One of the most common worries men have before moving into sober living: “Am I going to be locked in?” The short answer is no. But the details depend a lot on what kind of house you’re talking about, so let’s separate the two.
Private sober living: yes, you leave every day
In a private sober living home, leaving during the day isn’t just allowed. It’s expected. A sober home is a place to live while you rebuild a normal life, and normal life happens outside the house: work, school, outpatient treatment, meetings, the gym, errands, time with family.
At The Foundry, work, school or an outpatient program is expected once you’ve settled in, usually within the first couple of weeks, and we help with resumes, applications and interview prep. Residents go to recovery meetings outside the house, and both houses are close to transit. See Life at The Foundry for what a week looks like.
What a sober home does require is that you come back: by curfew, sober, and ready to take a test if you’re asked.
The structure that comes with the freedom
- Curfew. Everyone home at night. Every house sets its own curfew, and some set an earlier one for the first weeks.
- Testing. Randomized drug and alcohol tests, on no schedule you can plan around. Coming and going freely only works because of this. See how drug testing works in sober living.
- Meetings. Required recovery meetings, a sponsor and the steps.
- House responsibilities. Chores and the weekly house meeting happen whether or not you had a long day.
- Overnight passes. Many houses allow nights away (a weekend with family, say) once you’ve been there a while, with advance approval. Ask each house about its policy.
- Visitors. Most houses have rules about who can visit, when, and which parts of the house guests can use.
At The Foundry, house expectations are written down, applied to everyone, and explained before you move in, so none of this is a surprise. Our full list is on our approach page.
Can you have a cell phone in sober living?
In most private sober homes, yes. You need a phone to work, to call your sponsor, to reach your family and to get to appointments. Some houses ask that phones stay out of house meetings, or set rules about phones late at night or about photographing other residents. Privacy matters in a sober home; what you see and hear there stays there.
Halfway houses can be different
“Halfway house” sometimes means the same thing as sober living. But it can also mean justice-system reentry housing, such as a federal Residential Reentry Center, where people serve the end of a sentence or a period of supervision. There, freedom to leave is set by the corrections system, not by the house.
As one example, a federal court’s guide to Residential Reentry Centers in North Texas describes residents at one stage having community access for work and treatment only, being expected to find work within 15 working days, earning passes in stages, needing approval for electronics such as a work phone, and paying 25% of gross pay toward their stay. Every program has its own rules, so anyone in that situation should ask their case manager or probation officer directly.
If you’re not sure which kind of house you’re dealing with, ask: “Are you a private recovery residence, or a corrections or court program?” We explain the difference in halfway house vs. sober living, and court-involved situations in court-ordered sober living in Florida.
Why the freedom matters
A house that kept you inside all day would just be a softer version of treatment. The point of sober living is to practice real life (a job, a commute, a phone ringing with an old number on it) while coming home every night to structure and people who are watching your back. The freedom is part of the recovery.
Questions to ask any house before you move in
- What’s the curfew, and does it change over time?
- When can I start working, and do you help with finding a job?
- What’s your policy on overnight passes and visitors?
- Any rules about phones or cars?
- How does testing work?
Talk to The Foundry
The Foundry runs two FARR-certified men’s sober living homes: Foundry: Beachhouse in Hollywood, with US-1, I-95 and Tri-Rail access, and Foundry: Lakehouse in North Miami Beach, near transit, Publix and shopping. Call (954) 817-7143 and ask us anything about daily life in the house.
Questions people ask
Can you leave sober living during the day?
Yes. In private sober living homes, residents usually leave every day for work, school, outpatient treatment and meetings. They are expected back by curfew and must follow the house rules, including random testing.
Can you leave a halfway house during the day?
It depends on the type. Private sober homes called halfway houses usually allow it. In justice-system reentry housing, such as federal Residential Reentry Centers, leaving is controlled by the program and often limited to approved activities like work and treatment.
Can you have a cell phone in sober living?
In most private sober homes, yes. Some houses set rules about phones in house meetings or late at night. Reentry programs may require approval for phones.
Do sober living homes have a curfew?
Most do. Each house sets its own curfew, and some set an earlier one for the first weeks.
