How to Open a Sober Living Home

A sober living home is a place where individuals newly recovered from drug or alcohol abuse live in safely and comfortably. They are not treatment centers, but supportive recovery homes where these individuals are treated with consistent support and compassion, as they are very fragile emotionally at this point. These homes provide strength and a recovery system in coping with skills for these individuals.

If you plan on opening a sober living home, here is what you will need to do:

Set a Business Plan

You need to draw out your entire plan – such as your company’s name, the service descriptions, market strategies, site location, and team members – to develop a startup business plan. Think of which residence you will rent or purchase to form the home, and how many residents you will take in. you should calculate your charges per person, the services you will offer them, and how you will market your idea. You will also need an IRS Employer Identification Number.

List the Overhead Costs

To operate the sober home, you will need a list with detailed costs to operating the entire project. These expenses will include mortgages, utilities, staff’s pays, Internet, groceries, and cable bills. The furniture will also be added to the cost list. By charging the residents according to your expenses, you will cover the expense but you will need to establish the costs beforehand.

Research on Laws

You may need a conditional use permit (CUP) for setting the house. Certain housing laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act forbid discrimination against drug users who have recovered. Yet, you should contact your local government and fill out a CUP application.

Rent a House and Set the Layout

Once you rented and furnished the house, you need to see if the house should be gender based or combined. Make a house manager who has gone through the process of healing. You can later make house managers from the residents who show a responsible attitude in a few months.

Get a Training

Take a course on sober living homes. There are organizations like the Sober Living Network, which provides courses on opening these homes, and they provide all the details on how you can open and manage one.