Housing and Recovery Support Questions
A place to live and a treatment program are different decisions. Ask what a recovery residence actually provides, which care you would receive elsewhere, and what the written agreement requires before moving in.
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Recovery residences combine housing with a recovery-focused community. NARR describes four broad support types: peer-run, monitored, supervised and clinical. They differ in governance, staffing and services. Only the clinical type includes clinical addiction treatment as part of that designation. These housing support types do not, by themselves, decide what medical care you need.
Sources: [1]
Compare the Support, Not Just the Name
| NARR support type | Main distinction |
|---|---|
| Peer-run | Residents govern the home and use shared rules and peer accountability. |
| Monitored | House rules and peer accountability, often with a house manager. |
| Supervised | Structured recovery and life-skills support with supervised, trained or credentialed staff. |
| Clinical | Recovery housing that also incorporates clinical addiction treatment. |
Sources: [1]
Before You Agree to Move In
| Area | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Identity and oversight | Legal operator, exact address, written rules and any claimed certification. Verify with the named body. |
| Fees | Rent, deposit, extra charges, refund terms and notice requirements in writing. |
| Daily life | Room arrangements, visitors, curfew, work expectations, transportation and accessibility. |
| Medication and appointments | How prescribed medicines are stored and accessed; how you can attend treatment and pharmacy visits. |
| Problems or emergencies | Who is available, how to raise a concern, what happens after a return to use, and how a departure is handled. |
Residence Comparison Notes
- Home, contact and written agreement
- Address, person contacted, date, fees and documents received.
- Support and outside care
- What is provided; appointments, medication access and transport to arrange elsewhere.
- Unanswered questions before moving
- House rules, certification claim, privacy, complaints or departure arrangements.