The Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing MASH

Established in memory of Jillian Latham, the fund provides financial assistance for sober living placements across New England, offering critical support to those transitioning from treatment to stable housing. Sober living homes are a vital part of the recovery journey, providing a safe, supportive, and structured environment for individuals transitioning from treatment to independent living. In Massachusetts, these homes—especially those certified by the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH)—help residents stay sober through peer support, accountability, and community. MASH certification is crucial for operating a reputable and successful sober house in Massachusetts. It opens the door to state agency referrals, builds your credibility in the recovery community, and ensures you provide residents with a safe, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ supportive living environment. The Residential Assistance Program (RAP) is a critical funding source for individuals seeking financial support for sober living in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Association of Sober Homes

Submit an application online and receive a call back within 24 hours. Sober homes must comply with all local and state building and fire codes. MASH standards require functioning alarms, emergency drills, proper bathroom ratios, and adequate living space. Homes must also maintain liability insurance suited to their level of support. Before applying, operators must complete Sober Housing 101, a required training that covers certification standards and expectations.

Certification signals that a home upholds best practices for resident safety, peer governance, data tracking, and house management. It also assures referral partners and families that the home meets established standards for recovery housing. Our mission at NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RECOVERY RESIDENCES (NARR) is to enhance access to quality recovery residences by setting standards, providing education, and advocating for those in addiction recovery.

Certification & Training Programs

These homes emphasize structure, accountability, and community rather than clinical treatment. This guide explores how sober living mash sober living works in Massachusetts, who oversees certification, what steps are required to open or certify a sober home, and how funding and regulations affect operators and residents alike. Minnesota sober living homes are particularly beneficial to individuals who have completed rehab at inpatient treatment centers and require transitional residences.

Learn more about the MASH Certification process and fill out the Certification Interest Form!

• MASH maintains a master list of all sober homes that it has certified in Massachusetts.
• These homes provide residents with peer support, structure, and accountability—key factors in preventing relapse and promoting sustained recovery.
• He blamed the secrecy on neighbors pressuring authorities to crackdown on sober homes, despite recovery experts support for the ones operating quietly, effectively and safely.
• In addition to financial support, Curran’s Calling offers life-skills mentoring and recovery coaching to help recipients rebuild their lives with confidence and stability.

Our main focus is to provide a safe and sober environment for recovering addicts and alcoholics. A policy and practice that residents be informed of payments from 3rd party payers for any fees paid on their behalf. Policy and procedures that ensure all residents are age eighteen or older at time of admission. At Lake Avenue Recovery, they guide people down a comprehensive addiction recovery path that includes a Day Treatment Program, Intensive Outpatient Program and an Evening Treatment Program. If there are any changes to the sober home policies or sober home management, please notify MASH to update our files.

19.a Verification that emergency numbers, procedures (including overdose and other emergency responses) and evacuation maps are posted in conspicuous locations. Operator will attest that electrical, mechanical, and structural components of the property are functional and free of fire and safety hazards. Policy and procedures for drug screening and/or toxicology protocols.

• Payment terms for sober homes vary, and residents are given written house agreements.
• It opens the door to state agency referrals, builds your credibility in the recovery community, and ensures you provide residents with a safe, supportive living environment.
• MASH’s recovery values emphasize health, home, purpose, and community.
• Every additional home is $50 and every additional bed after the first 10 beds adds an additional $10.
• Applicants should align their policies and home operations with NARR Level II standards and ensure documentation, insurance, and house management policies are in place.
• Claim your free trial today and see why more sober living homes prefer the Sober Living App.

Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing Inc

Another benefit is that MASH established a way to handle complaints. People who have problems at uncertified sober homes are treated like any other tenant-landlord dispute, despite the unique addiction recovery setting. Bill Berneburg, a fast-talking gritty Bostonian who runs three sober houses in Massachusetts, described the certification program as an overdue push to remove recovery housing from the shadows.

Physical Environment Domain

The primary mission of the Minnesota Association of Sober Homes is to promote the establishment, successful management, and growth of high quality community-based sober-living residences. In Massachusetts, sober house certification is managed by the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober alcoholism treatment Housing (MASH). As the state’s affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), MASH ensures that sober living homes meet strict standards for safety, support, and structure. Establishing a strong sober home community culture is critical to success in recovery. MASH-certified sober homes must also offer a peer-based environment and be drug- and alcohol-free. Sober homes support various abstinence-based pathways to recovery, and each residence focuses on one or more particular pathway.

Recovery residences —formerly known as halfway houses — are licensed residential treatment programs, while Massachusetts sober homes are peer-led and do not provide treatment. Project NORTH (Navigating Opioid Recovery Through Housing) provides financial support to individuals recovering from opioid use disorder (OUD) who need help covering the cost of sober living in MASH-certified sober houses. The Access to Recovery (ATR) program provides financial assistance to individuals in early recovery who need help covering the cost of sober living in MASH-certified sober houses. Administered by the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), ATR funding helps individuals transition from treatment to stable housing, supporting their journey to long-term recovery and self-sufficiency. Effective September 1, 2016, state agencies and their vendors are only able to refer clients to certified alcohol and drug-free (ADF) housing.

• These standards ensure that sober homes provide safe, structured, and supportive environments crucial for long-term recovery.
• Prospective residents must also consider the neighborhood’s accessibility to places of employment, education, shopping, and recovery meeting locations.
• To qualify for RAP funding, applicants must meet specific criteria related to their recovery status, financial situation, and housing needs.

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. What’s the difference between a sober home and a recovery residence?