Looking for the right sober living house is hard. I can relate to your frustration here. I had two interviews this weekend-- both of which I was accepted, however I turned them both down. One of them has bed bugs. Hell no. The other has 15 cats and smells like chicken fat and cat pee. Umm, no.

I think you just have to keep searching for the right fit. I think the idea of having so many people living together is so that you can have constant recovery support. There is always someone going to meetings, etc. Someone to talk to when you're feeling extra vulnerable.

I say keep looking. There are some really good ones out there you just have to do the foot work to find them. I think.

Personally, I love my quiet times and private space and wouldn't like to live in a crowd. If I could rent an apt for just about the same rent I would choose that.

8 beds in a two bed apartment sound ridiculous to me. I am not sure that living all crowded like that is condusive to good spiritual health. Sounds to me like she is packing them in for financial reasons.

Yes! Ditto to other replies, I tried that many many years ago. Actually I had about the same sober time you do! I got a studio apartment to after that failed experiment. Lots of room for me my plants and my Recovery books and lots of quiet time in between meetings ,work and fun.
Billy

My step brother and his wife- both recovering members of AA, just bought a house and set it up as a sober living house. They have 3 bedrooms with two beds in each, and I know from them that unless they have 4 living there they are losing money...or barely breaking even. She is also a social worker and they have weekly meetings and one AA meeting there each week. They also have rules about looking for work or going to school etc.
My son lived in a sober living house, 2 to a room again, and he went there because he had no place to go, after the half way house. The half way house he felt was a rip off because they had to give their food money to the manager and they always ran out of food (cheap food at that) and again, both places had weekly AA meetings and house meetings.
The halfway house seemed like a big money maker. The sober living house occasionally had a big bunch of turnovers at once, where a couple of guys went out (influencing each other?) all at once. It was sometimes chaotic. You had to remember to bring your own toilet paper to the bathroom, and lock the bedroom door.
He now has his own apartment, and likes not sharing a kitchen or a bathroom. I know the place my step brother has is I think paying weekly, and the place my son stayed at was monthly...450. And they got hit with a huge cable bill when someone went off their meds and ran up huge porno bills...
Peacefull? no. safe? relatively. cheap? depends on where you live. My son now pays 1000 bucks for a small studio...but that was a deal.

If it were me I would keep looking. It might be a sober living situation, but it would screw with my serenity for sure!! That's a lot of people in such a small space.

I have a friend who just bought his third sober house. They are fairly large houses and maximum 10 men to a house. They all seem to love it.

Wishing you luck!

~Chris

we have recovery houses here that are huge...this place sounds like someone who needed financial help so decision was made to get some people who need recovery and crowd them into this place she already had and make her rent that way....look for formal recovery house not a start up....that one sounds way too hokey hokey hokey

Sounds like a dollar bill to me.
Many a nights i think about cashing in on the drug epidemic and where this country is heading.
That's a guaranteed good financial bet in the future; work release facilities and sober houses.
Believe me I think of it daily, I better hurry.
Definitely check the places out. You should be able to smell out a place like that fairly quickly.
Hope things smooth out for ya Ashley.

Ashley-make sure it is a "real" recovery house-not just some woman getting a bunch of newly sober people to live together and make a profit. That does sound really cramped. However, in a bonified, well run sober living house, you will pay more for services like a house person to keep you in line, and outside counseling services available if needed. I would check the background of these places and if they have a connection to a rehab center for starters.

They will cost more than just renting a regular apartment, just know that. This is because they should have a house mom and other stuff to help keep you in line.

Keep looking!

Thank you all!! Some very good advice!

I think I am just going to go the apt. route...I' m a little nervous about looking and finding the "right" place but I know I also just have to do the foot work and God will do the rest in helping me :)

I was starting to really recent this woman but who am I to say for sure what her reasons where....I dont think she is in the program, but I am not sure. I guess it's none of business and I just know this place is not for me! I really appreciate your all's responses! This was something I really couldnt talk to with others in my group...

god put head on top so we can use that first then reach up for him with our arms...and walk away from our problems with our legs and feet....hugs bill