Secure housing is an important component of recovery, yet about 1/3rd of individuals entering addiction treatment report unstable living situations. Recovery residences offer a safe and supportive living environment and continuing care that can promote successful recovery outcomes. Although recovery residences do not typically offer structured activities or formal counseling, some operate according to established standards and guidelines that encourage resident participation in mutual help groups, enforce house rules, and promote resident accountability and communal learning. By providing affordable housing, peer support, and a resource rich neighborhood, recovery residences offer residents the opportunity to build financial, social, and community-based recovery capital. These continuing care facilities are shown to facilitate positive recovery outcomes (e.g., higher rates of employment, reduced substance use, lower criminal activity) that are maintained as far out as 18 months. However, few studies have looked at the individual contributions of specific recovery residence characteristics to these recovery outcomes.

Ensuring the Highest Standards

NARR emphasizes ethical practices in the management and operation of recovery residences, advocating for integrity, fairness, and respect for all residents. Information on how recovery residences can become involved and begin housing Sobriety RV clients can be found in ​2025 RV Grant Recovery Residence FAQs​. The program is designed to help people experiencing homelessness who also have an opioid use disorder find safe and stable housing in a recovery residence.

That said, there are some umbrella organizations (see below) that promote quality assurance and oversight at recovery residences; they may even offer formal certification for residences that meet and adhere to these guidelines. Individuals considering recovery residences for themselves or their loved ones are strongly encouraged to inquire about any regulatory organizations with which a potential residence is affiliated and whether or not it is certified in states where certification is available. NARR prioritizes educating providers, residents, and the broader community about the recovery process, the role of recovery residences, and the importance of standards to enhance support for recovery journeys. NARR commits to upholding high operational standards for recovery residences, ensuring safe, healthy, and effective living environments that facilitate personal growth and recovery. At NARR, we take pride in fostering a network of affiliates and providers that exemplify the highest standards of recovery care.

Recovery Residences

Given that recovery residence models vary greatly, a more detailed understanding of facility characteristics and their relationship to recovery outcomes can ultimately help to inform best practices and streamline recommendations and referrals. As president of NARR, Darrell Mitchell exemplifies transformative leadership within the recovery residence sector. He has played a significant role in advancing recovery housing standards both statewide and nationally as the founder of the Indiana Affiliation of Recovery Residences (INARR). A pivotal advocate for legislative progress, Darrell was instrumental in embedding Recovery Housing standards into Indiana law in 2017—a landmark achievement in the advocacy for recovery residences. Darrell’s educational background from Purdue University and advanced degrees in Addictions Counseling and Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University underpin his comprehensive approach to leadership within the recovery community.

Florida Association of Recovery Residences

Certified residences adhere to NARR Quality Standards and Florida law while maintaining the highest ethical practices. If you have any questions or concerns about completing the form on time, please contact the DBHDS Recovery Residence Office immediately at Recovery homes on the registry and those working towards inclusion on the registry can apply for a loan up to $4,000 in order to help with operating costs. Recovery homes working towards inclusion on the registry must do so via accreditation by the Washington Alliance of Quality Recovery Residences. We are now accepting applications and expect to announce the first certified Recovery Residences to the public as soon as they become available.

Recovery residences are safe, healthy, family-like, substance-free living environments that support individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). It is important to recognize that these data do not speak to the causality of observed relationships. Nonetheless, this study provides an important foundation for future work to further investigate these characteristics and their role in recovery facilitation. Among the participating recovery residence sites, 32% had residents on parole or probation, 74% had a live-in manager, 30% provided meals to residents, and 77% required residents to attend 12-step meetings and complete a drug test at intake. On average, facilities required 41 days of abstinence prior to intake and most operated on a 12-step based program.

On average, participants were 39 years old and about one-third had at least some college education. The authors statistically controlled for participant demographics (gender, race/ethnicity, age, education) and the duration of stay at the recovery residence (on average, 149 days) to try to isolate the direct effect of residence characteristics on recovery outcomes. The authors looked at 6- and 12-month recovery outcomes simultaneously to obtain a broad snapshot of how residents do across the first year of recovery housing.

Further, certified residences promote a level of consistency across houses that has not been previously seen or understood by communities, decision-makers, funders, and researchers. The consistency of core elements across certified residences can provide peace of mind to residents, families, neighbors, legislators, and funders, without additional oversight. This study examined the relationship between recovery residence characteristics (organizational, operational, and programming characteristics) and recovery outcomes (substance use, criminal justice, and employment outcomes) in 330 recovery residents. Participants were assessed upon entry to 1 of 49 recovery residences, specifically sober living houses located in California, and completed follow-up interviews 6 and 12 months later.

• FARR relies on the support of individuals and organizations like you to continue expanding quality, stable housing for individuals in recovery from substance use.
• Level III’s are designed to support populations who need more intense support in developing recovery capital than provided by Level I or Level II.
• Although recovery residences do not typically offer structured activities or formal counseling, some operate according to established standards and guidelines that encourage resident participation in mutual help groups, enforce house rules, and promote resident accountability and communal learning.
• NARR utilizes evidence-based standards and ethical guidelines to assist dozens of state affiliates in certifying and managing recovery residences across the continuum of care.

Opioid Response Network

• At Temple University’s School of Social Work, Dr. Stewart’s role further enables her to impact the next generation of social work professionals.
• Level III / Type S (Supervised) delivers weekly, structured programming including peer-based and other recovery support services (e.g. recovery and resiliency groups or person-driven recovery plans) and life skills development programming (e.g., job readiness or budgeting).
• Residents receive peer support, accountability, and community engagement, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.
• Filters to the left of the map allow you to search for the type of home you are looking for.
• His background in investment management and roles within the Chandler Lodge Foundation and Southern California Sober Living Network complement his efforts to lead NARR towards fostering quality recovery environments nationwide.

With decades of collective experience in shaping policies, enhancing community support, and pioneering innovative recovery solutions, they embody a shared vision of empowerment and transformative care. These data were collected as part of a larger randomized controlled trial looking at the effectiveness of brief motivational interviewing and case management on service use and recovery progress. Substance use outcomes were measured via self-reported abstinence in the past 6 months (i.e., abstinence from alcohol, abstinence from other drugs, and overall abstinence from all substances). Criminal justice involvement was defined as any self-reported arrest over the past 6 months and employment was derived from self-reported number of days worked over the same period of time.

Peer-Based Recovery Support

Safe, supportive housing provides the stability needed for individuals to achieve long-term sobriety. FARR-certified residences ensure that those in recovery have access to environments that promote safety, compliance, and peer support. Search for recovery homes (both Level 1 and Level 2 recovery residences and Oxford Houses) using the registry of recovery homes. Recovery residences listed on the registry are verified by the Washington Alliance of Quality Recovery Residences (WAQRR) as following the National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR) best practices. These residences allow residents to use prescribed medication for physical health, mental health, and substance use disorders.