Find a Sober Living Home: What to Look For, What to Ask
One of the most important steps in a commitment to living sober is finding a place to live that will support your new outlook and lifestyle. Above all, you should feel good about this new phase of life, as you are setting the stage for ongoing success in sobriety. The decision to find a sober living home is a positive move in the right direction. Here are few things to look for and to ask to help you with your search.
Find a Sober Living Home that is Right for You
Sober homes put the focus on recovery, providing you with a safe, structured environment to support you through those all-important first weeks and months of living sober. Let’s look at some of the things you should consider when deciding on a sober house:
- What kind of people will you be sharing your living space with? This is important, as some sober homes are gender-specific and some are co-ed. If you think you would feel more comfortable with your own gender, this is something you should take the time to consider. You should feel at ease, and not fear for your safety.
- What’s the neighborhood like? The last thing you need when you are already under a huge amount of stress is to have a constant reminder of the non-sober lifestyle. Find a sober home with a safe environment inside and outside to mitigate this particular stress.
- What safety measures are in place? Find out who else is living at the sober house, and ask about what kind of safety and security measures are currently in place. These could be technology based (such as security cameras) or human-powered (such as in-house staff), but knowing that you are physically safe goes a long way to maintaining a positive state of mind. You always need a safe place to go. Make it a priority.
- What are the sober home rules? Having a structured environment is key to maintaining your sobriety, especially in critical early days. The less you have to think about what it is you are responsible for, the easier it will be. Every sober house has its own set of rules, and you’ll want to understand them before you find the right home for you. Knowing what is expected of you as well as what is expected of others will help to establish a routine, taking the pressure off of you while providing you with a strong foundation that is geared toward your ongoing success.
- What kind of support system should I expect? It is crucial to feel supported on your sober journey, and to this end, you want to find a sober home with residents that are caring and compassionate to your cause—residents and owners who have been through what you’re going through. You also want residents that are firm in their resolve, confident and unafraid to tell it like it is. Firm policies that include random drug testing and AA meeting attendance are good examples of responsible care, especially in the early days. A good combination of one-on-one connection and structure that applies to the entire group of residents is ideal. Embrace your support system—it can help you in more ways than you can even imagine.
Finding a Sober Living Home: The First Step to Your Greatest Reward
If you are struggling to stay sober and motivated to succeed, a sober living home may be right for you. The Sanctuary Recovery Foundation provides sober living residences in the beautiful coastal region of Charleston, SC. We would love to talk to you about how we can help.
