Moving to Miami is almost sure to be an excellent experience for everyone. It is a unique city, with great people, traditions and culture. However, when moving there, certain things to consider, especially if you start one of life’s most challenging and rewarding quests, sober living. Over the past few years, South Florida has become popular for people looking for their first sober living home in Miami.

Sober living homes (SLHs), are facilities dedicated to providing safe housing and supportive, structured living conditions for people exiting drug or alcohol rehabilitation programs. Most serve as a transitional environment between rehabilitation programs and mainstream society. It’s also common for some SLHs to accept people who are in recovery from substance use disorders but haven’t been a part of a rehabilitation program. 

Just like anything else in life, when doing something for the first time, it’s easy to make mistakes. This is why we have created a guide for those in this situation. We have separated this guide into two main sections. First, we will discuss which benefits and features to look for in a Miami SLH. And secondly, we will be talking about some of the major red flags you should look out for when “SLH hunting.”

Essential benefits and features of a proper, first sober living home in Miami

The location and setting

To ensure personal safety, try visiting the area and touring the home before committing to any particular SLH. This will also help you make sure that the area is peaceful. When it comes to you choosing the location, there are two main things to keep in mind:

1. Are there any triggers around the home – Every person’s needs are different. If you believe that having triggers near you and practicing to resist them is the best way for you to recover, you can look for SLHs in downtown areas. However, if your path requires isolation from temptations, your first sober living home should be in Miami’s suburban, family neighborhoods.
2. How close is it to your support systems – Whether it’s your friends, family, or the locations of your 12-step meetings, you should try finding an SLH as close to them as possible.

Affordability

A reality that you must accept is that your recovery will be financially draining. You have to make sure that you understand the financial implications of every sober living home you consider. Checking whether there is a required security deposit is a must. However, the most critical question is whether utilities are included in the initial price.

Avoid guessing about money, and ask as many questions as you deem necessary. You shouldn’t add any additional stress by worrying about whether or not you can meet your financial responsibilities while there.

Structure and expectations

A sober living home worth its name will promote recovery while also offering some level of accountability. This is mostly done by establishing rules and expectations. There are some life skills they will encourage you to learn during addiction recovery to help you adapt better. The most popular skills to learn are: 

1. Sticking to a curfew,
2. Maintaining a healthy daily schedule,
3. Filling your day with chores and activities,
4. Dedicating time for personal hygiene,
5. Keeping routines,
6. Setting realistic goals,
7. Maintaining physical health.

A thing your first sober living home should have is a connection to a local psychotherapist who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). These homes usually have group therapy sessions regularly. If the leading therapist is specialized in CBT, they can help you start unlearning your unhealthy coping mechanisms (primarily those based on substance abuse) and start replacing them with healthy ones.

Additional amenities or benefits

You should decide which, if any, additional amenities or benefits you need. This way, it’ll be easier to narrow down your choice of possible SLHs. When thinking about this, you should focus on your needs for relaxation, comfort, and recreation. For example, if you might decide that you need a home without access to the internet so you can focus on recovery. But in that situation, some yoga lessons and a sauna would be perfect for filling the time with healthy activities.

Making friends and finding community in Miami is an essential part of the process. That’s why it would be great for your first sober living home to have some connection with other homes in Miami. Going to organized parties and get-togethers will help you meet sober friends in Miami and give you a chance to practice being sober at social occasions.

Length of stay

Ideally, an SLH should offer an indefinite stay, as long as you comply with their rules. Some sober living homes will even require you to commit to a 6-month stay. The prolonged stay will ensure you will be successful when you leave. There is no way to predict precisely how long you might need to stay, so an indefinite, flexible contract is the best option.

Which red flags to look out for when looking for your first sober living home in Miami?

Red flags related to living conditions

• The facility is rundown or too small – A reputable SLH must be well maintained and have enough space for its residents. Website pictures of facilities can be misleading, so make sure to visit every one of them before making a final decision. It would be best if you also tried to get former residents’ testimonials about what it was like living there.
• There are no official house rules – As enticing as it may be to hang out and have a good time in recovery, experts from Archstone Behavioral Health advise you to look for an SLH with at least a few ground rules. This is because those rules are meant to teach self-control and routine.
• Regular drug tests aren’t administered – The main reason for living in an SLH is to help you on your journey to living everyday life without drugs or alcohol. Any residence you’re considering should support this goal by requiring abstinence to help residents prevent relapse. Random drug tests are a big part of reputable SLHs

Red flags related to administration

• The home claims to be free – Some disreputable SLHs may try to get residents to move in by offering them a free stay. Usually, the administrators or owners of these homes gather your personal and insurance information and then use it to submit false insurance claims
• The SLH does not have admissions requirements – All SLHs should have standard admissions protocols. These are meant to ensure that residents come into the home with proper expectations and similar recovery goals. Other admissions requirements could include residents agreeing to attend a certain number of 12-step meetings weekly, regularly attending work or school, and consistently doing household chores.

Key Takeaways…

Miami has many activities for adventure seekers, opportunities for building a life and a family, and options for adult education. The lifestyle versatility it offers makes it so popular for sober people to create a new life for themselves. Even considering all these things, it’s important to remember that this is your journey, and your first sober living home in Miami should be the one you feel the best about.