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How to Start a Sober Living Home



What is a Sober Living Home?

Our main objective is to help entrepreneurs realize their goal of starting a lucrative sober living home. Although the income from a for-profit sober living home is substantial, it should never be a primary motive and purpose. Money needs to be at the bottom of the priority list. We teach that the well-being of clients entering a sober living home is the number one priority. The goal is to help clients regain a purposeful life away from drugs and alcohol.

If your passion is to do good in the community, have a property that can become a sober living home, and have at least a hundred thousand dollars, you may be able to see your plans through with our assistance and program for success.

Halfway Houses' vs. Sober Living Homes

  1. Usually do not require prior incarceration

  2. May not require that the client's incarceration

  3. May not require clients' participation in treatment plans

  4. Helps clients rejoin the workforce

  5. Helps clients regain self-esteem to become members of the community

  6. May or may not specify a time frame that the client must remain in the house

  7. Fees charged as rent to the client help to support the running of the home

A sober living house is a clean and quiet living environment for those leaving jail, those participating in outpatient programs, or seeking alternatives to formal treatment plans.

  1. Provides long-term support

  2. Does not offer formal treatment services

  3. Monitors health, safety, quality of life

  4. Urges group involvement

  5. Avoid drugs and alcohol in-house and outside the house.

  6. Agree to attend 12-step meetings

  7. Agree to attend house meetings

  8. Agree to obtain a sponsor

  9. Agrees to sleep at the house some nights

  10. Clients must account for where they go and what they do outside the home.




How to Start a Sober Living Home

Those who want to open a sober living house must have a fierce determination and dedication towards compassion and support of fragile and vulnerable people in all aspects of their lives, physically and emotionally. These individuals come from rehabilitation facilities for drug and alcohol abuse or have been incarcerated.

Every business must have a business plan with the following information.

  1. Company description

  2. Services available

  3. Strategy

  4. Market analysis

  5. Type of residence you want to build, rent, or buy

  6. How many residents you want to accommodate

  7. Locate and list similar businesses in your area, how long in business, and the services these businesses provide

  8. Describe a marketing plan

  9. Describe the fees charged to each client

  10. Detail specific services of the home

  11. Obtain an IRS Employer Identification Number

  12. Have adequate starting capital.

Necessary Steps after a Business Plan

  1. Prepare a Policy and Procedure Handbook

  2. Prepare a Resident Policy Handbook with residents' rights and responsibilities

  3. Define a zero-tolerance for drugs and alcohol on or off the property

  4. and give each resident a handbook with a signature of receipt agreeing to the rules of the house

  5. Seek local resources

  6. Define mandatory meetings for residents

  7. Develop a filing system where employee, resident, expense and income records, tax information, and all receipts are kept

  8. Seek services of an accountant, small business service, or a tax service

  9. Calculate overhead costs, monthly rent or mortgage payment, utilities, employees, Internet, cable TV, food, furnishings

  10. Decide how much you need to charge each resident and show sensitivity to the resident's situation and needs.

  11. Decide the length of time the resident stays in the house.

  12. Is the home for males, females, a combination of both genders, recovering addicts, or prior incarcerated?

  13. List vital information of each resident such as ID, proof of residency in the U.S.., and three character references.

  14. Seek a house manager and offer a fair and just salary. (Perks can be free lodging and meals.)

  15. Sober living homes do not require special licensing or certification except in some states, so know the state's laws.

  16. Research zoning laws

  17. The Federal Fair Housing laws and Americans with Disabilities Act are a great support network.

  18. Know the laws of the state

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