Choosing a sober living home is one of the most important decisions in early recovery. The right home gives you structure, peer support, and accountability while you rebuild; the wrong one can set you back. This guide walks through what to look for, what to ask, and the red flags to avoid — so you can compare homes with confidence.
1. Decide what level of structure you need
Sober living homes range from loosely-run "peer" houses to highly structured, supervised homes with curfews, required meetings, chores, and random drug testing. If you're newly out of treatment or have relapsed before, more structure is usually safer. Ask each home to describe a typical day and week.
2. Confirm the home is certified or accredited
Certification means a home has agreed to a recognized set of operating and ethical standards. Look for a home affiliated with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) — in Florida, that's FARR (the Florida Association of Recovery Residences). Certification isn't a legal requirement everywhere, but it's a strong signal the home takes safety and accountability seriously. Always verify a home's current certification directly.
3. Understand the full cost — and what it includes
Ask what the monthly fee covers and what it doesn't. Sober living rent typically covers a bed, utilities, and the structure and support of the home — not therapy, medical care, food, or transportation unless stated. Ask about move-in fees, deposits, and refund policies. Many homes offer scholarships or sliding-scale rates, so it's always worth asking if cost is a barrier.
4. Ask about MAT and medication policies
If you're on medication-assisted treatment (Suboxone, methadone, or Vivitrol), confirm the home is MAT-friendly before you commit. A good home will welcome the question and have a clear, respectful policy for storing and managing medication.
5. Match the home to who you are
Consider whether you'd do better in a men's, women's, or co-ed home, and whether the community fits your recovery pathway (12-step, SMART Recovery, faith-based, or a mix). Many people search specifically for a men's or women's home for good reason — comfort and safety matter.
6. Visit, or at least call — and trust your gut
Whenever possible, tour the home and meet staff and residents. On the phone or in person, notice whether the home is clean, whether staff answer your questions clearly, and whether the rules are written down. A trustworthy home is transparent about its expectations and its costs.
Red flags to avoid
- No written house rules, or vague answers about structure and testing
- Pressure to pay large sums up front with no clear refund policy
- Requiring you to sign over benefits, or steering you toward a specific treatment provider for a kickback
- No certification and unwillingness to discuss it
- Unsafe, overcrowded, or unclean conditions
Start your search
You can browse verified sober living homes on this directory by state and city — for example, sober living in Florida, California, Ohio, or New York. Every listing is free to view, with the home's own intake line so you can call directly.