Sober living homes provide a buffer between recovery facilities and the outside world. They are safe spaces for individuals struggling with substance abuse and addiction to transition back into society without relapsing.
Also called transitional housing, many sober living homes accept people who have not already completed a rehabilitation program and need a place to heal. Living in a sober home can significantly affect a person’s ability to transition back into society by offering a structured environment with support services to increase a person’s likelihood of a successful recovery.
Who Lives in a Sober Living Home?
A sober living home is meant to help people recovering from addiction to alcohol, drugs, and other substances. Typically, those living in a sober living home have completed a recovery program.
During a recovery or treatment program, people undergo a personal journey of healing their mind, body, and spirit. All of these elements help a person uncover the mental and physical strength they need to overcome addiction.
Some recovery programs include the basics like bedding, towels, toiletries, and meals. Others have even more services available like woodworking classes, gym and fitness passes, and even equine assisted learning. Most recovery programs, however, are founded on teaching people life skills and coping mechanisms to overcome their addiction.
The work done in recovery programs is mirrored in sober living homes, just in a different environment. It’s important to note not everybody in a sober living home needs to have completed a recovery program; all those who need help with their addiction are welcome.
What to Expect
A sober living home provides exactly what you would expect, a sober environment, drug free, alchohol free, and available to use for people recovering from substance abuse. People recovering from addiction live in the home and have access to:
- A case manager
- 12-step meetings
- Onsite church services
- Cooked meals
- Bed linens & towels
- Basic toiletries
The main goal associated with a sober living home is to provide a person recovering from addiction with a distraction-free environment to focus on their mental health and substance addiction. Living in a sober home is the ideal way to cut out distractions and temptations and maintain a person’s commitment to recovery.
Improved Sobriety Rates
Research shows that people recovering from addiction who enter sober living homes have significantly higher rates of recovery and staying sober than those who don’t.
Often, a lack of a stable environment with consistent access to food and shelter can cause a person to relapse and go back to using drugs and alcohol. A sober living home is an ideal place for people who find themselves struggling to remain drug and alcohol free because of the support mechanisms in place.
Sober Living Home Rules
Most sober living homes are dedicated to sets of rules which help create and maintain the ideal space to transition from a treatment program to society. Living in a sober living home means following these rules and not breaking them, as it impacts everybody’s path to recovery.
No Drugs, Alcohol, or Violence
The most important rule in a sober living home is zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol, or violence. The home needs to be a stable environment for everybody living there. Any introduction of addictive substances like drugs and alcohol risks posing a detrimental threat to a person’s recovery.
Active Participation
To get the maximum benefit from a sober living home, residents are encouraged to participate in programming and activities during their stay actively. This means integrating with the peer group, participating in group activities and meetings, maintaining cleanliness, exercising mutual respect, and more.
Meetings with Case Manager
Each resident in transitional housing or sober living homes gets a one-on-one case manager. The case manager is there to support the resident’s recovery process. They do this by listening to their concerns and counselling them on what to do in certain situations and providing necessary tools for success outside the home.
Seek Help When You Need It
At the Calgary Dream Centre, we work towards the day when our city doesn’t need us anymore. We believe the path to recovery is based on faith and strong core values. We’re proud to provide transitional housing to those who require a solid base from which to build a sustainable, healthy, sober life.
If you or someone you know is looking for help recovering from addiction, get in touch with us today.
