The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc. is proud to work towards mash certified sober homes the same goals as MASH in supporting sober house operators. Learn more about becoming a VSL Chartered Operator. MASH was formed in 2007 when a group of sober home operators recognized the need for consistent standards and greater accountability within the sober housing community. Initially, MASH focused on creating a voluntary certification process that would ensure sober homes in Massachusetts provided safe, supportive, and structured environments for individuals in recovery. Sober House Directory helps you find sober houses, structured group homes, and sober living. Purple pins represent certified homes.
Certification Application Steps
Applications take about five minutes to complete, and most applications can be approved within 24 hours. Evidence that mechanisms exist for residents to inform and help guide operations and advocate for community-building. Policy regarding smoke‐free living environment and/or designated smoking area outside of the residence. Policy and procedures that address residents’ prescription and non-prescription medication usage and storage https://ecosoberhouse.com/ consistent with the residence’s level and with relevant state law. Verification that laundry services are accessible to all residents.
Sober House Certification in Massachusetts
Our homes are smoke free but there are plenty of designated outdoor smoking areas.
» Steps to Certification
Sober living home information is provided by sober house operators. We try to provide current information but cannot monitor every recovery home listing and do not guarantee the accuracy of listings. Research the home before you make a decision.
- Submit an application online and receive a call back within 24 hours.
- Staff and/or resident leaders educate residents about local community-based resources.
- Established in 2007 by a group of sober home operators, MASH was founded to address the need for consistent standards and accountability within the sober housing community.
- To qualify for RAP funding, applicants must meet specific criteria related to their recovery status, financial situation, and housing needs.
- Our homes and their atmospheres are nurtured by the guests they provide for.
- © 2025 💜 Vanderburgh Sober Living ™ is a cooperative network of independently operated sober living homes organized by The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)3 Charitable Foundation.
- NARR’s mission is to improve access to quality recovery residences through these standards, education, and advocacy.
- Massachusetts boasts one of the best recovery environments in the United States, and certainly one of the strongest sober living communities in New England.
- 27.e Documentation that resident and staff engage in community relations and interactions to promote kinship with other recovery communities and goodwill for recovery services.
- Vanderburgh House sees a world where every person in recovery has access to a supportive, healthy, and safe home environment built on respect, focused on recovery, and lead by peers.
The mission of the MASH is to support individuals in recovery by ensuring access to high-quality sober living environments. MASH is dedicated to promoting the health, safety, and well-being of residents through rigorous certification standards that align with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences. These alcohol rehab standards ensure that sober homes provide safe, structured, and supportive environments crucial for long-term recovery. The RAP program provides temporary financial assistance to individuals in early recovery who are transitioning into sober living.
Residents live together as a family to develop the tools and strengthen their character in order to live free from substance abuse. These homes allow for independence while guided by a set of recovery-focused house rules, standards, and expectations. Visit the Vanderburgh House website to learn more about their sober homes.
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.