NHPRR Standards
Introduction to Recovery Residences and Sober Living
Recovery houses, also often known as sober homes, provide safe and supportive housing where people can work on their recovery. These homes help individuals build the skills they need to maintain their recovery and thrive, often after spending some time at a residential treatment center.
The Power of the Social Model
The shared experiences people have in these homes build a powerful sense of community among residents. This type of community-based approach is called the Social Model of recovery, which emphasizes the power of peer-led recovery support.
Purpose of the Standards
We are committed to fostering safe, ethical, and supportive recovery environments across the state and our standards help ensure that recovery residences uphold integrity, provide stable and home-like settings, and empower residents on their path to long-term recovery. These standards align with SAMHSA’s four domains of recovery—Home, Health, Purpose, and Community—with an additional Operations domain that addresses essential administrative and organizational practices
How Compliance With Standards Is Verified
NHPRR verifies compliance with its standards by checking a house’s documentation, conducting onsite inspections, and having conversations with owners, staff, and residents. Each standard outlines the documentation required for certification and recertification, with residences attesting that NHPRR has been provided the most current version of all documents. Together, this framework supports high-quality recovery housing and helps individuals choose residences that best meet their needs.
Distinguishing Recovery Housing from Treatment Services
Recovery housing primarily focuses on creating a safe, supportive living environment where residents can practice the skills needed for long-term recovery. In contrast, treatment services are more clinical and often include medical care, therapy, and other structured treatment interventions.
Complementary Roles in the Recovery Process
While treatment services are essential for addressing the acute phase of substance use disorders, recovery housing offers a longer term, community-based approach that supports residents as they transition back into daily life. This distinction is crucial because it highlights the roles both play in the recovery process, with treatment services addressing immediate health needs and recovery housing fostering sustained sobriety and reintegration into society.
