A Family's Checklist for Choosing a Sober Living Home

Structure and staff

• Is there a house manager? How often are they on site?
• What are the house rules, in writing? Ask to see the resident agreement.
• Is there a curfew? Are meetings required? What about work or IOP?
• How many people live in the house, and how many share a room?

Sobriety and safety

• How often do residents get drug and alcohol tests? Random or scheduled?
• What happens after a positive test or a relapse?
• Is naloxone in the house, and are residents trained to use it?
• What is the policy on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and other prescriptions? How are medications stored?

Money

• What does rent include? Utilities, Wi-Fi, laundry, linens, food?
• What's due to move in? Are there extra fees?
• Can rent be paid weekly, or matched to a benefit date?

Family

• Can we visit? When?
• With his permission, will you confirm he's living there and following the rules?
• Can we see the house and meet the manager first?

Red flags

• Promises of success rates or "cures." A sober home can't honestly promise outcomes.
• Free rent in exchange for signing up for a particular treatment program, or pressure to use one provider. Patient brokering is illegal.
• No written rules, no testing, or no one in charge.
• Won't let you see the house before move-in.

How Merit answers these

A house manager every day. Random tests at least twice a month. An 11 pm weeknight curfew, 3+ meetings a week, and work or IOP within 30 days. $850 a month with utilities and Wi-Fi included. Abstinence-based, with other prescriptions locked and logged. Naloxone on site. Tours before anyone moves in.

Published September 30, 2026 by Merit Sober Living. This guide is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice.