The main difference between a recovery home and a sober living environment is the level of care and support. A sober living environment is a home that is occupied by other alcoholics and addicts in recovery, and who are there as support and companionship, just as you are to them. Sober living environments have general guidelines, but usually don’t provide all-inclusive services beyond providing a safe and sober living situation.
A recovery home is more structured and offers a higher level of care than a sober living environment. These extra services may include simple, yet strict, guidelines that promote harmonious communal living, mental health support, life skills coaching, sober companions and transport, and crisis intervention if necessary. The main goal of a recovery home is to take the worries of daily minutia off the shoulders of residents, so that they can focus on healing and recovery. However, residents are expected to follow guidelines and put in the necessary work to make long-term recovery possible.