A sober living home must make money to continue its services to recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. To fund the home’s programs, the leaders of the sober living home must charge residents for costs like rent, utilities and other expenses. You can prepare to transition to one of these homes by learning how much do sober homes in South Florida cost and how you will be expected to pay your share of the expenses.
The amount of money that you will be charged to live in the sober living home will largely depend on the monthly amount of its rent or mortgage. This amount itself will typically be in line with housing costs for the area. If the home is located in an expensive neighborhood, for example, your share of the rent or mortgage could be higher than if the home were located in a working class neighborhood.
Sharing Rent Expenses
You will not be responsible for paying the whole amount of the rent or mortgage each month. In fact, the state generally requires these homes to operate at full capacity if possible. That could mean sharing the home, as well as the monthly rent or mortgage payment, with as many as eight to nine other residents.
As such, if the rent or mortgage on the home is $1000 a month, that amount will be divided evenly among all of the home’s residents. If there a total of 10 residents, each one will be expected to pay $100 a month in rent to live in the sober living house. You will be expected to pay this amount on the first of every month to ensure that the housing cost is paid for on time. You generally cannot be late with your payment or fail to pay it if you want to remain living there.
Paying Utility and Grocery Expenses
In the same way, you will be expected to pay your share of utility and grocery costs each month. The price of the monthly electric, water and gas bill will be shared among all of the home’s residents. Likewise, if the home has cable television or Internet service, these expenses will also need to be covered by you and others who live there.
The staff of the home will also grocery shop every week. You will be expected to pay a set amount of money each week for groceries. The staff will then use the money from all of the residents to purchase food for the house. You may even be expected to help with the grocery shopping on a routine basis.
Getting a Job
To pay for your costs of living in the sober living house, you will need to get a job. The number of hours that you can work each week will depend on factors like your overall health, your skill set and whether or not you participate in an intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program during the week. Regardless, you will be expected to work at least part-time so that you can contribute toward the home’s monthly expenses.
You must also provide the home’s staff with information about your job. For example, you will need to inform them about where you work and when and how much that you get paid. Most sober living programs help residents obtain jobs, however, and typically can obtain these details even if you fail to provide them. They will know when you get paid, how much your paycheck is and how much that you can pay toward your sober living housing expenses each pay period.
It is vital that you get and keep a job during the time that you are in the sober living house. If you fail to get a job or quit one without getting approval from the house’s staff, you could be kicked out of the program. The home’s staff also has the leeway of informing your probation officer, attorney, sobriety program sponsor and others who monitor your recovery of your non-compliance. If your ability to stay out of jail hinges on you remaining in sober living, it can be vital that you get and keep a job while you live there.
Living in a sober living house requires you to contribute toward its monthly expenses like rent and mortgage. Still, this facility can give you a solid foundation for learning how to live as a sober, contributing member of society. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day. Call 954-523-1167