SOBER AND CONGREGATE LIVING DEFINITIONS OF TWO TYPES

SOBER AND OTHER CONGREGATE LIVING DEFINITIONS OF TWO TYPES

September 2005

There are a variety of congregate residential houses accommodating a variety of persons with addiction, mental health, criminal justice and other problems in California. Below are definitions that can be used to distinguish between two, of many, types of houses that are recovery supportive.

Democratic Managed Sober Living Houses These are houses that offer affordable housing for recovering persons for an indefinite period. House members are motivated to maintain sobriety and remain active in their personal recovery or personal growth program. The owners or operators role is to facilitate a democratic culture and delegate to the house occupants the responsibility and the authority for the houses operational management tasks. Owners or operators maintain the right to periodically visit the home to assure it is maintained as a clean, healthy and safe and sober environment, and are available to assist with problems and concerns when invited.

Supervised Sober Living Houses Supervised sober houses provide safe and sober residential accommodations that have a manager. The manager has the responsibility and the authority to perform or assign the homes operational management tasks. These houses are mostly occupied by residents who are meeting the requirements of their case manager, judge, parole or probation officer, DPSS worker, employer and/or other human service agencies.

Below are four measurable operational characteristics that can identify a home as either a democratic sober home or the supervised sober home.

OPERATIONS

DEMOCRATIC HOUSESSUPERVISED HOUSES

Staff SupervisionNo daily staff supervision of residents. Residents select their managing officers.Daily staff supervision of residents. The owner, director or program provides staff.

Resident RulesResidents do group reviews, adopt & enforce their rules and policies.Rules and policies are composed and enforced by management.

Daily House OperationsResidents are trained and assisted to perform all the daily operational tasks.Manager performs, assigns or supervises most of the home management tasks.

External Treatment ActivitiesExternal treatment is not a condition of residency. Residents share their recovery activities in council meetings.External outpatient treatment services or recovery activities are sometimes required as a condition of residency.

NOTE 1: The main difference between sober and other congregate living houses is the alcohol and/or illicit drug use policy. Sober living houses have a zero tolerance for any alcohol and/or illicit drug use, while other congregate living houses, serving persons who are primarily mentally and/or physically disabled, may not have a strict alcohol and drug use policy.

NOTE 2: Both types of houses are appropriate for most criminal justice and mental health referrals. Community houses are able to provide a more positive recovery experience for persons who possess good work and social skills, in addition to a desire to remain sober, and prior recovery experience.

Prepared by the Sober Living Network, PO Box 5235, Santa Monica, CA 90409 (310) 396-5270