Addiction Care · 4 min read · Updated November 13, 2026
A stable place to live can be an important part of a recovery plan. Recovery housing, sometimes called sober living, may offer a shared living environment and recovery support. It is important to understand the particular home’s role: a housing arrangement is not automatically a licensed clinical treatment program or a substitute for medical care.
Find out what the home provides
Ask who owns and operates the home, who is present during the day and overnight, and what training or role each person has. Does the home provide peer support, supervision, transportation, or clinical services? If treatment happens elsewhere, ask who arranges it and how you will get there.
SAMHSA identifies a safe, stable home as one of the dimensions supporting recovery. That does not mean every residence offers the same level of support. Your housing choice should be considered alongside your clinical needs and other daily responsibilities.
Check credentials without assuming what they mean
SAMHSA’s recovery-housing guidance recommends certification and clear written standards. Ask whether the home is certified or chartered, by which organization, and how you can verify its current status. Requirements and oversight vary by place and housing model. A recovery-housing credential is not the same thing as a license to provide every form of addiction treatment.
Ask for the name and address of the actual residence, not only the parent company’s website. If the operator says that an application for certification is pending, clarify that this is different from a current credential. You can also ask the relevant state or local agency how this kind of residence is overseen.
Read the living agreement before moving in
- What are the rent, deposit, additional fees, and refund terms?
- Are there curfews, meeting requirements, chores, or employment expectations?
- What are the guest, phone, transportation, and privacy rules?
- What happens if I miss a payment, return to use, or need hospital care?
- How are complaints handled, and can I raise a concern outside the house?
- What notice and assistance are provided if I must leave?
Ask for a copy you can keep. If a rule seems unclear, use a concrete example: “What would happen if my work shift ended after curfew?” The goal is to understand everyday expectations before discovering a conflict after moving.
Discuss prescribed medicines and clinical appointments
Ask how the residence supports people taking prescribed medicines, including medications for alcohol or opioid use disorder. Clarify storage, transportation to appointments, and who is allowed to handle medication. If a house policy conflicts with your prescribed treatment, discuss the conflict with your clinician before agreeing to it or making changes.
Ask what the residence does in an emergency and how residents obtain medical help. A staff member described as a “coach” or “house manager” should not be assumed to be a clinician. Know whom you will contact for health questions.
Look at the practical fit
If possible, visit or request a current virtual tour and speak with the operator about a typical day. Consider access to work, healthcare, groceries, public transit, and supportive relationships. Ask how roommates are selected, how shared spaces are maintained, and how conflicts are addressed.
Watch for pressure to commit before seeing written terms or offers that depend on using a particular treatment business. Ask about financial relationships between the residence and outside providers. A useful next step is to review the housing agreement with someone you trust and your care team, then list the questions still unanswered. Good housing planning includes both the move-in and what happens afterward.
Sources & further reading
General educational information. This guide is not a substitute for advice from a qualified treatment professional.
