Vanderburgh Sober Living

Vanderburgh Sober Living Vanderburgh Sober Living (VSL) is a 501(c)(3) membership organization supporting independent sober living and sober house operators.

VSL is a 501(c)(3) membership organization supporting sober living operators with a proven model, standards, and community—creating structured, recovery-focused homes for those seeking housing and those called to lead them. Through a structured model, defined standards, and ongoing support, VSL helps operators start, grow, and sustain recovery-focused homes. Our network of Chartered Operators prov

ides structured sober living environments designed to support accountability, stability, and long-term recovery. Homes are independently operated and united by shared principles, systems, and best practices. Organized by The Vanderburgh Foundation, VSL exists to expand access to quality recovery housing by equipping operators with the tools, training, and community needed to serve residents effectively.

09/05/2026

"Do you train house mentors?" It's one of the questions we hear most from operators.

The answer is yes. Vanderburgh offers a 5-course house mentor training program covering best practices for conflict de-escalation, how to conduct a home tour, and more, all documented in an interactive training course.

Watch the full answer, and learn more about operator resources at https://hubs.ly/Q04sHBKS0.

09/04/2026

Is there a maximum number of people who can live in a recovery residence?

The answer surprises a lot of operators: residents are treated as family under fair housing law, which means occupancy isn't capped the way people assume.

Watch the full explainer to understand what this means for your recovery residence.

09/03/2026

Do house mentors have to live on site? Not always, but it's the most common setup for good reason.

Watch the full answer and learn more about opening and running a recovery residence at VanderburghHous (https://hubs.ly/Q04sHfkW0

09/02/2026

One of the most common questions we get from operators: how do you remove a resident who breaks the rules?

The answer starts before that moment ever happens. It starts with how your resident agreement is written.

If your agreement accidentally creates a legal tenancy, removing someone becomes a much harder process. Avoid words like "lease" and "tenant." Structure your agreement to be fair to both sides from day one.

Watch the full breakdown for what to include and what to avoid. Learn more about opening and running a recovery residence at https://hubs.ly/Q04sH6hp0

09/01/2026

Do you need NARR certification to open a recovery residence?

Short answer: no. Certification is optional. You don't need permission from an agency to open your doors.

Learn more about opening and running a recovery residence at https://hubs.ly/Q04sGYjL0

08/31/2026

"Can you open a recovery house on R-1 zoned property?" It's one of the most common questions we get from new operators, and the answer surprises a lot of people.

Recovery homes are legally afforded the same rights as a traditional family under fair housing law.

Watch the full explanation to understand what this actually means for your property and your business plan.

08/30/2026

Do you need an EIN to open a recovery residence?

Short answer: yes, eventually, but it doesn't have to hold up your operations.

An EIN is essential for opening a business bank account and handling other operational basics. But if you've filed a different way to get moving, you don't need to wait to start.

Watch the full breakdown for what operators need to know about getting set up the right way.

08/29/2026

Thinking about starting a sober living home as a nonprofit? It's more straightforward than most operators expect, but there's a key detail people often miss.

Forming a nonprofit corporation does not automatically make you a 501(c)(3). It's actually a two-step process, and understanding the difference matters for how you operate and how you're structured.

Watch the full breakdown and learn what every operator should know before starting a nonprofit recovery residence at https://hubs.ly/Q04sGhZ_0.

08/28/2026

How much do you need to start a sober home upfront?

The largest investment is accessing the right real estate. Once that's secured, budgeting around $10,000–$20,000 for setup can be enough for an average-sized home.

Planning with accurate information can make all the difference.

Watch the full breakdown and learn more about building a strong recovery residence at https://hubs.ly/Q04sGhB-0

08/27/2026

Why do we prefer the term "house mentor" over "house manager"? And why does the difference matter?

A mentor's role isn't to manage residents. It's to guide them.

In this clip, we talk about why your first house mentor pick is one of the most important and most difficult decisions you'll make as an operator, and how we help connect operators to mentors through our network.

Watch the full breakdown and learn more about building a strong recovery residence at https://hubs.ly/Q04sFP-b0

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Webster, MA

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