Certified sober homes have comfortable spaces for living, sleeping, and engaging with peers, all of which make them valuable and safe spaces for recovery. Massachusetts General Laws empower state agencies to regulate health and safety standards in residential settings. Although sober houses are not subject to the same licensing requirements as healthcare facilities, they must comply with local health codes and zoning regulations, ensuring a baseline of safety and habitability. In Massachusetts, sober house certification is governed by a framework to ensure facilities meet care and safety standards. The Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH) offers voluntary certification, which signifies adherence to best practices. Certification requires compliance with National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) standards, covering health, safety, and ethical operations.

Massachusetts Caregiver Laws: Criteria, Rights, and Compliance

Level II homes provide a structured peer environment without onsite clinical services. Neighborhood associations and local governments engage with operators to address concerns such as safety or community impact. Public hearings and meetings provide platforms for dialogue, balancing the needs of residents and the broader community. Court users who need sober housing or transportation support must have an open case or have court involvement that is current or within the past year at a Project NORTH court.

• One way you can do this is by developing strong bonds with other men in the house who are going through some of the same struggles as you.
• Journey Home is a residential facility providing primary chemical dependency programming and housing for chemically dependent women and their children.
• The next step in the certification process is completing and submitting the MASH Certification Application.

We Are Minnesota’s Unified Voice for Recovery Housing

© 2025 💜  Vanderburgh Sober Living ™ is a cooperative network of independently operated sober living homes organized by The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)3 Charitable Foundation. The VSL and Vanderburgh House ™ brands are used with permission Drug rehabilitation by VSL Chartered Operators. Main components of Project NORTH include voluntary court-based Recovery Support Navigation, short-term transportation assistance to relevant services, and short-term assistance with rent in a certified and participating sober house. Women attend structured programs covering such topics as parenting skills, spirituality, relapse prevention, relationships, self-esteem and mental illness/chemical dependency education. Employment, money management and housing are also included in each client’s assessment treatment plan. In addition to these programs, Journey Home is also sensitive to the multicultural needs of women and children who reside with us.

A History of the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing

Sober living homes are a vital part of the recovery journey, providing a safe, supportive, and structured environment for individuals transitioning from treatment to independent living. In Massachusetts, these homes—especially those certified by the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH)—help residents stay sober through peer support, accountability, and community. At Saint Paul Spirit House we provide a safe and encouraging environment for men to build a new and healthy lifestyle.

We offer comprehensive care which addresses the causes of substance abuse while also providing tools for a life of recovery and well-being. Healing House is a Christian, long-term residential recovery program in Minneapolis for women. Healing House accepts women with children, women in the process of reuniting with their children, pregnant women, and women without children.

Curran’s Calling: Recovery Scholarships for Sober Living

You must attend the MASH Sober Housing 101 Training for Potential Operators before applying. This training provides an overview of operational standards, certification expectations, and regulatory requirements. Your vision of opening your own sober house is within reach—let’s make it real. The program serves women from diverse backgrounds, circumstances, and age groups, all of whom share the same struggle with addiction. Each guest can expect a clean bed, sufficient clothing storage, HDTV w/ cable and free wifi in every room inside a clean, well maintained home cared for by the guests who stay there! Our homes are smoke free but there are plenty of designated outdoor smoking areas.

Chelsea’s House, established in 2011, is a community of people who are transitioning from treatment into living life clean in the real world. Below you will find a list of sober living houses that are MASH certified and “Rise Again” approved. Supportive Housing – For individuals and families who have faced complex challenges, including homelessness, a disability, chemical dependency, or a criminal background. Supportive Housing combines rental subsidies with supportive services to restore stability, autonomy, and pride.

• We encourage our residents to become engaged in the community they live in through organized activities and recovery-related events and service opportunities.
• In Massachusetts, these homes—especially those certified by the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH)—help residents stay sober through peer support, accountability, and community.
• Understanding how these standards apply to your home is crucial for passing inspection and maintaining certification.
• This scholarship was established to help address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery, such as stigma, discrimination, and a lack of communal inclusion in treatment settings.
• Forging Freedom Housing is faith-based housing aimed to assist men that have completed a treatment program and want to remain chemical-free in a supportive environment.

The Rochester program, serving the Tri-County area of Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted and all of southeastern MN, has 55 beds in two locations. Men involved with the Minnesota Department of Corrections on Work Release and DFO Community Corrections referrals are all eligible along with those who have a criminal past. The Pilot Program to Help Individuals in Recovery mash certified sober homes from a Substance Use Disorder Become Stably Housed (Recovery Housing Program), was authorized under Section 8071 of the Support for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act in 2020. The Recovery Housing Program (RHP) allows states to provide stable, transitional housing for individuals in recovery from a substance-use disorder. The next step in the certification process is completing and submitting the MASH Certification Application.

At Christ Satisfies Housing, we offer (for the choice of the individual client) both an AA/NA track to programming using the big book model and/or a Faith-Based approach using biblical concepts. We do not force anyone to participate in any religion, nor do we believe it is beneficial to have anything but a “meet you where you’re at” approach. Certification with MASH not only validates the quality of a sober home but also makes homes eligible for state-funded referrals and builds trust with residents and families. If you’re planning to operate a sober house in Massachusetts, following the certification process is an essential step. In severe cases where non-compliance threatens public safety or resident welfare, Massachusetts law permits emergency actions such as injunctions or restraining orders to cease operations immediately.

Clients are encouraged to work with each other to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ create a sober, supportive environment for themselves and their children. Additionally, MASH offers funding through its various grant programs to support sober housing initiatives. For example, the organization has facilitated significant investments in the expansion of permanent supportive housing across Massachusetts. Through these grants, MASH addresses critical needs, including helping individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness find stable housing​.