SOBER AND OTHER CONGREGATE LIVING

DEFINITIONS OF TWO TYPES

September 2005

There are a variety of congregate residential houses accommodating a variety of persons with
addiction, mental health, criminal justice and other problems in California. Below are definitions that
can be used to distinguish between two, of many, types of houses that are recovery supportive.
Democratic Managed Sober Living Houses These are houses that offer affordable housing for
recovering persons for an indefinite period. House members are motivated to maintain sobriety and
remain active in their personal recovery or personal growth program. The owners or operators role
is to facilitate a democratic culture and delegate to the house occupants the responsibility and the
authority for the houses operational management tasks. Owners or operators maintain the right to
periodically visit the home to assure it is maintained as a clean, healthy and safe and sober
environment, and are available to assist with problems and concerns when invited.
Supervised Sober Living Houses Supervised sober houses provide safe and sober residential
accommodations that have a manager. The manager has the responsibility and the authority to
perform or assign the homes operational management tasks. These houses are mostly occupied by
residents who are meeting the requirements of their case manager, judge, parole or probation officer,
DPSS worker, employer and/or other human service agencies.
Below are four measurable operational characteristics that can identify a home as either a democratic
sober home or the supervised sober home.
OPERATIONS
Staff Supervision

Resident Rules

Daily House Operations

External Treatment Activities

DEMOCRATIC HOUSES
No daily staff supervision of
residents. Residents select
their managing officers.
Residents do group reviews,
adopt & enforce their rules
and policies.
Residents are trained and
assisted to perform all the
daily operational tasks.
External treatment is not a
condition of residency.
Residents share their recovery
activities in council meetings.

SUPERVISED HOUSES
Daily staff supervision of
residents. The owner, director
or program provides staff.
Rules and policies are
composed and enforced by
management.
Manager performs, assigns or
supervises most of the home
management tasks.
External outpatient treatment
services or recovery activities
are sometimes required as a
condition of residency.

NOTE 1: The main difference between sober and other congregate living houses is the alcohol and/or
illicit drug use policy. Sober living houses have a zero tolerance for any alcohol and/or illicit drug
use, while other congregate living houses, serving persons who are primarily mentally and/or
physically disabled, may not have a strict alcohol and drug use policy.
NOTE 2: Both types of houses are appropriate for most criminal justice and mental health referrals.
Community houses are able to provide a more positive recovery experience for persons who possess
good work and social skills, in addition to a desire to remain sober, and prior recovery experience.
Prepared by the Sober Living Network, PO Box 5235, Santa Monica, CA 90409 (310) 396-5270