How to Start a Sober Living Home

Want to learn how to open a sober living home on your own?

The Sober Living Home program by Ascension Recovery Services is an online training program by our expert staff that teaches you how to effectively plan and open a Sober Living Home in your community.

Everything you need to know is provided step-by-step in this training program. The combination of the modules in this training program has our clients understanding regulations & licensing, business planning, budgeting, financials, location, operations, and marketing, by simply learning and implementing the steps laid out in the digital training program

Opening a sober living home is not as easy as just buying or renting a home and opening the door to those in addiction or recovery. Whether it is a non-profit or private venture, a sober living home is a fully operational organization with customers, personnel, regulations, financial transactions and more.

Location & site selection
Zoning laws
Availability of drug treatment services (including IOP, Psychiatry, & Counseling)
Public transportation
Employment resources
House rules
Staffing
Funding
Financial modeling
Establishing a non-profit
Combating NIMBY (not in my backyard) concerns and more

Ascension provides start-up consulting services to individuals of communities interested in opening a sober living home.

Some of the Sober Living Homes we have developed:

Sober Living Home Analysis and Planning

During the first phase of development, Ascension will conduct a feasibility study to determine the best location, business model, referral sources and support services for the proposed sober living facility. Our expert staff will work with you to develop a budget and pro-forma financial analysis based on the realities of your unique situation and geography.

During this period, we will guide you through important decisions about making the sober living home viable long term. These decisions may include:

Number of beds
Related costs per bed
Obtaining grants for sober living homes vs being privately funded
Facility startup costs
Municipal codes
Insurance coverage
Return on Investment (ROI) forecasting

These decisions will shape programmatic and operational plans and identify resources needed during development.

Sober Living Home Business Plan Implementation

During Phase Two, we begin by developing a budget based on the owners’ / entities’ desires and financial tolerability. Start-up capital is usually comprised of cash and financing activities, with a goal of recuperating capital contributions through operating activities in the first couple of years. We will also assist the owners with setting up the appropriate business structure and will further investigate the regulations and code specific to the state your facility will be operated in, which will translate through all phases of development.

Additional expertise and support offered in Phase Two includes:

Staff selection: Interviewing, hiring, and training
Marketing efforts: Connecting your program with your community and geographic region to develop a referral network to fills beds
Program material development: Creation of house rules, intake package, policies and procedures and all other program materials needed to run a successful sober living home.

Full Support for Starting a Sober Living Home

After a successful launch, Ascension can reduce involvement yet continue consulting on how to run a successful sober living home. During the first year, the new operator of the business will require occasional support on organizational and operational matters, which is not a daily or weekly need. A typical engagement scales Ascension’s time back in the early months, and the team can be available for ongoing or periodic consultations as needed.

With expert guidance to navigate the challenges of opening a sober living facility, you’ll have peace of mind and more time to focus on providing the complete place of healing.