About Vanderburgh Sober Living | Our Mission to Build Strong Recovery Communities

Our Mission

We exist to ensure every person in recovery has access to a supportive, affordable, and sustainable sober living community by equipping the people and partners who own and operate recovery housing.

Our Vision

We envision a nationwide network of 2,400 thriving recovery homes led by empowered Chartered Operators, enabled through mission-aligned developers, and united in community.

To fulfill our mission and realize our vision, VSL supports both the people and the properties that make recovery housing possible:

We equip Chartered Operators to launch and lead high-quality recovery homes.
We work with mission-aligned developers to provide safe, appropriate housing for these communities.

By strengthening both sides of this partnership, we build the foundation for sustainable, supportive, and scalable recovery housing across the country.

Vanderburgh Sober Living Values

Commit to Recovery: Every VSL Operator and member of our staff is dedicated to fostering supportive recovery housing to serve each person on a recovery journey.

Set the Standard: We carry the flag for excellence in recovery housing, collaboratively setting and upholding the highest quality standards in our field.

Engage the Community: We actively collaborate with the broader recovery community to strengthen our network and improve the efficacy of recovery housing.

Ensure Inclusive Access: We are committed to making recovery housing accessible and welcoming to all, embracing diverse recovery pathways and needs.

Empower and Lead: The VSL Community offers Operators and House Mentors the tools, training, and support to be effective leaders in their communities.

Innovate and Grow: We embrace innovation and foster continuous growth to ensure our approach and model for recovery housing remains effective and relevant.

About The Vanderburgh Foundation

Through generous donations and grant funding, the Foundation leads several core initiatives:

Guest Scholarships: Financial assistance for individuals entering recovery housing, helping cover first-month rent and deposits for those who need it most.
New Home Formation: Technical assistance and startup support for new recovery home operators, expanding access to quality sober living across the U.S.
Innovation & Advocacy: Funding tools, training, and initiatives that strengthen the recovery housing ecosystem and support best practices nationwide.

Make a Difference Today!
Your tax-deductible gift helps fund scholarships, launch new recovery homes, and support innovation in recovery housing. Together, we can expand access to stable, supportive housing for individuals in recovery.

Support the Foundation

The Vanderburgh Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to recovery housing and supporting the people and communities who rely on it. As the charitable arm of Vanderburgh Sober Living, the Foundation exists to advance recovery housing initiatives, offer direct assistance to individuals in need, and help ensure that every person on a recovery journey has a safe and supportive home.

Our Model of Recovery Housing

Guests live independently in a gender-specific home
Rooms are typically shared with one or more peers
Guests pay rent weekly or monthly; we don’t accept health insurance
Each home is led by a House Mentor
Our homes are convenient, comfortable, affordable, and supportive
Guests live according to our Guest Handbook and House Rules

VSL Chartered Operators provide structured sober living for men and women committed to recovery.
Guests live together in a supportive, peer-led environment built on accountability, community, and personal growth. Each home follows recovery-focused house rules and standards, with abstinence from drugs and alcohol at its core. Guests engage in their recovery by attending meetings, working with sponsors, and receiving guidance from a House Mentor. Curfews, screenings, and shared responsibilities help create a safe and empowering space for lasting change.

View the VSL Guest Handbook

House Mentorship

Leadership Structure

Transitional Support

At Vanderburgh Sober Living, recovery starts with connection. Our homes foster a peer-driven, structured environment where guests support and encourage each other under the guidance and mentorship of a House Mentor (manager). Together, we build a thriving recovery community that emphasizes accountability, shared growth, and lasting relationships.

Our social model recovery homes combine independence with the structure needed to succeed. House Mentors provide guidance and accountability, while VSL Chartered Operators ensure high standards and a supportive and recovery-focused environment. This balanced approach empowers guests to take control of their recovery while having the support they need to thrive.

Recovery is a journey, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re preparing to transition to independent living or exploring leadership opportunities as a House Mentor, Vanderburgh Sober Living provides the tools, training, and resources to support your goals and create lasting change. Join us in our mission to build thriving recovery communities!

How VSL Equips
Chartered Operators

How VSL Supports
Real Estate Developers

Empowering leaders to create and sustain exceptional recovery housing

Recovery housing saves lives—but running it alone can lead to burnout, stalled growth, or closure. From finding the right property to navigating funding and compliance, the challenges can be overwhelming.

VSL changes that. Through our Recovery Housing Blueprint, peer network, and hands-on support, we help operators:

Launch and grow homes with confidence
Solve financial, operational, and compliance challenges
Stay connected to a community of experts and peers

We provide the tools and guidance for sustainable, high-quality housing—while honoring your vision, mission, and independence.

Equipping investors to build thriving recovery housing portfolios

Operators can’t serve without the right homes—and developers hold the key. Yet many hesitate due to unfamiliarity with the model, uncertainty about compliance, or difficulty finding reliable operators.

VSL bridges the gap. With our proven housing model, national operator network, and expert guidance, we help developers:

Transform properties into thriving recovery homes
Secure financing, meet compliance, and reduce risk
Partner with qualified operators on long-term leases

Whether you start with one property or scale regionally, we make it possible to invest with purpose and profit—creating housing that changes lives.

🚀 The Recovery Housing Leadership Launchpad

We’ll help you open a recovery home from start to finish.

Part One: Leadership Academy
Learn how to launch, certify, and lead a successful recovery home through a focused, nine-part expert training series.

Part Two: Mentorship
Turn your vision into reality with step-by-step coaching from seasoned recovery housing leaders.

Part Three: Leadership Network
Tap into the VSL community for hands-on training, proven resources, and trusted partners to accelerate your success.

Your vision of opening a recovery home is within reach—let’s make it real.

Learn More and Apply →

Recovery Residence Certification

Meet our Certification Providers

Recovery Home certification plays a vital role in maintaining the highest standards of safety, structure, and support for individuals on their recovery journey. Certification is guided by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), a national organization which sets standards for recovery residence certification. NARR’s framework is built on a social model of recovery, emphasizing peer support, accountability, and community engagement. Their certification process evaluates homes on essential aspects such as safety, resident rights, operational integrity, and quality of service.

State Affiliate Certification: State affiliates of NARR apply these standards locally, tailoring them to meet regional needs and ensuring compliance with state regulations. Affiliates often provide resources, training, and ongoing support to recovery home operators, helping them maintain certification and uphold best practices.

Why Sober Living Certification Matters:

Accountability: Ensures recovery homes meet strict operational standards.
Quality: Maintains a consistent standard of care and service for guests.
Community: Fosters positive relationships between operators and within communities.
Credibility: Positions certified sober homes as trusted recovery support organizations.

About Hunter T. Foote: Founder of VSL

Dr. Hunter T. Foote is a nationally recognized leader in the recovery housing movement, dedicated to creating supportive living environments for individuals in recovery. As founder of Vanderburgh Sober Living, he pioneered a model that blends business discipline with mission-centered values, empowering local leaders to operate independent homes under a shared framework of standards, training, and support. Under his leadership, VSL grew to 38 homes and became the largest network of Level II recovery residences in the United States. With over a decade of experience in mission-driven real estate development and sober living operations, Dr. Foote brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial acumen, legal insight, and social purpose to every project.

A leading expert in recovery housing, Dr. Foote earned his PhD in Humanities from Salve Regina University after completing his master’s degree at Harvard University. He has taught graduate-level entrepreneurship and product innovation at Harvard University, lectured at Boston University and Springfield College, and instructed undergraduates at Hult International Business School. Rooted in faith and driven by a passion for service, his work extends globally—whether serving on missions in East Africa, advancing medical innovation for neonatal care, or sharing his love of traditional Irish and Scottish music with friends.

About Hunter T. Foote Author of Recovery Housing Real Estate

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