There are a variety of common questions people tend to ask prior to moving into Bodha Recovery Residences of San Francisco, California – or any sober living home for that matter – which we’d like to address on this page… For your convenience we’ve compiled those inquiries considered most common among newly sober individuals and their families, friends and loved ones.
As you probably well know by now, most licensed addiction treatment professionals, as well as those with ample time & experiences within the process of recovery and sobriety, will agree that the more time a newcomer devotes toward residing in a healthy, productive transitional sober living residence, the more likely he/she is to attain long-term, quality sobriety. At Bodha Recovery Residences of Northern California it is our unwavering objective to make the process of recovery a genuine reality for all those ready to make this exciting and invaluable life-changing decision. With that in mind, please review the following questions & answers and feel free to contact us 7 days a week with further questions or to schedule as tour at (800) 374-3698 or via email at info@bodharr.com.
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What is a recovery Residence ?
A Recovery Residence is a post-primary treatment residence. Recovery Residences offer a structured, high-accountability environment for people coming directly from primary treatment, as well as those who have completed primary treatment previously but have struggled to maintain their sobriety. By living in a Recovery Residence you will greatly increase your chances of staying sober in the long term. Studies have shown that those who move into a quality Recovery Residence after going through primary treatment have a significantly better chance of avoiding relapses.
While Bodha Recovery Residences is in many ways a traditional “sober home” or “sober living environment”, there are some critical differences. Many small sober home companies are owned and operated by an individual homeowner who has decided to turn their residence into a “sober house”. While these people are well intentioned, they do not possess the knowledge or resources of a well-run company. Sober living can be a great help, but going to the wrong sober home can be a significant mistake. In the same manner, if you decide to move into a sober home that is run by a large and impersonal company, you may not receive the focused attention you need to move forward in your sobriety. Of course, no one wants to wind up being just “another resident”. The reality is that choosing where you live will be one of the most important decisions of your life.
Why will living in a Recovery Residence help me stay sober?
Living in a Recovery Residence is much like learning how to ride a bicycle when you were a child. When we learn how to ride a bike we start off with training wheels. At some point the training wheels come off the bicycle. Often, we don’t even notice. We have learned how to ride the bike and we are doing it. The fact that the training wheels are gone is irrelevant. Living in a Recovery Residence is the same sort of process. At Bodha Recovery Residences, we learn to be healthy in how we live our lives. We need the structure and accountability in the beginning, they serve as our training wheels. The standards and rules we agreed to live by when we first moved into the Recovery Residence slowly become second nature. After a time, we learn and grow, and we are “out there living our lives”. In other words, the training wheels are gone from our bicycle.
Please feel free to call us and one of our intake specialists will be happy to answer all of your questions. You may also use the “contact us” us form on this website and one of our intake specialists will get right back to you.
Am I able to work or go to school?
We highly recommend those in early recovery living in our homes to be constructive with their days. Working, going to school, volunteering, and attending outpatient and aftercare are all highly encouraged. If these activities interfere with house meetings or curfew, accommodations can be made.
If a resident relapses, they are immediately discharged. The resident may return to the home after 24 hours, short of extenuating circumstances. If there are continuous relapses, Bodha may recommend that a higher level of care is appropriate. In such an eventuality, it may be possible to return to a Bodha Recovery Residence at a future time.
What about non-abusable medications?
At Bodha, residents are permitted to utilize non-abusable medications. Many people in early recovery are also dealing with depression, insomnia, and other challenging conditions. Bodha maintains an approved list of medications which will be reviewed with you during your initial consultation.
In most cases, residents are admitted to one our homes after completing some form of primary treatment. However not all of our residents come directly from treatment centers. Often residents move into our homes after leaving treatment, going back to their prior living situation, and then realizing that they need structure in their lives. Others move into our homes from other sober homes. Some residents move to our home when they relocate from another area. This can be very beneficial for those in early recovery, as not having to rent an apartment or play “roommate roulette” when relocating is a great way to relieve the stress of moving to a new city or town.
What is the commitment & how long can I stay?
There is no length-of-stay commitment. First month fees are paid prior to or when you arrive at one of our homes. We recommend a stay of at least 90 days. We have found that the longer you give yourself in a Recovery Residence the better. As long as it makes sense for you to live in a Bodha Recovery Residence, you will be welcome in our homes. Residents can stay in our homes for a year or more. Some of our residents become House Mangers, and continue living in our homes indefinitely. Those in early recovery who are moving towards long-term quality sobriety find that living in a sober home is wonderful for them. Many of our residents, who have achieved success in their lives using the tools they have learned at Bodha, find real value by helping those who are just beginning their journey in sobriety.
Included in monthly fees are all utilities, telephone service, HD premium TV, and wireless internet service. Bodha Recovery Residences are all equipped with house computers, and washer & dryers. All paper goods and house cleaning supplies, hand soap and sanitizers are provided, as well as a fully stocked kitchen equipped with coffee maker, microwave oven, pots & pans and cooking implements.
What is not included and what do I bring?
Residents provide their own food. There is refrigerator and dry goods space for your use. There are no communal meals in the house. However it is common for residents to dine together when schedules permit. Residents bring their own bedding, clothing and toiletries. There is space to store personal belongings in the bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen and designated storages areas. The most important thing you can bring is a great attitude!
After your first month in residence, residents can stay outside the home if there are legitimate reasons to do so. While we advise that during early sobriety you keep things as simple as possible, many of our residents have families and jobs. During recovery, the realities of life continue. House Mangers will do their best to accommodate all of your commitments.
We take pride in our homes, and visitors are welcome. Bodha Recovery Residences are clean, well maintained and inviting. We love the opportunity for our resident’s families and friends to visit and enjoy our homes.
First and foremost, residents must be serious about their recovery. Bodha Recovery Residences are places for those who want to learn how to live their lives in a sober and productive manner. Residents must be 18 years or older to live in one of our homes. All residents must have at least 24 hours of sobriety to enter one of our homes. At Bodha, we understand the consequences of using, and we know that some residents may be dealing with DUI’s or other offences committed while under the influence. We have a philosophy of treating our residents with respect and dignity. That being said, we monitor our residents closely. Anyone with a history of sexual or violent crimes is not permitted to live in our homes, as this would be counterproductive to creating a safe and comfortable environment. Bodha Recovery Residence standards will be reviewed with all residents during initial consultation, as well as during the intake process.
There is a onetime administrative fee of $200. This covers administrative costs, a drug screening, and transportation from area treatment centers, The administrative fee will serve to hold a bed for up to two weeks when a resident is coming out of primary treatment, or one week if the resident is not coming directly from treatment. Our monthly fees vary depending on the house location and type of room. Monthly fees range from $900 per month to $1500 per month.
A house manager (or house parent as some sober homes refer to them) is a very important part of living in a Recovery Residence. House Mangers offer the support necessary for residents in the early stages of sobriety to get the traction they need to move forward. Bodha Recovery Residences house managers all have significant experience with quality sobriety. House managers are there to assist residents as they reenter the stream of life. However, house managers are not drug or alcohol counselors, and it is not their role to act as such. Bodha carefully screens our house mangers, and train them to exacting Bodha standards. House managers and the work they do are reviewed on a regular basis.
House meetings are held Sunday through Thursday in the late evenings. The purpose of house meetings is for all the residents to gather and review their day. These are not recovery meetings. The meetings are typically brief, and are way for residents to connect on a daily basis.
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We encourage you to call Bodha Recovery Residences today and find out much more about us…(800) 374-3698.