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
Usually do not require prior incarceration
May not require that the client's incarceration
May not require clients' participation in treatment plans
Helps clients rejoin the workforce
Helps clients regain self-esteem to become members of the community
May or may not specify a time frame that the client must remain in the house
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.
Provides long-term support
Does not offer formal treatment services
Monitors health, safety, quality of life
Urges group involvement
Avoid drugs and alcohol in-house and outside the house.
Agree to attend 12-step meetings
Agree to attend house meetings
Agree to obtain a sponsor
Agrees to sleep at the house some nights
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.
Company description
Services available
Strategy
Market analysis
Type of residence you want to build, rent, or buy
How many residents you want to accommodate
Locate and list similar businesses in your area, how long in business, and the services these businesses provide
Describe a marketing plan
Describe the fees charged to each client
Detail specific services of the home
Obtain an IRS Employer Identification Number
Have adequate starting capital.
Necessary Steps after a Business Plan
Prepare a Policy and Procedure Handbook
Prepare a Resident Policy Handbook with residents' rights and responsibilities
Define a zero-tolerance for drugs and alcohol on or off the property
and give each resident a handbook with a signature of receipt agreeing to the rules of the house
Seek local resources
Define mandatory meetings for residents
Develop a filing system where employee, resident, expense and income records, tax information, and all receipts are kept
Seek services of an accountant, small business service, or a tax service
Calculate overhead costs, monthly rent or mortgage payment, utilities, employees, Internet, cable TV, food, furnishings
Decide how much you need to charge each resident and show sensitivity to the resident's situation and needs.
Decide the length of time the resident stays in the house.
Is the home for males, females, a combination of both genders, recovering addicts, or prior incarcerated?
List vital information of each resident such as ID, proof of residency in the U.S.., and three character references.
Seek a house manager and offer a fair and just salary. (Perks can be free lodging and meals.)
Sober living homes do not require special licensing or certification except in some states, so know the state's laws.
Research zoning laws
The Federal Fair Housing laws and Americans with Disabilities Act are a great support network.
Know the laws of the state