Photo by Anthony Shkraba

Originally Posted On: Sober Living Los Angeles: A Look at Recovery Solutions and Programs | (tasterecovery.com)

 

Sober living saves lives. Studies over the last twenty years have found that sober living helps residents recover from drugs. Recovery lasts for years, even after the residents have left their facility.

Yet not all sober living facilities come alike. Google “sober living Los Angeles” and you’ll find hundreds of different homes. In some of them, residents may be allowed to drink and take drugs outside the home.

What are the best sober living homes in Los Angeles? You can answer that question in a few different ways.

Consider your options, including resources that accompany sober living. Here is your guide.

Sober Housing

You have many different options for sober housing. If budgeting is an issue for you, you can find affordable options. If you want more amenities, you can spend more on luxury housing.

Skyline Sober Living has several homes in the Los Angeles area. Their homes are compact, with no more than one dozen residents spread across six rooms. Rates are at 150 dollars per week, and residents receive Internet and television access.

Skyline does not offer formal treatment services. This makes them ideal for people who need more independence in their day-to-day lives. People who believe they may relapse should look for other options.

Keystone Sober Living has similar prices, charging 180 dollars a week. But they offer more services for people who need them.

Staffers and house managers oversee interactions amongst the residents. Each resident must perform chores and work through the 12 Steps along with a sponsor. Quiet hours are strongly enforced, and residents who work during those hours may not receive approval to enter.

Heka House is a luxury women’s-only house. The monthly rent costs 5,000 dollars, but the home provides quality services and amenities.

It offers monthly life skill classes and referrals to medical professionals, including therapists. Live-in staffers oversee all interactions amongst residents. House meetings are mandatory, as are check-ins with house managers.

Halfway Houses

Halfway houses are similar to sober living facilities. Drugs, alcohol, and illegal activity are prohibited.

But halfway houses require enrollment in rehab, which most sober living facilities do not. Residents may only stay for a prescribed period of time, while sober living residents can stay for as long as they want.

Haven House offers halfway homes throughout the LA area, both for men and women. Residents can request private rooms, though this will be more expensive than shared ones.

Residents can pursue medically assisted treatment (MAT). MAT works best for people who suffer from painful withdrawal. Medications like suboxone counteract the effects of opioids, allowing people to free themselves from dependency.

The Last House has been running halfway homes for more than a decade. In addition to housing, staffers provide sober activities. Residents can go surfing, have a barbeque, or explore Los Angeles.

Residents can pursue outpatient care with affiliated programs. Therapies include mindfulness, teaching the individual how to look within themselves. This can help them identify the triggers of their drug use.

The Alcoholism Center for Women is perfect for women who need help with alcohol. They have nearly 40 years of experience in providing a safe recovery environment.

The center provides services for several distinct areas of addiction, including anger management and relapse prevention. Residents can take life and parenting skills classes.

Support Groups

Most homes have their own support groups. Residents go around in a circle and talk about their lives. They can talk about what their life at work is like, or they can talk about the history of their dependency.

This builds trust within the home, as uncomfortable as it can be. Residents offer strategies to each other and ask questions to a counselor.

Some homes may ask residents to go to another support group. You can also choose to attend a group of your volition.

Mindful Medicine offers classes on mindfulness and introspection. Support groups can hire practitioners to lead classes, or individuals can sign up for classes online.

Participants learn practices immediately, including deep breathing and mindful eating. These classes can run from one hour to an entire day.

Messages and skills are tailored to the specific needs of individuals. If someone needs to learn anger management skills, a teacher can give them strategies on that.

SMART Recovery focuses on mutual support. Participants help each other find problems for all substance abuse disorders, including gambling and sex. Meetings are based on cognitive behavioral therapy, which works to change patterns of thinking.

Meetings take place all over the Los Angeles area. They last roughly 90 minutes and take place in the afternoon or evening.

LGBTQ Housing

Miss Patty’s is sober living for LGBTQ people and their allies. The monthly rent is 800 dollars a month, and the maximum occupancy is nine people.

Residents must be sober for at least 30 days before entering the home. While living in the home, they must attend three 12 Step meetings a week. They must also submit to random drug tests, and they may be removed if they test positive.

Westwind Recovery offers services for LGBTQ clients while housing them alongside heterosexual people. This can help LGBTQ people craft connections.

Westwind includes weekly meetings and 12 Step programs that are specific to the LGBTQ community. Residents can treat their substance abuse and their trauma. They are affiliated with resource centers in the Los Angeles area that can provide services after residents leave.

La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center is one of the best Hollywood sober living homes. They provide support for everyone in the LGBTQ community, including BIPOC.

Residents pursue self-directed initiatives. They have daily meetings with counselors, but they also perform their own jobs and chores.

Additional Resources

Riviera Recovery provides housing solutions for young people. Their sober living homes are located near colleges, allowing students to attend their classes.

They then go home into substance-free spaces. Residents do not receive treatment services, which makes it best for people in advanced stages of recovery.

Beit T’Shuvah offers housing and treatment solutions for Jewish people. Each resident receives an individual therapist and spiritual counselor. All residents can attend Friday night and Saturday morning services, even if they are not Jewish.

The Living Word Men’s Recovery Home offers housing for Christian men. Men can receive Bible lessons related to their substance use and other issues they are facing.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers resources online. They are great for people who struggle with substance abuse and a mental health disorder at the same time.

They also host the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. You can give them a call at any time if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Tips and Tricks

It can be hard to decide which residential center is right for you. Don’t just pick the first one you see. Do your own research, including taking a tour of the center itself.

If you’re still struggling to decide, talk to alumni of the center. Ask them what their experiences were like. Make sure to touch base on how you can work while living at the center.

Once you’ve picked one, work out pricing and payments. Do not go to the center until you have a clear understanding of what you are paying. There may be hidden fees and expenses added on top.

You do not have to tell someone that you are moving to a sober living facility. If possible, try to tell as few people as you can.

Life in a sober living facility is similar to life in a shared apartment. You can still go to work, pursue hobbies, and meet with family members. Try to live as normal a life as you can.

You may be able to invite friends and family over. You will need to get permission from the house managers, so make sure you do so well in advance. Ask your roommate if they are comfortable with someone else checking out your room.

You are not obliged to stay at the facility. If you are not making good progress with your recovery, you should leave. Make a plan of where you are going to live, then head out.

Sober Living Los Angeles Life

Sober living Los Angeles life is possible. You can find a living facility for budget and luxury spenders. Make sure you have amenities like Internet access.

But you can also select a halfway house if you want to stay in rehab. You can attend support group meetings, including groups for LGBTQ and Jewish people.

Take your time doing your research. You are in no rush. Know that you have options and that you can switch homes when you want to.

Keep reading about premium sober living facilities. Taste Recovery showcases affordable and fun options. Find more homes in California in the link provided.