Welcome to the Vanderburgh Sober Living community!
The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc is pleased to welcome you to explore the Vanderburgh Sober Living community. For someone interested in becoming a Chartered Operator, you’re not just exploring an opportunity – you’re unlocking growth potential, supported by an incredible mission-focused community of recovery residence operators making a difference in their communities.
Why Effective Recovery Housing Matters
Recovery housing rebuilds communities, reunites families, and saves lives. But operating a recovery home successfully requires the right tools and support. That’s where VSL comes in.
- Recovery housing is a critical part of the continuum of care.
- Successful recovery homes help stabilize communities.
- We make it easier to run an effective recovery home.
Effective Recovery Housing is Achieved with Supported Operators
Running a recovery home on your own can be challenging. Without the right support, operators often face burnout, inefficiencies, and difficulty maintaining standards. That’s why supported operators are more successful in sustaining effective recovery housing.
- Access to Resources: Supported operators have the tools they need to efficiently manage homes and ensure compliance with standards.
- Operational Expertise: With expert guidance and ongoing support, operators can focus on delivering high-quality care, knowing that operational challenges are handled.
- Community Support: Supported operators have access to a network of peers who provide advice, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities.
Learn about our community
Welcome to the heart of Vanderburgh Sober Living (VSL). Our community of Chartered Operators represents a fusion of passion, dedication, and excellence in the field of sober living. Our members are how the mission of VSL becomes a reality. Here’s who is involved:
The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc.
The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Webster, Massachusetts and recognized as a 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation. The Foundation’s primary mission is to ensure access to a supportive, affordable, and sustainable home for each person on a recovery journey—this is accomplished three ways:
1. We steward over a membership organization for recovery housing operators.
2. Our membership organization is Vanderburgh Sober Living (VSL).
3. We develop and enforce standards for the operation of recovery housing.
4. Those who meet VSL standards and join our community are Chartered Operators.
5. We provide a platform and services to holistically support Chartered Operators.
Vanderburgh Sober Living™
Vanderburgh Sober Living™ (VSL) is a membership organization for recovery residence operators. Members, known as Chartered Operators, join the VSL community and provide recovery housing to individuals in recovery from addiction (referred to as guests). VSL members commit to upholding high standards of care and support, ensuring that all Chartered Homes offer consistency to guests and meet the best practices in our field.
What is a “Charter”?
A Charter grants membership in the VSL Community— it is the Foundation’s commitment to support a Chartered Operator with resources and structure, and the Chartered Operator’s commitment to uphold VSL’s shared values and operate with integrity and excellence in recovery housing.
Chartered Operators
Chartered Operators join the community from a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience. You don’t have to currently operate a home to become a Chartered Operator; most of our members join before they’ve opened their first home and work with us hand in hand to learn how to open their first home.
1. Chartered Operators can be entities or individuals; for-profit or non-profit.
2. Chartered Operators are independent and retain control over their business operations while aligning with the broader mission and values of the VSL community.
3. Chartered Operators run Chartered Homes, which are confirmed to meet VSL standards.
4. Chartered Homes are affiliated with Vanderburgh Sober Living.
Learn about VSL Charter Membership
Our community of Chartered Operators represents a fusion of passion, dedication, and excellence in the field of sober living. Our members are how the mission of VSL becomes a reality.
Charter Candidates
Charter Agreement
Chartered Homes
Charter Candidates join us from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds, from recovery professionals, to retirees, to mission-focused entrepreneurs. Charter candidates are evaluated by our community to ensure they are properly informed and committed to operating exceptional recovery housing. The first step in becoming a Chartered Operator is to submit a Consultation Request Form.
Ready to take the first step?
The Charter Agreement provides a framework for the relationship between Chartered Operators, the VSL community, and The Vanderburgh Foundation. This document grants a Charter to the Chartered Operator and outlines the conditions for maintaining a Charter. Read more about the VSL Charter Agreement at the link below.
Ready to sign a Charter Agreement? Make sure you’ve completed the checklist:
After you’re granted a Charter, each new (or existing) recovery residence must be evaluated to ensure it meets VSL’s community standards before it becomes a Chartered Home. This will involve an onboarding and inspection process, and an opportunity for our community to provide advice and support. Chartered Homes are inspected annually to ensure continued compliance. Learn about our Recovery Residence Model or explore our Operator Duties Quick Reference Guide for more information.
