Even after you’ve completed rehab, that doesn’t mean that your journey is at an end. There are still some transitional periods you might need to make to strengthen your sobriety. This is where sober living homes come in so that you can continue receiving the support that you need. If you’re having difficulty finding a sober living home, whether it’s for yourself or a loved one, here are five important steps to keep in mind.
1. Location Is Important
The first thing to consider in sober living in Utah is the location. It will become the home base of where you spend most of your time. It should be in a safe location that promotes your recovery, it should be close to your home or place of work, and it should also be close to locations that are important to you, such as the grocery store or public modes of transportation. The easier it is for you to get to a sober living home, the easier your recovery experience will be.
2. Take A Personal Visit
You won’t know what kind of sober home it is until you schedule a visit to see it for yourself. Speak with staff and schedule a day visit. You should also prepare a list of questions for both the staff and you, such as whether you can see yourself living there for an extended period. If you can’t schedule a visit, you can also look at some photos online to compare sober homes to each other if you’re choosing from a list. Bring along a friend or family member to provide you with a second opinion.
3. Become Familiar with The Financial Requirements
You might have found the perfect sober living home, but if it’s out of your budget, you might have to look somewhere else. Most transitional housing programs charge a monthly fee to cover room and board, but you’ll also have to take into consideration transportation costs as well as food. It might be helpful to speak to your health insurance to see if they can cover some of the costs.
4. Consider A Sober Home That Has Flexible Stays
Perhaps your stay isn’t as long as you originally expected; you don’t want to be stuck paying the costs of what you assumed was your original stay. Your recovery journey might be going better than you expect so having a flexible stay allows you to leave when you believe that you’re ready.
5. Looking Out for Red Flags
You should keep an eye out for certain red flags that could hinder your recovery process. These red flags include:
- No staff/staff is unqualified
- Sober living home states you can stay for free
- There are no regulatory inspections
- The living home is unkempt or unsafe
- There are no rules for residents
- Residents aren’t required to do drug testing
This should let you know that the sober living home isn’t reputable and should be avoided at all costs.
Finding a sober living home shouldn’t be a difficult task, especially when you’re trying to continue your sobriety journey. Speak with your sponsor to see if they have any advice or recommendations to find the sober living home that is right for you.
