS to address vulnerabilities that staff had identified more than a year earlier. AHCCCS declined to comment or to make Director Carmen Heredia available for an interview because of the ongoing class-action lawsuit. Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who took office in January 2023, blamed her Republican predecessor, Doug Ducey, for failing to relay the scale of the scheme that persisted for years under his leadership.