Since September 1, 2025, a Texas recovery house that is not accredited under state law cannot receive state funds. The rule is a useful filter anywhere in the state, because accredited homes have agreed to outside review.
Texas also funds homes for young adults and for people taking medication for opioid use disorder, through partners such as Be Well Texas and UTHealth Houston.
What Is a Sober Living Home in Texas?
Texas defines a recovery house in House Bill 299, which added Chapter 469 to the Health and Safety Code in 2023: a shared living environment centered on peer support, free from alcohol and drug use, that connects residents to the community and to services supporting lasting recovery.
Running one requires no state license. Accreditation is voluntary, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) may approve only NARR or Oxford House as accrediting organizations, and accredited homes may not provide personal care services. Treatment programs are a separate category that needs a chemical dependency treatment license from HHSC.
What Daily Life Looks Like in a Texas Sober House
Residents in Texas homes generally keep a job or a full schedule, rotate chores, attend a weekly house meeting, and go to outside recovery meetings. A house mentor helps the house run smoothly and keeps rules consistent.
Keep readingHouse Rules in Sober HousesThe rules that keep a recovery home safe, structured, and worth living in.→Random drug and alcohol testing is standard, and curfews often relax as you build time. Texas distances are long and transit varies by city, so check how far a house is from your job, a bus line, and meetings.
How Long Do Residents Stay?
Stays are flexible. Many residents remain several months to a year, leaving once their income and next housing are secure.
NARR Levels: Which Kind of Sober Living Home Fits You?
Because Texas accreditation runs through NARR or Oxford House, the NARR levels are the common standard here. They range from peer-run Level I homes to clinical Level IV settings.
| NARR level | Model | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | Peer-run | Democratically run homes with no paid staff, such as the Oxford House model, relying on peer accountability |
| Level II | Monitored | The classic sober living home, with house rules, peer accountability, and a house mentor |
| Level III | Supervised | More structured programming and life-skills support, with trained or credentialed staff |
| Level IV | Service provider | Homes that combine recovery housing with clinical services on site, which require a state treatment license from HHSC in Texas |
HHSC’s own partners operate Level I, II, and III homes, so you can find the full range of non-clinical support in the state.
How to Choose a Certified Sober Living Home in Texas
The Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN), a founding state affiliate of NARR, certifies homes against NARR quality standards and a code of ethics. Oxford Houses use their own charter system.
State law also bars a recovery house from claiming accreditation it does not hold or advertising false information.
Look for:
- A current certificate: From TROHN or Oxford House, matching the address.
- State funding eligibility: Only accredited homes qualify.
- Medication policy: Especially if you take medication for opioid use disorder.
- Clear costs: Rent and fees in writing.
Anyone can file a grievance with TROHN over a standards or ethics violation. Avoid homes that make false accreditation claims or won’t document fees; the sober home checklist helps on tours.
Where to Find Sober Houses in Texas
TROHN’s recovery housing directory filters by city, county, gender, and focus, such as veterans or re-entry. The Texas pages of the Sober House Directory list more homes statewide.
VSL runs two Chartered homes in Texas, in Dallas and Taylor; each city guide covers local meetings, transit, and support.
Sober living by city: Dallas and Taylor. For openings across the state, check VSL’s Texas homes.
HHSC lists its recovery residence partners, including Oxford House and Be Well Texas, which serves young adults ages 18 to 25. Dial 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to reach 2-1-1 Texas for local resources, and the free SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) answers around the clock in English and Spanish.
How Much Does Sober Living Cost in Texas?
Using median rent, VSL’s Rent and Startup Cost Index puts a shared sober living bed in Texas at about $185 a week, or $800 a month (Foote, 2026b).
Austin, Dallas, and other high-rent metros cost more, and small towns less. As of October 2026, VSL’s Texas homes list $180 a week in Taylor and $250 in Dallas.
Ways to Pay for Sober Living in Texas
Texas helps pay for recovery housing in several ways:
- HHSC partners: Oxford House, Be Well Texas, and UTHealth Houston provide Level I, II, and III homes across the state.
- Project HOMES: For people taking medication for opioid use disorder, Project HOMES at UTHealth Houston partners with NARR-certified homes and covers housing and food through the Texas Targeted Opioid Response initiative.
- Accredited homes only: State money goes only to homes accredited under Chapter 469.
- Your paycheck: Most residents cover rent through work once settled.
With that mix of programs, Texas earns an 8 out of 10 for resident funding access in VSL’s Operating Climate Index (Foote, 2026a).
How to Apply for Sober Living in Texas
Steps into a Texas recovery house:
- Set your level and budget: Match support needs to rent you can sustain.
- Check accreditation: Through TROHN or Oxford House.
- Ask about state-supported beds: Before you apply, if you need one.
- Review the agreement: Testing, relapse, and refund terms.
- Move in: With ID, medications, and payment.
Young adults 18 to 25 can ask Be Well Texas about its homes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sober Living in Texas
Are sober living homes licensed in Texas?
No license is needed. House Bill 299 created voluntary accreditation through NARR or Oxford House, and accredited homes may not provide personal care services. Treatment programs are licensed separately by HHSC.
How much does sober living cost in Texas?
VSL’s rent model estimates roughly $185 a week, or $800 a month, for a shared bed. Austin, Dallas, and other high-rent areas usually cost more.
Can I get state help with sober living in Texas?
Possibly. HHSC partners with Oxford House, Be Well Texas, and UTHealth Houston, including homes for adults 18 to 25 and for people taking medication for opioid use disorder. Only accredited homes can receive state money.
How do I verify a Texas sober house is certified?
Ask for its current TROHN certificate and match the address. Texas law forbids advertising accreditation a home does not have.
Can I take medication for opioid use disorder in a Texas sober home?
Many homes allow it, and Project HOMES partners with NARR-certified homes that welcome residents taking medication. Ask each home for its written policy.
Is sober living the same as a halfway house in Texas?
Texans often say halfway house for any recovery home, but the two are different. In sober living, peers support one another in a home without alcohol or drugs, and residents rent by choice; a halfway house is usually staffed, often funded by the state or corrections, with a set stay. Texas offers voluntary accreditation through NARR or Oxford House under Health and Safety Code Chapter 469.
Finding the Right Sober House in Texas
Accreditation in Texas signals that a home accepts outside review, and it is also what makes state funding possible. Verify it with TROHN and ask about supported beds.
For another set of eyes on a Texas home, ask the Vanderburgh Sober Living team.
Take the next step
Apply, browse homes, or search sober houses near you.
Apply onlineGet a call back within 24 hours.View VSL homesSee Chartered recovery homes and find the right fit.Search the national directoryRecovery homes anywhere in the US.Or call (844) 762-3747, weekdays 8a to 5p.
Research & Sources
- Foote, H. T. (2026a). Vanderburgh Sober Living Operating Climate Index, 2026 edition. Vanderburgh Sober Living. https://www.vanderburghhouse.com/research/operating-climate-index-2026/
- Foote, H. T. (2026b). Vanderburgh Sober Living Rent & Startup Cost Index, 2026 edition. Vanderburgh Sober Living. https://www.vanderburghhouse.com/research/rent-startup-cost-index-2026/
- National Alliance for Recovery Residences. (n.d.). Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network. https://narronline.org/affiliate/texas-recovery-oriented-housing-network/
- National Alliance for Recovery Residences. (2018). NARR standard 3.0. https://narronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NARR-Standard-3.0.pdf
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). SAMHSA’s National Helpline. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (n.d.). 2-1-1 Texas. https://www.211texas.org/
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (n.d.). Adult substance use recovery residences. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/adult-substance-use/adult-substance-use-recovery-residences
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (n.d.). Chemical dependency treatment (CDTF) licensing. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/health-care-facilities-regulation/chemical-dependency-treatment-facilities
- Texas Legislature. (2023). H.B. No. 299: Relating to voluntary accreditation for recovery housing (enrolled). https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB00299F.htm
- Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network. (n.d.). File a grievance. https://trohn.org/grievance/
- Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network. (n.d.). Find recovery housing. https://trohn.org/find/
- UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. (n.d.). Project HOMES. https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/chppr/research/homes/
