Miami recovery guide

How to Choose a Sober Living Home in Miami

New recovery homes open in Miami-Dade all the time. Here’s how to tell a structured, accountable home from just a bed, whichever home you choose.

Start with what you need

Before comparing homes, be honest about where you are.

  • Do you need detox first? Sober living is not medical care. If you need medical withdrawal care, that comes first. Detox & withdrawal help.
  • Where is your life? If your job, family, meetings or outpatient care are in North Miami, Miami Gardens, Aventura or along Biscayne Boulevard, a home in North Miami Beach keeps you close. If they’re in Broward, look there.
  • Men’s or women’s home? Look for separate housing for men and women.
  • Are you on MAT? Ask directly whether residents on prescribed buprenorphine, naltrexone or methadone are welcome. Not every home accepts MAT.

10 questions to ask any sober living home

  1. Are the house rules written down and the same for everyone? Clear rules protect you and everyone else in the house.
  2. How is accountability handled? Look for meetings, check-ins and testing, not just a bed.
  3. How often do you drug and alcohol test? Random, frequent and monitored is what you want.
  4. How many meetings are required, and which count?
  5. Is there a path forward? A phased program where curfews and privileges ease as you build time gives you something to work toward.
  6. Who are the house managers, and how often will I meet with them?
  7. What does it cost, and what’s included? Get it in writing.
  8. Can I see the home first? It should be safe, clean and well kept.
  9. What standards do you meet? FARR (Florida Association of Recovery Residences) accreditation is one standard you can verify, along with how long the home has been open.
  10. Are you independent of treatment centers? Ask whether the home is affiliated with a detox or treatment center, and whether that affects where residents are sent.

Every family’s situation is different, and a good home will welcome these questions.

How Blue Waters answers them

We’re one option among many. Here’s how our homes, including our women’s home and men’s home in North Miami Beach, answer those questions.

  • Clear structure: house meetings, daily chores, room checks and curfews, with the same house expectations in every Blue Waters home
  • 12-step meetings every week: five in-person 12-step meetings a week, with a signed meeting sheet. Any “Anonymous” 12-step meeting counts (AA, NA, CA, CMA and so on)
  • Real accountability: random and frequent monitored drug and alcohol testing
  • Weekly one-on-ones with house managers on sponsor, steps, meetings, work and goals
  • Long-term phases: curfews and privileges ease as you make progress and build time
  • Work and routine: a steady job, or looking for work on weekdays, with job-search support
  • Non-medical and independent: not detox or treatment, and not affiliated with any treatment center

Blue Waters is FARR Accredited, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and has run sober living in South Florida for more than 10 years. Weekly rates range from $180 to $250 per week, depending on the home and room. Residents on MAT are welcome. See our full FAQ.

Ready to take the next step?

Call for availability and pricing. We’ll talk through where you are in recovery, which home fits and what to bring, honestly and without pressure.

Call (954) 344-0550 Request a callback Start here

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