Over the last few years, the number of sober living facilities for men recovering from substance abuse has increased. A sober living scenario can be a group of friends undergoing a recovery program and have decided to live together or a licensed sober living house with professional supervision, testing, and a recovery program. Because addiction recovery is considered a disability, a sober living Austin house is covered by the Fair Housing Act.
Most people support men who want to regain their sobriety, but some are uncomfortable with having a sober house in their neighborhood. These people believe that it is best to keep a safe distance from recovering addicts. Nonetheless, proponents of sober living facilities believe that recovering alcoholics and drug addicts should spend time in a sober living house to help them transition back to everyday life.
People often forget that substance abuse is a disease and that it takes community acceptance and support for recovering alcoholics and addicts to regain their sobriety truly.
Sober living facilities make an effort to be good neighbors. They have their vehicles to transport residents and alleviate traffic congestion. The houses have been remodeled to meet current building codes. Most sober homes only accept residents who have completed a treatment program. Residents must submit to random drug and alcohol tests. They are encouraged to become productive by being asked to look for work and complete their studies.
Many of these facilities are owned by former addicts who have lived in a halfway house Austin TX and have seen the benefits of living in a supportive environment. These business owners understand what recovering addicts and alcoholics are going through and believe that a support network of sober friends would benefit them as they seek long-term sobriety.
Those who live near a sober house Austin but do not understand what is going on inside the facility frequently have a strong reaction to the presence of recovering substance abusers in their neighborhood. They are concerned that those who fall off the wagon will cause damage to their property, steal from their neighbors, or commit other crimes. Some even threaten to sue the owner of the transitional living house, but because the Fair Housing Act protects the facility, lawsuits, and other actions can be interpreted as discrimination.
This is a heinous attitude. While most people will say that they want substance abusers to recover and regain their sobriety fully, many are uncomfortable with having a house full of reformed addicts and alcoholics in their neighborhood. This attitude must change because everyone deserves a second chance. Recovering substance abusers have recognized their error and should be allowed to rejoin society as productive members.