Is a Sober Living Home Worth the Money?

Are you thinking about sober living for your child, another family member or for yourself?

There are many things to consider. Our friends at Hickory Wind Ranch, an Austin sober living environment and transitional house, have kindly shared some history, as well as some interesting information about sober living environments.

The difference between a halfway house and sober living house isn’t much. They both fall under the category of “transitional home”. Transitional homes date back to the late 1920s and 30s and were created to counter the rise of alcoholism and addiction that swept the nation during the Great Depression and Prohibition era.

These shelters served as spaces where people could find sobriety, and at the time were referred to as as halfway homes or three-quarter houses.  Bill W. and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, founders of AA, pioneered the sober living movement.

Today, transitional homes that cater to those dealing with addiction recovery are often called “sober living houses”, while today’s halfway houses tend to be associated with reformed criminals. Modern sober living facilities apply similar ideas in treating alcoholism.  They serve individuals who have completed treatment at a rehabilitation facility, but are still in need of the structure, strict rules of sober adherence, and support to help them transition back to their communities.

After completing the rehabilitation process, transitional living is considered the next step in treating any drug or alcohol addiction. It is highly recommended for optimum recovery, relapse prevention and has helped many achieve their dreams of a sober future.

Transitional living homes like Hickory Wind Ranch provide residents with daily, personalized support and skills needed to help them achieve their goals of independent, sober living.  A resident of a transitional home completes a personalized program consisting of services designed to help them meet their overall goals.  Each person is treated individually and provided with a treatment plan specific to them.

Transitional living homes meet two key objectives.  First they provide individuals with basic needs including comfort, food, and a safe place to sleep.  Next, they equip residents with a set of skills needed to reach their long-term goals of sobriety and rehabilitation.

The Hickory Wind Ranch documentary series, “Success Stories” can be seen on A&E Intervention.

I’m often sent emails from readers here at Treatment Talk about sober living homes and why they are important. When my daughter was going through treatment for her addiction, it was suggested that she live in a sober living environment for a period of time.

A sober living environment helps people make the transition from living in a treatment center to learning how to live a life without drugs or alcohol. It may also be possible for people who have made the decision to be sober on their own to live in a sober living home. The support time spent living in a sober living environment is so helpful on the journey to recovery.

My daughter was 19 when she went into treatment and the suggestion was made that six months to a year of treatment would be beneficial. There are so many pressures for a young person to drink and do drugs that you need time for your confidence to build and to feel comfortable with your new lifestyle.

After about four months of treatment, my daughter chose to live in a sober home.  She worked part time and went to school part time. She was required to attend a house AA meeting every Monday night, and may have been required to attend other meetings during the week as well. There was a curfew at night. No males were allowed in the women only home that she lived in. Chores was assigned and they were required to be completed.

Sober living homes vary in what they require of their residents, so it’s important to read about the requirements of the home, and ask questions.

My feeling is that the longer young people are in treatment, the better. It takes practice to relearn healthy habits and to feel comfortable in your new life. For our family the sober living experience was worth the time and expense.

Have you had an experience with sober living? What are your thoughts or questions about a sober living environment?  Join the discussion and let us know in comments.

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