There are many individuals with the disease of addiction, and there are too few safe and sober environments for them to recover in, resulting in fatal circumstances. The Willing House provides safe housing for all who need it, with all the comforts of home, and a feeling of close-knit peer support. If a safe and sober living environment with fellowship and support is what you seek, we know you’ll find it here at The Willing House. Thank you to Lowell House Addiction Treatment and Recovery for inviting us to visit the Saving Grace House in Lowell, MA. Thank you to Victoria Nesto and Tiffany Foster for giving us the tour and allowing me to share my experience with the the women.

♀️ Sober House Funding for Women

Once all of your required documents have been submitted and accepted by MASH, the next step is scheduling your on-site home inspection. An electronic signature is required at the end of the application to certify your agreement to all standards and policies. Carefully read the MASH Certification Standards and Massachusetts Sober Home Law.

Step 3: Choose a MASH-Certified Sober House

In Methuen, a husband-wife team was harassed by the city with several lengthy requests for code-related information and inspections. This is not usual in Massachusetts, where the broader community is skeptical about recovery housing. If approved, ATR funding will be paid directly to the sober house to cover housing costs. Additional support services, such as employment assistance and recovery coaching, may also be provided. If you or a loved one is struggling to afford sober living, the ATR program could provide the financial assistance needed to continue your recovery journey.

What to Expect During the Sober House Inspection

• The Sunrise Fund is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals in their journey toward sustained addiction recovery.
• Policies and procedures that serve the priority population, which at a minimum include persons in recovery from substance use but may also include other demographic criteria.
• Evidence that management supports staff members maintaining self-care.
• Written permission from the property owner of record (if the owner is other than the recovery residence operator) to operate a recovery residence on the property.
• Evidence that staff are supported in maintaining appropriate boundaries according to a code of conduct.
• One of its key initiatives is providing Recovery Housing Scholarships, offering financial assistance for sober living arrangements to help individuals transition into a structured, supportive environment.

Verification that written resident’s rights and requirements (e.g. residence rules and grievance process) are posted or otherwise available in common areas. Evidence that some rules are made by the residents that the residents (not the staff) implement. Policy and procedures that ensure all residents are age eighteen or older at time of admission. Written permission from the property owner of record (if the owner is other than the sober home operator) to operate a sober home on the property. Documentation that the owner/operator has current liability coverage and other insurance appropriate to the level of support.

Leadership

A policy and practice documenting that a resident is fully informed regarding refund policies prior to the individual entering into a binding agreement. You must attend the MASH Sober Housing 101 Training for Potential Operators before applying. This training provides an overview of operational standards, certification expectations, and regulatory requirements. Your vision of opening your own sober house is within reach—let’s make it real. 26.b Evidence that mechanisms exist for residents to inform and help guide operations and advocate for community-building. 10.a Policies that value individuals chosen for leadership roles who are versed and trained in the Social Model of recovery and best practices of the profession.

Interested in becoming a Rise Again Approved Sober Living House?

Personalized One-on-One MentorshipTurn your vision into reality alcoholism symptoms with step-by-step coaching from seasoned recovery housing leaders. Sober homes applying for annual recertification must remit payment of certification fees during the recertification process and prior to scheduling the home inspection. Here are some of the questions we receive about sober housing in Massachusetts. Don’t see what you’re looking for or want to know more? Peer support interactions among residents are facilitated to expand responsibilities for personal and community recovery.

Operator will attest that electrical, mechanical, and structural components of the property are functional and free of fire and safety hazards. Evidence that supervisors (including top management) create a positive, productive work environment for staff. Policies and procedures for ongoing performance development of staff appropriate to staff roles and residence level.

• Through our network of certified sober housing and empirically based recovery principles, MASH’s goal is to help create and foster these safe living environments for those with substance use disorders.
• We believe in working a recovery continuum that best suits each individual.
• Certification with MASH not only validates the quality of a sober home but also makes homes eligible for state-funded referrals and builds trust with residents and families.
• Many Vanderburgh Sober Living homes are independently owned and operated by Chartered Operators –  members of the Vanderburgh Sober Living 501(c)3 Foundation’s collaborative membership organization.
• Resident and staff orientations include how to greet and interact with neighbors and/or concerned parties.

C. Core Principle: Create a culture of empowerment where residents engage in governance and leadership

Policy regarding smoke‐free living environment and/or designated smoking https://ecosober.com/ area outside of the residence. Policy and procedures that address residents’ prescription and non-prescription medication usage and storage consistent with the residence’s level and with relevant state law. Peer support interactions among residents are facilitated to expand responsibilities for mash certified sober homes personal and community recovery. The Probation/Parole Grant Program in Massachusetts is designed to support individuals transitioning from incarceration to sober living environments. Power Forward is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals in early recovery by providing financial assistance for sober living in Massachusetts. Their mission is to empower individuals on their recovery journey by offering funding to cover sober house fees and related expenses, ensuring access to safe and supportive housing.

A significant milestone in MASH’s history occurred in 2011 when the National Alliance for Recovery Residences was founded. NARR established national standards for recovery residences, which MASH adopted and tailored to meet the specific needs of Massachusetts. This alignment with NARR standards helped MASH strengthen its certification process and expand its influence across the state​. Sober homes support various abstinence-based pathways to recovery, and each residence focuses on one or more particular pathway. All MASH sober homes meet national standards based on the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) model. Learn about NARR Recovery Residence Levels of Support, specifically Level II, which applies to the type of sober homes MASH certifies.

• Community members are all people in recovery who are actively working a program of recovery.
• Situated in the Lower East Side district in New York, citizenM New York Bowery is minutes away from the nightlife and restaurants of Bowery.
• That’s why our Intake Team is here to guide you through every step—from identifying the right funding options to completing the application process.
• Our homes are smoke free but there are plenty of designated outdoor smoking areas.
• Below you will find a list of sober living houses that are MASH certified and “Rise Again” approved.
• While the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) in Massachusetts is responsible for certifying all addiction treatment programs in the state, it does not certify sober living homes.

In 2007, eight sober home operators established the nonprofit Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing. Legislation in 2014 created voluntary certification of Massachusetts sober homes, and MASH began managing voluntary statewide sober home certification in 2016. Community members are all people in recovery who are actively working a program of recovery. Our main focus is to provide a safe and sober environment for recovering addicts and alcoholics.

Step 4: Approval and Funding Disbursement

Read more about the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), including its history, standards, and impact on recovery housing nationwide. Grievance policy and procedures, including the right to take grievances that are not resolved by the house leadership to the operation’s oversight organization for mediation. Oversight and enforcement of sober house compliance involve multiple stakeholders. MASH plays a central role, while governmental agencies like the Department of Public Health can intervene in cases of public health concerns, creating a layered approach to oversight. This training can be done during your certification process while you prepare documents and get ready for your inspection. You don’t have to get certified to open a sober living home in Massachusetts.