Where to look
- NARR (National Alliance for Recovery Residences) — the national accrediting body. NARR-certified homes meet quality standards.
- State certification / registry — Texas has certified sober living registries; check first.
- Referrals from a treatment center — your PHP or IOP should have relationships with several vetted homes.
- SAMHSA Treatment Locator — federal directory. Not sober-living-specific but a starting point.
- Word of mouth from people in recovery — actual experience of current or former residents is the highest-signal source.
The 10 questions to ask before you sign
- What’s the monthly rent? Is anything else billed on top?
- Are you NARR-certified or state-registered? Can I see the certification?
- What are the house rules? How are they enforced?
- How often is drug and alcohol testing done?
- What’s your relationship with an outpatient treatment center?
- What happens if a resident relapses? Is discharge automatic?
- What’s the average length of stay?
- Can I speak to a current resident before I move in?
- What’s the payment schedule? What if I miss a month?
- Can I tour the house before committing?
Red flags to watch for
What good sober living looks like
Green flags
- Clear monthly price with nothing extra
- NARR certification or state registration
- Random drug and alcohol testing
- Structured house meetings
- Clinical integration with outpatient treatment
- House manager present or on-call
- Alumni network and community
Red flags
- Vague or shifting pricing
- No certification or refuses to show it
- No testing, or “trust-based” monitoring only
- No clinical integration
- High-pressure sales
- Recruiter/marketer as first point of contact instead of clinical intake
- Offers to “handle” your insurance without transparency
Real questions the intake team hears on the phone.
Not federally. Texas has voluntary certification through the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN). NARR is the national gold standard.
Check NARR directory, ask for state registration, tour the property, talk to a current resident, and confirm clinical integration.
Trust that instinct. Bad sober living is worse than no sober living. Call an outpatient treatment center for a referral to a vetted home.
Not required, but strongly recommended. Sober living paired with outpatient care has significantly better outcomes.
Real Deal can often move in same-week or same-day depending on bed availability. Call to confirm.
Sources & further reading
Medically reviewed by our clinical team
Last reviewed September 2026. This article is educational and is not medical advice. In an emergency call 911 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
