Our sober living homes offer a recovery community support framework. In addition to a live-in House Mentor and trained Operator, all sober houses offer a Recovery Community Mentor. This role functions similar to a case manager in a clinical setting. They are available to support every guests recovery on an as-needed basis and meet them where they are in their journey.
Mission
Our mission is to build sober living communities where guests are supported in their recovery journeys.
Vision
We see a world where every person in recovery has access to a supportive, healthy, and safe home environment built on respect, focused on recovery, and led by peers.
Values
Recovery-Focused: Recovery is the cornerstone of Vanderburgh House. Our policies, leadership, and culture are all build to support our guests in their personal and individual recovery journey.
Community: Each Vanderburgh House sober house is a recovery community led by peers in service of guests in recovery from substance abuse.
Accessible: Our homes are accessible to every member of the global recovery community with a straightforward application process, transparent approval criteria, and at an affordable cost to our guests.
Independent: Each of us is responsible for our personal and individual recovery journey. We do not direct action; we coach, support, and mentor our brothers and sisters in recovery.
Sustainable: We believe in being good stewards of the earth and use resources with respect, conservation and respect.
Our Model
We offer structured sober houses for men and women where every guest is supported in their recovery journeys. Guests live together as a family to develop the tools and strengthen their character in order to live free from substance abuse. Our homes allow for independence while guided by a set of recovery-focused house rules, standards, and expectations. The core of our structure is abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Guests are engaged in their personal recovery journey by attending meetings and working with a sponsor and our House Mentor for support and encouragement. Guests adhere to a curfew, submit to drug and alcohol screenings, and participate in home and community events.
- 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
Community Mentorship
Clinical Foundation
Our homes are informed by clinical research and best practices. Vanderburgh House employs clinical staff who are available to House Mentors and Recovery Community Mentors in order to assist in building strong communities in support of each guest, with Relapse Response and Recovery Maintenance Plans and other valuable resources for our guests.
Transitional Support
A sober house is the step between clinical treatment and independent living. We support our guests when they are ready to transition from a sober house to independent living. Our transitional support program provides resources and support in transitioning to independent living. As a part of this program, we will reimburse guests up to $1,000 of their rents paid towards their new home.
House Mentor Highlight
Chuck has devoted his life to managing our Elm Home. A full-time manager for a large Worcester manufacturing company, he devotes his home life to those in recovery as one of our House Mentors. Chuck, like all of our House Mentors, moved in as a guest. He completed House Mentor Training and began his role in 2019. He leads a fantastic group of men in their recovery journey, offering support and encouragement to each guest.
House Mentors are crucial to the success of any sober house. We understand the challenges that a House Mentor faces every day, and we have many programs in place to support and encourage them - not only as a mentor, but as a man or woman in recovery themself. We have a comprehensive training program to equip them in handling guest concerns, house emergencies, and in their leadership of the recovery environment in the home.
Sober House Certification
Sober house certification is awarded by state agencies organized under the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, or NARR. NARR's state affiliates, through a certification process, ensure that certified sober living homes provide guests with reliable and transparent services, and ensure overall quality, safety, and success of sober living programs.
All Vanderburgh House sober living homes strictly follow NARR Certification requirements and work collaboratively with NARR's state affiliates to improve the quality of sober living for all guests. Vanderburgh House is also a Certified B Corporation, and the first organization to earn this award in Worcester.
