Why would you want a sober living home in your neighborhood?

Why would you want a sober living home in your neighborhood?

This is a question not too many people may be asking.  However, in spite of all of the controversy about neighbors not wanting sober living homes in their neighborhood, what could the benefit be to having one of these homes close to you?  Here are three good ones!

First of all, there are no all night parties!  They may have a special gathering or a sobriety celebration once in a while but for the most part you find them to be quiet and respectful. 

Second of all, They tend to be more aware of their surroundings and want to live in a happy and clean house with nice gardening.  They are in the process of acknowledging their behavior and are friendly people, much like you and me.  

Third of all, They are in the process of repairing their life and are spending a lot of time doing so.  Working, Volunteering and going to meetings are a big priority.  It is not uncommon for a women to wake up early to go to work, come home have dinner, go to an outpatient program or 12 step meeting at night then go to bed after a very full day.   

If we don’t want these people in our neighborhood, where are they going to go?  We are all affected by alcoholism and the housing is everyones concern.  Good, bad or indifferent.  See attachment for more information on this subject.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3057870/

Alcoholism and drug addiction takes a lot of mental energy. Between the difficulties of hunting for a fix to the strain of keeping bad habits a secret from loved ones, addiction requires a dangerous level of stamina. 

The good news is that addicts can release themselves from this burden by seeking help. But even if a person is able to recover and sustain their sobriety, their disease will always be on their minds, every day for the rest of their lives. This is the sad reality of drug and alcohol dependency. 

Fortunately, now that they've given up their addiction, people in recovery can expend that once wasted energy on something useful – like their job. 

In the days and weeks following the completion of a rehabilitation program, achieving normalcy amid all this stress can feel daunting, especially when it's time to go back to work More often than not, a person's job performance is impacted by his or her addiction, and these negative behaviors can even potentially jeopardize a person's career. Professional reputations and relationships are often damaged on an addict's way to rock bottom; mistakes are made, rumors spread and many are lucky to even keep their jobs. And because a career is often also stressful – and stress can often lead to relapse – returning to the workforce becomes even less appealing.

It all seems like a balance, however always keeping sobriety the number one priority in their life.  The thought of using isn’t always apparent, however it is said that the pilot light is always lit.  Therefore, it is critical for the alcoholic/addict to continue to be proactive in their recovery, even after long term sobriety.  The benefits are more joy, productivity and better family relationships.  

Most recovering people are extremely responsible and live with a higher level of integrity and are earnest in helping other people.  They are the best of the best, super sensitive, eager to please and respond well to positive reinforcement.  I speak from experience, owning a sober living in North County San Diego for over three years I have the pleasure of enjoying these women and watching them gain their confidence is for sure the bright spot in my life.

www.soberlivingtoday.com

First of all let's look at what are Sober Livings Homes? These are single family homes in a residential neighborhood just like what you live in. These people are already sober, most went to treatment for 30 - 90 days and need 4-6 months of additional continuous support. They are building a foundation that allows them to be the mother, daughter and relative they long to be.

The majority of sober living homes are privately owned and operated by an individual or small partnership. They offer an alcohol and drug free environment for post recovery addicts before returning to their former lives. The typical sober living home is a single-family residence situated in quiet neighborhoods close to shopping and public transportation. Each resident is required to be financially self-supporting, paying their own rent, and purchasing their own food. Each resident performs an assigned daily chore around the house. Rent in a sober living home ranges significantly. In this particular house each of the six residents pays anywhere from $600 to $3000.  Location matters and some have more amenities than others.

At a recent City Council meeting questions were asked by nearby residents regarding the City’s ability to regulate a sober living home of six or fewer residents. The short answer is that, because of state law, the City must treat a sober living home just like any other single family residence, and may not impose any special land use regulations, fees or taxes upon its operation.

https://www.library.ca.gov/Content/pdf/crb/reports/CRB_SoberLivingReport_2016.pdf

I went to a City Council meeting in Carlsbad California recently and was surprised to hear the stories about the horrible conditions of some sober living home not in our area but many, many miles away in east County.  So why did someone feel the need to tell Carlsbad residents about the bad conditions in La Mesa is beyond my logical mind.  I understand some of the residents that spoke against Sober Living Homes are long time residents and have a lot of fear about what they don’t know about them and the people that live in them.  We all know someone who is directly affected by alcoholism and addiction.  It affects many people we may not suspect, like lawyers, doctors and other professional people.  It is our mothers and daughters, aunts and uncles.  I strive to help all who come to my Sober Living Home and I pride myself of excellence of safety, accountability and compassion.  We are self regulated through an organization called Society of Recovery Residences (SOAR) and are certified by California Consorium of Addiction Programs, (CCAPP) and backed by the National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR).

We understand that people are apprehensive to have us in their hood but knowing that we go out of our way to be good neighbors.  We want to know if someone is smoking cigarettes outside or parking where you don’t like, even if it is a public street, we can accommodate.  If you have a special gift of you, being anything like a guided meditation, Reiki, motivation talk, or anything you want to share with our women, we welcome volunteers.  If there is anything you want to know about sober living, call us! we are happy to help! 760-415-3560

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