Meet Dr. Hunter Foote: Leading the Charge in Sober Living Real Estate Investment

With a mission to align capital with community, Dr. Hunter Foote is pioneering a new era of sober living real estate investment through visionary leadership at Vanderburgh Sober Living.

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Pioneering in Sober Living Real Estate Investment

As the real estate market evolves, a new and impactful asset class is quietly gaining momentum: sober living real estate. This sector—rooted in both social responsibility and financial return—offers real estate developers an opportunity to invest in housing that not only generates long-term income, but also transforms lives.

With the ongoing opioid crisis and rising rates of substance use disorders across the country, the demand for recovery housing has never been greater. Communities are in urgent need of supportive, structured residences that help individuals in early recovery maintain stability and sobriety. Yet despite this demand, most developers overlook recovery housing as a viable investment category, leaving a critical gap in purpose-driven real estate.

As Executive Director of Vanderburgh Sober Living (VSL) and a nationally recognized leader in social enterprise, Dr. Hunter Foote is pioneering a new developer-focused initiative that reimagines recovery housing as a scalable, profitable, and high-impact real estate strategy. His mission is clear: to align investment capital with community needs, and to equip developers with the tools, partners, and support needed to succeed in this growing field of recovery housing investment.

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Who Is Dr. Hunter Foote?

Dr. Hunter Foote is a social entrepreneur and impact investor with a passion for building systems that solve real-world problems. With a background that spans business, education, global health, missions, and real estate, he brings a unique blend of purpose and practicality to every project he leads.

With a Master’s in Business from Harvard University and a PhD in Social Franchising from Salve Regina University, Hunter has spent the last decade working at the intersection of mission and markets. He’s helped launch recovery housing across the United States, advised early-stage ventures, and supported community-focused real estate investments—all while staying grounded in a belief that business can be a force for good.

Hunter’s work is deeply personal. Raised in New England, he’s spent years working alongside local leaders to create access to safe, supportive housing for individuals in recovery. He’s as comfortable walking a property with a contractor as he is mapping long-term impact strategies with investors.

Driven, approachable, and quietly visionary, Dr. Foote is committed to helping other real estate developers build portfolios that leave a legacy, not just a return.

Connect with Hunter on LinkedIn

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The Vision Behind VSL’s Real Estate Developer Outreach

At the core of VSL’s new developer partnership program is a simple but often overlooked truth: sober living doesn’t succeed without real estate.

For years, VSL has supported recovery residence operators with the training, structure, and systems they need to serve their communities. But one barrier continues to limit their growth—access to stable, affordable properties. Many capable and committed operators are ready to launch new homes, but without reliable housing infrastructure, their ability to make an impact is stalled before it even begins.

On the other side, developers and investors are increasingly interested in purpose-driven projects, yet many hesitate to enter the recovery housing space. Common concerns include:

• Uncertainty about operator performance and compliance

• Fear of turnover or instability

• Lack of familiarity with regulatory and community dynamics

Dr. Foote’s vision for this initiative is to bridge that gap. “Operators shouldn’t have to choose between their calling and their livelihood,” says Dr. Foote. “And developers shouldn’t have to choose between doing well and doing good.”

By stabilizing the real estate side of recovery housing, this initiative removes barriers for both parties—and unlocks the potential to scale housing solutions that save lives.

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How the VSL Developer Partnership Model Works

The VSL Developer Partnership creates a stable platform where mission-aligned developers can invest confidently in sober living properties—with experienced, trained operators ready to lease and manage those homes. It gives operators the housing foundation they need to succeed, and gives developers a proven model for low-touch, long-term income.

Sober Living Real Estate Developers Receive:

• Property Identification & Acquisition Guidance
  VSL works with you to find ideal properties for recovery housing, often those overlooked by the traditional market—think homes with extra bedrooms, shared spaces, or minimal parking requirements.

• Renovation & Certification Support
  Moderate upgrades and code compliance are key. VSL provides direction on how to cost-effectively meet NARR and state-level certification standards, ensuring your investment is ready for occupancy and long-term viability.

• Operator Placement & Long-Term Leasing
  VSL connects each property with a trained, vetted sober living operator who signs a long-term lease. This creates predictable rental income while placing day-to-day resident management in the hands of experienced professionals.

• Hands-Off Income, Mission-Aligned Returns
  Developers do not need to manage tenants or run recovery programs. Your role is purely as a landlord—with added peace of mind that your property is generating both financial return and social value.

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📚 Interested in how operators are trained and supported? Learn more about VSL Chartered Operators.

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Real Results and Developer Success

When purpose meets process, results follow—and VSL’s real estate partnership model is already proving itself in markets across New England.

Take Michelle Ngila, a real estate investor who began working with Vanderburgh Sober Living to integrate recovery housing into her portfolio. In just a few years, Michelle successfully acquired and leased over 14 recovery residences—each operated by trained professionals, each generating consistent income, and each creating a safe, supportive environment for individuals in early recovery.

📖 Want proof this model works? Read Michelle Ngila’s Story, and see how she built a successful portfolio through VSL’s model.

Michelle’s journey is just one example of what’s possible through the VSL platform. Our developer partners benefit from:

• Operational Ease – No resident management or program oversight required

• Built-In Demand – VSL’s operator network is actively seeking properties across multiple states

• Compliance Support – Every home is supported with guidance on certification and operational standards

• Predictable, Hands-Off Income – Long-term leases with low turnover and consistent rental flow

Recovery housing offers a refreshingly stable, low-competition alternative with the added value of transforming lives and neighborhoods.

Learn how recovery housing compares with other asset types.

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Ready to Begin your Recovery Housing Journey?

Fill out the form below and let’s explore how your property can become part of the solution. We’ll connect you with:

✅ Trusted, certified operators

✅ Available opportunities in your market

✅ Partnership models tailored to your investment goals

Let’s build recovery-focused housing — together.

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