How to Pay for Sober Living

Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that requires ongoing treatment to achieve long-term recovery. While completing an addiction treatment program is a huge success that should be celebrated, it’s important to remember that there is still work to do.

Oftentimes, the most vulnerable time for someone in early sobriety is the transition from inpatient rehab to independent living. Since you will be experiencing new triggers in your daily life, it is vital to buckle down on your relapse prevention skills. Even then, staying sober without support can be incredibly difficult.

Thankfully, sober living programs can ease the transition from treatment to everyday life. During a sober living program, you will share a house with other people who are in recovery from addiction, have weekly meetings, learn how to stick to a daily schedule, and are guaranteed a drug and alcohol-free living environment.

Unlike rehab, sober living isn’t covered by insurance. While sober living can be expensive, especially if they come with extensive amenities, there are several options for payment, and it’s usually cheaper than living on your own. You can either self-pay, receive financial assistance from your family, crowdsource, choose a program that uses sliding scale fees, or take out a personal loan.

How Much Does Sober Living Cost?

The cost of a sober living program can vary widely depending on several factors, including the amenities offered, the location of the house, and how long you stay. In general, sober living programs can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month.

Factors that affect the cost of a sober living program include:

• Monthly rent, which is often based on the location and current housing market
• Food, as some programs include the cost of groceries
• Utilities like gas, electricity, water, and internet
• Amenities such as pools, access to a gym, transportation to and from work, and more

Because all of these factors can play a role in how much a sober living program costs, it’s important to check with specific programs in your area to see what to expect.

Ways to Pay for Sober Living

Sober living can be expensive, however, sometimes it is necessary for your recovery. Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to pay for sober living.

Self-Pay

While sober living programs can be pricey, it is possible to self-pay. Many of us have savings accounts that are reserved for things like retirement, buying a house, or simple emergency situations. If you find that you need sober living, using your savings is worth it, as these programs can help you regain control over your life and solidify your chances of long-term sobriety.

Family Resources

If you cannot afford to pay for sober living on your own, it might be time to ask your family for help. Sometimes, your family will be willing to use money that was originally saved for something else to help fund your sober living program.

Additionally, instead of just asking one family member, you can do a mini crowdsource with your entire family. While asking your family for money is never easy, being able to attend sober living can be the difference between relapse and long-term sobriety.

Crowdsourcing

Not everyone has a family who is able to help out financially. If you find yourself in a situation where you and your family do not have enough money to pay for sober living, you could always try out crowdsourcing.

Crowdsourcing gives you the opportunity to share your story and explain why you need help to a larger audience. If your post gains enough traction, even getting $5 from each person who donates could end up providing you the assistance you need to afford sober living.

Sliding Scale Fees and Other Payment Plans

Some sober living programs offer payment plans to help their clients out while they get back on their feet. For example, sliding scale fees are common in the sober living industry. These payment plans only ask you to pay the amount of money you can afford based on your income.

Thankfully, most sober living programs require you to obtain a job while you are in the program. Some sober living homes allow you to pay for some of your bills upfront and ask you to cover the rest with your future paychecks.

Financing

Lastly, financing is always an option if the other methods of payment do not work for you. Several financial institutions offer personal loans with various payment structures. While taking on the responsibility of a loan might be anxiety-inducing, getting the support you need to maintain long-term recovery is worth it in the end.

It is important to note that you do not have to finance the entirety of the cost of sober living. You could use a combination of help from family, personal savings, and a smaller loan to come up with the full amount you need.

Get Connected to a Highly-Rated Sober Living Program Today

If you or a loved one has just completed an addiction treatment program, you might want to consider sober living. Sober living programs can ease the transition from facility life to independent living, increasing your chances of long-term sobriety.

To learn more about our top-rated sober living program, contact New You Sober Living today.