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All MASH-certified sober homes are required to have comfortable living space, with a common living area, designated living and sleeping areas that meet our requirements for square footage, bathrooms that accommodate the home’s maximum capacity. MASH-certified sober homes must also offer a peer-based environment and be drug- and alcohol-free. Residents of sober homes are expected to abstain from alcohol and drug use, other https://ecosoberhouse.com/ than prescribed medications, and to refrain from prescription misuse. Payment terms for sober homes vary, and residents are given written house agreements. MASH-certified sober homes are governed by standards that address safety from an administrative, operational, property, and “good neighbor” perspective. In 2011, the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) established national standards for sober houses.
”Certified alcohol and drug free housing”, alcohol and drug free housing that has been accredited by the bureau pursuant to this section. For example, if you search for substance use, a search WITHOUT quotation marks would find listings that include the words
“substance” OR “use.” A search WITH quotation marks (“substance use”) would find listings only with the whole phrase “substance use.” Join our sober living community or refer a client, family member, or friend. ”Bureau”, the bureau of substance abuse services established in section 18. Here are some of the questions we receive about sober housing in Massachusetts.
A History of the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing
MASH serves as the primary agency for accountability for all certified sober homes in Massachusetts. Effective September 1, 2016, state agencies and their vendors are only able to refer clients to certified alcohol and drug-free (ADF) housing. In accordance with this requirement, MASH serves as the primary agency for accountability of all certified homes in Massachusetts. Our organization also provides supervision and training for sober homes, and maintains a database of more than 180 MASH-certified sober homes. (f) The bureau shall prepare, publish and disseminate a list of alcohol and drug free housing certified pursuant to this section; provided, however, that the list shall be updated bimonthly. The list shall be disseminated to the director of the division of drug rehabilitation and to each state agency or vendor with a statewide contract that provides substance use disorder treatment services.
- Chapter 165, Section 37 of the Acts of 2014 required the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish a process for the voluntary certification of alcohol and drug free (ADF) housing.
- We work closely with MASH to develop standards and ensure that our sober houses offer the strongest community and recovery environment in service of our residents.
- In July 2014, Bill H.1828 was passed into law mandating the monitoring and voluntary certification of MA Sober Homes.
- Amenities include on site laundry, air conditioning, parking, full kitchens, living/dining rooms and quick access to public transportation.
- Payment terms for sober homes vary, and residents are given written house agreements.
These standards were developed using a collaborative approach with input from regional and national recovery housing organizations. MASH is an affiliate of NARR and used these standards to create Massachusetts standards for certified sober homes. NARR has since released two updates to the standards, first in October 2015 and then in 2018. The third version of the NARR standards provides more explicit guidance to providers, including metrics for evaluating the peer support components of a residence’s recovery environment.
The Ruthven House (Women’s Home)
Through our network of certified sober housing and empirically based recovery principles, MASH’s goal is to help create and foster these safe living environments for those with substance use disorders. In Massachusetts, sober homes and recovery residences are different models for substance abuse recovery. Recovery residences —formerly known as halfway houses — are licensed residential treatment programs, while Massachusetts sober homes are peer-led and do not provide treatment. Sober homes provide mutual support, emphasize independent living skills, and depend on peer leadership. In Massachusetts, state agencies and vendors are only allowed to refer clients to MASH Certified sober houses.
Homes will not be listed on our website or have access to grant funding until the invoice is paid. In 2007, eight sober home operators established the nonprofit Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing. Legislation in 2014 created voluntary certification of Massachusetts sober homes, and MASH began managing voluntary statewide sober home certification in 2016. Members houses have all been inspected mash certified sober homes and certified as being in compliance with the standards that MASH has established. All member organizations have signed a code of ethics document, and all house managers have completed one or more training sessions. (e) The director shall periodically evaluate the quality of training being provided to operators seeking certification and the integrity and efficacy of the accreditation program.
The Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing
In 2007, eight sober house operators established the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing. Legislation in 2014 created voluntary certification of Massachusetts sober houses, and MASH began managing voluntary statewide sober home certification in 2016. The Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing, or MASH, exists to support men and women in recovery from addiction by improving access to quality sober houses through establishing recovery home standards and support services. Chapter 165, Section 37 of the Acts of 2014 required the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish a process for the voluntary certification of alcohol and drug free (ADF) housing. This legislation limits state agencies and their vendors to referring to certified ADF housing. DPH awarded a contract to the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH) to be the certifying body, and the training and technical assistance vendor.
The commissioner of probation shall inform all district and superior court probation officers and the chief justice of the trial court shall inform all district and superior court judges on how to access the list. The list shall also be posted on the website established pursuant to section 18. Vanderburgh House Operators are the largest providers of MASH Certified sober houses in Massachusetts. We work closely with MASH to develop standards and ensure that our sober houses offer the strongest community and recovery environment in service of our residents. Visit the for a list of all sober houses, including certified sober houses, in Massachusetts and throughout the United States. Establishing a strong sober home community culture is critical to success in recovery.
