FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask before they reach out, whether they are looking for a place for themselves or for someone they love.
Recovery residences
What is a recovery residence?
A recovery residence is a shared, substance-free home for people in recovery from a substance use disorder. It is sometimes called sober living. It is not a treatment program: it provides a safe, structured place to live while you build the routines, relationships, and accountability that make recovery last.
What does Level II mean?
The National Alliance for Recovery Residences defines four levels of support. Level II, also called Monitored, combines peer leadership with at least one compensated person who oversees the house, along with written house rules, regular house meetings, and drug and alcohol screening. It sits between a fully peer-run home and a staffed, supervised one.
What is VARR accreditation?
The Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR) is the Virginia affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences and a credentialing body for state certification. Accredited residences are held to national standards through documentation, annual onsite inspections, required training, and a process for handling grievances. Virginia law requires every recovery residence to tell prospective residents who credentials it and at what level: Redd House is accredited by VARR at Level II.
Is Redd House a treatment center or a detox?
No. Redd House is housing. It provides no clinical treatment, medical care, or detox on site. Residents who choose to pursue treatment do so with the licensed provider of their own selection, while living in a home that supports that work. If you need detox or are in crisis, call or text 988, or call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Admissions
Who can live at Redd House?
Adult men who have a substance use disorder diagnosis or history, who are committed to pursuing recovery, and who can live in a community of peers without posing a danger to themselves or others. The residence is dedicated to that priority population and does not accept people without a substance use disorder diagnosis or history.
Do you accept women?
Not at this time. Redd House is serving male residents only. If you are looking for a residence for a woman, the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences publishes a directory of accredited homes across the state.
Do I have to be in treatment to live here?
You have to be committed to your recovery and engaged in it outside the house. Clinical treatment is your choice: residents who pursue it work with the licensed provider they select, and residency is never conditional on using a particular provider. Mutual-aid meetings and recovery community activities are part of how most residents stay engaged.
Can I reach out for someone else?
Yes. Family members, counselors, case managers, and treatment providers planning a discharge often make the first contact. Email us with your name, how to reach you, and roughly when the person you are helping hopes to move in. We will want to speak with the prospective resident directly before anything is decided.
How much does it cost?
We go over the residency fees, what they include, and when they are due in our first conversation, before you commit to anything. Ask us anything about money up front; it is better for everyone that there are no surprises after you move in.
How do I apply?
Start by emailing inquiries@reddhouse.org. We will set up a conversation about your recovery, the house, and the expectations, then confirm whether the residence is a fit against the same written criteria we use for everyone. If it is, you receive the residency agreement in writing before you move in.
Living at Redd House
What are the house rules?
Every resident agrees to written house expectations before moving in. They come down to a few principles: stay free of alcohol and drugs, including marijuana; take part in house meetings and the upkeep of the home; stay engaged in your recovery; treat the other residents, the neighbors, and the home with respect; and keep up with your residency fees. You will receive the full set in writing before you commit.
Can I work or go to school while I live here?
Yes. Building a steady routine of work, school, or volunteering alongside your recovery is much of what a recovery residence is for. We will talk through how your schedule fits with house meetings and the other house expectations before you move in.
Where is the residence?
Redd House is in Richmond, Virginia, in the city’s East End. We share the street address with prospective residents during the inquiry process rather than publishing it, out of respect for the privacy of the men who live there.
Did not find your answer?
Ask us directly. There is no question too basic, and no obligation that comes with asking.