Below are some of the most common (and sometimes laughable) questions that we get. Just click to open the answers.
Sober living is like a 3/4 house. It means that you are 3/4 ready to be home. It is the step between a halfway house or extended residential facility and your home. Unlike a halfway house, we watch over you and guide you but don’t attempt to be invasive about it. You are allowed to have a vehicle, go about your daily routine with little supervision, have a cell phone, earn overnight stays, etc.
We have written a full description outlining what sober living is and what the advantages are.
You don’t “have to” stay with us…You GET to! We do require that you commit to staying in the house for a minimum of 3 months (90 days). There is documentation throughout the field of addiction that shows the longer a person stays in sober living housing, the greater their chances of a full recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
You are welcome to stay as long as you need to in order to heal. We have had guests stay with us well over a year. It is entirely up to you, your sponsor and any supportive recovery resources you have made during your recovery.
We do not currently offer any other services other than structured housing. We strongly recommend that if you are in your first 90 days of sobriety that you attend and complete an intensive outpatient program (IOP). We have one that we recommend, so please give us a call if you need help finding a good IOP program.
The cost of the Riverhouse is comparative to other sober living homes. More information about the cost can be found here.
The monthly fee for the Riverhouse is for guest access and all utilities, including internet. All other expenses are your responsibility (e.g.: groceries, transportation, personal cell phone, outings, etc.)
This is a very common question. Especially for those coming straight out of drug and alcohol treatment. In short, just about anything goes as far as personal items with a few exceptions.
MUST HAVE Items:
- Laundry basket and detergent
- Personal hygiene kit and other toiletries
RESTRICTED Items:
- Weapons (guns, bows, knives, nun-chucks, etc.)
- Pornography of any sort (phone, computer, DVD, magazine, etc.)
- Illegal Drugs
- Alcohol
- Narcotics (prescribed or otherwise)
Not initially. There is evidence to show that when you room with another person you are held to a higher level of accountability which plays a large role in the recovery process. We do have private rooms available but you must be a senior peer and earn this privilege in order to be considered eligible.
No. Women are not allowed to stay overnight.
Generally speaking, the answer is no. Riverhouse does not allow animals to be brought inside our home. Other guests may have allergies, neighborhood noise issues and property damage are things we strive to avoid. If you have a situation where your pet does not have anywhere else to go, is up to date on vaccinations and is able to live outdoors, we are willing to work with you.
We STRONGLY suggest that you do not go home before you settle in at Riverhouse. Oftentimes, you get comfortable and lose the motivation to further your recovery process. Going home before sober living puts you at risk of many unnecessary temptations. Triggers, codependent behaviors and unhealthy relationships may affect your ability to make positive decisions. In our experience, it is just a bad idea. Riverhouse prefers a “facility to facility transfer.”
Sober living is pretty simple really.
- You must attend recovery related meetings. (everyday for the first 90 days sober and yes, IOP counts)
- You must be busy during the day with either work, finding a job, service work (volunteer), or school. 20 hours/week minimum.
- You must do your daily and weekly chores.
- You must attend a weekly house meeting.
- You must be home by curfew every night.
That’s about all for the “HAVE TO’s”! There are some other small things but for the most part sober living at Riverhouse is that easy.
We do not have a dedicated vehicle or driver at your disposal. But, we are located in an area of Lafayette, LA that allows you to ride a bike, catch a cab ride or hop on the bus. We are located near to a Lafayette Transit bus stop. Also, many times other guests in the house with transportation are willing to help you with a ride if you just ask! It may not be as instant as having access to your own vehicle but if you need to be somewhere we’ll do our best to get you there!
Of course we do! Drug screens are done on admission, randomly and upon suspicion.
The questions above are the most common questions asked in general. There are some more specific questions aimed at professionals/clinicians as well as future residents.
