Our Mission & Vision
To fulfill our mission and realize our vision, VSL supports both the people and the properties that make recovery housing possible:
By strengthening both sides of this partnership, we build the foundation for sustainable, supportive, and scalable recovery housing across the country.
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.
Our Values
The Vanderburgh 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.
Through generous donations and grant funding, the Foundation leads several core initiatives:
Financial assistance for individuals entering recovery housing, helping cover first-month rent and deposits for those who need it most.
Technical assistance and startup support for new recovery home operators, expanding access to quality sober living across the U.S.
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 FoundationVSL 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.
How the Model Works
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.
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:
We provide the tools and guidance for sustainable, high-quality housing — while honoring your vision, mission, and independence.
WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY?
Ready to Go?
Compare programs and find the right path to launch your own recovery home.
Compare Programs →Certification
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:
Meet Our Certification Providers
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Hunter 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 more than 200 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.
A New Initiative from VSL
We’re bringing the operator-first playbook to residential assisted living.
The same approach that helped launch and sustain recovery homes across the country is now opening a new frontier: home-based senior care. Through RAL Roadmap, VSL is equipping aspiring owners with the training, tools, and community to open and scale their own Residential Assisted Living homes — independently owned, and built to last.
Explore RAL Roadmap →Wherever you are on your recovery housing journey, there’s a path forward with Vanderburgh Sober Living.
New Here?
New to recovery housing? Explore how sober living works and whether this path is right for you.
Get StartedNeed Housing?
Looking for a supportive sober home? Start your application and take the first step toward recovery.
Apply for HousingReady to Build?
Ready to build a sober house? Compare programs and find the right path to launch your own home.
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