Research from 2020 showed that 9% of women in the US had an alcohol use disorder. And 17% of those women were between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.
If you are interested in creating a female sober living community, you probably want to know more. After all, there are several sober living communities you could establish.
It is important to understand the benefits of sober living houses strictly for women. You will want to understand what this community looks like and what it has to offer.
Keep reading to learn how to start a sober living home and female sober living community provides.
What is a Female Sober Living Community
If you want to start recovery housing for a sober lifestyle, there are things to consider. The first thing you need to understand is what a sober living community is.
This is considered to be transitional housing that acts as another form of treatment. It’s the halfway point between actual treatment and returning to normal everyday life.
It provides recovery support for people who have struggled with substance abuse. These spaces are substance free and try to eliminate common triggers.
This helps people to better transition into a normal routine. They will learn life skills and learn what life looks like without drugs and alcohol.
This is where their recovery journey will continue with a variety of other people. This will help them to develop friendships and have peer support.
Different things are often offered at these transitional homes. For instance, certain rules are applied as well as a schedule for everyone living there.
Everyone may need to meet up for group meetings to aid in their recovery. Everyone must abide by the house rules and follow the program available.
A female sober living community specifically is only available to women. This is different from other sober living houses that may be available to all genders or just men.
Benefits of a Female-Only Sober Living Community
There are many benefits to creating a female sober living community. This’s a specific type of transitional housing that provides the support women need.
If women in your community are struggling with substance abuse, this could be a great option. Here are some of the benefits to consider.
Female Focused
One of the best aspects of this sober living housing is that it is female-focused. This home will most likely have a variety of specific rules everyone has to follow.
When it comes to a female sober living home, these roles can be more specific. They can be created to cater to the female experience and what women need.
Fewer Distractions
Surrounded by other women, there will be fewer distractions. Gender-specific facilities help everyone to feel comfortable and focus their recovery.
It can help women to develop more friendships with other women. They won’t be distracted by men, and there will be less competitiveness in the home.
This is very important since distractions can negatively impact their rehabilitation. A recovery journey needs to be focused on a clear path and actionable goals.
Support Network
Recovery support provides a unique support network for everyone in the home. Many people who struggle with addiction or substance abuse have lacked support in their life.
Their friends may have been enablers, and they may not have had many family members. This makes it harder to stay sober as there is no one backing them on their journey.
Sober living housing puts a bunch of strangers into one location. They will become familiar with one another and start to develop friendships.
These are friendships that will often continue long after they have left the facility. As the manager of the home, you may also develop friendships and continue to keep in touch.
This is a vital part of everyone’s recovery journey as it helps them to not fall back into bad habits.
Fewer Triggers
Many people have triggers when it comes to substance abuse. For women, some of those triggers may involve people of the opposite gender.
Everyone will have different triggers and will respond to the situation differently. Some women may have trauma or PTSD from their past.
Having gender-specific sober living housing creates a safer environment. Women will be able to relax and focus on their recovery and that alone.
They are less likely to be triggered by other people in the home or feel uncomfortable. This is very important as everyone should feel safe in this space.
What Should Be Required at a Sober Living Home?
A sober living home for women should still have the same standards as a general sober living facility. This needs to be a strictly substance-free environment.
This may include testing to make sure no one is using substances outside of the home. There should also be a structured routine that everyone follows.
This could include a cooking and cleaning routine. Recovery group meetings should also be organized, as well as house meetings to keep everyone on board.
You may want to include other rules such as a lights-out time or restrictions on leaving the home.
Female Sober Living: What the Community’s Like
If you want to start a female sober living home, there are a few things to consider. There are many benefits to doing this, and it is very similar to other kinds of recovery housing.
Are you interested in creating a gender-specific sober living community? Contact us today at Taste Recovery to access our helpful sober living tools.
