A Primer on Recovery Residences: FAQs from the National Association of Recovery Residences

Additionally, the patients living in recovery housing were also two times more likely to have a satisfactory discharge from the outpatient treatment, meaning staff felt were ready to finish the outpatient program when they left, versus leaving the program against clinical advice. Recovery residences provide a structured, supportive environment for individuals recovering from addiction, promoting the acquisition https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/is-it-possible-to-get-sober-without-aa/ and practice of vital recovery skills. With varying levels of support, from peer-driven to medically supervised settings, these residences are pivotal in nurturing the journey to sobriety and wellness. We are looking for a creative, flexible and dependable person to support residents in increasing life and relationship skills through group activities, community integration, one on one support, and role modeling.
What is the Social (Experiential) Model?

From baseline to each subsequent follow-up period, rates of abstinence and employment generally increased, while rates of arrest generally decreased. When all individual characteristics were considered together in the same statistical model, the researchers found that outpatient program patients were 87% more likely to live in a recovery residence if they were female (vs. male) and have utilized more types of treatment services. Also, those living in the recovery residence were more likely to be younger, i.e., being in the less than 29 age-group, versus 30–39 or 40+ age categories. NARR prioritizes educating providers, residents, and the broader community about the recovery process, the role of recovery residences, and the importance of standards to enhance support for recovery journeys.
Dispelling the Myth of Addiction Treatment Providers as the Gatekeepers of Recovery
Significant gaps in the continuum exist in rural, tribal and other under-served areas. A comprehensive census does not exist, so it is difficult to know where rural recovery residences can be found. In many states, programs for certain targeted populations such as criminal justice clients, fund recovery residence stays. A growing number of voucher programs and insurance benefit packages are looking at the cost effective nature of recovery housing. California’s Medicaid waiver permits the state to include recovery residence stays in its Medicaid program (although subject to existing prohibitions on using Medicaid funds for room and board.) Other states are exploring that model for their own Medicaid systems. These data were collected as part of a larger randomized controlled trial looking at the effectiveness of brief motivational interviewing and case management on service use and recovery progress.
- After a disaster, a disaster declaration from the governor and president may free up federal funds for recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- Senior residents, appointed by the owner/operator to serve as the head of household, are typically called the House Manager.
- In this policy statement, an expert panel reviews what is known about recovery residences, while identifying major gaps in the knowledge base.
- Mack said she has contracted with several counties and reservations to cover rent for clients they refer.
- Recovery residences support individuals by providing a safe living environment and readily available community of recovery-related social support.
- They also plan to offer meals to those who require assistance utilizing 10 mobile kitchens across the Houston area, which are anticipated to begin in affected communities on Tuesday.
What’s the Difference Between Sober Living and Halfway Houses?
All sober living houses were part of the Sober Living Network, a non-profit organization that implements housing standards for recovery residences across the United States. A quarter of the houses were affiliated with a treatment program and gratitude house sober living residence 69% of the houses were single-gender facilities. At a minimum, a Level 2 recovery residence provides a sober, safe living environment coupled with peer recovery support through the use of social model recovery philosophy and structure.

- The daughter and grandchildren of one incoming resident came to tour the recovery residence recently.
- The researchers sought to determine whether individuals who opted to live in recovery housing during outpatient treatment differed from those who did not, in terms of demographic, clinical, and service use factors.
Our Board of Directors is composed of trailblazers in the recovery residence sector, bringing together a rich tapestry of expertise, compassion, and unwavering dedication. With decades of collective experience in shaping policies, enhancing community support, and pioneering innovative recovery solutions, they embody a shared vision of empowerment and transformative care. Some evidence suggests the community at large benefits from the presence of recovery residences. At the time of this policy statement, evidence was not available on the cost-benefit of recovery residences.

- From baseline to each subsequent follow-up period, rates of abstinence and employment generally increased, while rates of arrest generally decreased.
- Also, compared to those who elected not to live in recovery housing, they remained in outpatient care for longer, and were more likely to be satisfactorily discharged from treatment.
- Administrators and the board of directors of the growing nonprofit purchased the site after it became available about a year-and-a-half ago.
- Level 4 residences, since they are usually licensed treatment providers, often accept insurance and other forms of third party payments.
Some residence providers will not accept individuals taking certain prescribed medications, including those employed in MAT. Others may impose additional requirements on such residents, including provisions for safekeeping of medications. High start-up, operating, and capital expenses can be a significant barrier to creating and sustaining quality recovery residences.
A Short History of Recovery Housing
It’s important to receive regular drug testing as it can help to keep residents accountable for their actions and encourage fellow residents in their recovery. Aside from the noted benefits of living in the facility, residents also reported some potential challenges. Two challenges most commonly reported were financial difficulties and the more general challenge of finding a recovery residence that was a good fit for them. Join us in our mission to elevate the standard of recovery living, making a lasting difference in thousands of lives each year. It is normal for people to experience shock in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Those with existing mental health conditions may see increased stress, while others focusing on recovery at the moment may feel stress and trauma later.
Helping to secure stable housing first among homeless individuals can improve mental health and quality of life

Recovery housing benefits individuals in recovery by reinforcing a substance-free lifestyle and providing direct connections to other peers in recovery, mutual support groups and recovery support services. Recovery residences are safe, healthy, family-like, illicit substance-free living environments that support individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Overall, the need to identify what is and what is not a recovery residence was a driving factor behind the development of the NARR standard. To be considered a recovery residence, a provider or program needs to meet a wide range of standards.
It is important to recognize that these data do not speak to the causality of observed relationships. Nonetheless, this study provides an important foundation for future work to further investigate these characteristics and their role in recovery facilitation. Among the participating recovery residence sites, 32% had residents on parole or probation, 74% had a live-in manager, 30% provided meals to residents, and 77% required residents to attend 12-step meetings and complete a drug test at intake. On average, facilities required 41 days of abstinence prior to intake and most operated on a 12-step based program.
