Before you call
Have a question we haven’t answered here? Call 267-436-7515 for men’s housing or 610-715-5960 for women’s housing.
Read the house rules (PDF)What is a recovery house?
A recovery house is a sober home where people in recovery from drug and alcohol use live together and support each other. In Pennsylvania, recovery houses are licensed by the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP). A recovery house isn’t treatment: residents get counseling and outpatient care outside the house, and the home gives them a safe, structured place to live while they rebuild.
Is a recovery house the same as sober living or a halfway house?
“Sober living” and “sober house” are everyday names for a recovery house. A halfway house is different: in Pennsylvania it is a licensed treatment program with clinical staff. Sunlight runs recovery houses, not a halfway house.
Is Sunlight licensed?
Yes. Sunlight of the Spirit House is licensed through DDAP, and our men’s homes are approved by Montgomery County and Bucks County to receive recovery house funding. Our new women’s house is DDAP-licensed, and its county approval is in progress.
How much does it cost?
Rent is $240 a week. It covers furnished living space, five meals a week, cleaning supplies, streaming TV, free high-speed internet, and recovery support. Residents pay weekly by Venmo or Cash App.
Can I get help paying?
Often, yes. Montgomery County and Bucks County programs can each pay for up to 60 days at our men’s homes for people who qualify. See paying for recovery housing for who qualifies and how to start.
Who can live at Sunlight?
People in recovery who have completed treatment, are free of withdrawal symptoms and can pass a drug and alcohol test. You need to be committed to staying sober, to a 12-step or similar program, and to the house rules, and you need a way to pay rent. Mental health conditions should be stable. We have seven houses for men and one for women.
Do I need a job?
Yes, full-time work is part of the program. You won’t have a job on day one, so you’ll spend your days searching, with at least five applications each weekday. If you’re on disability or don’t need to work, you volunteer instead.
What are the meeting requirements?
You go to at least five 12-step or other recovery meetings a week, find a sponsor or mentor and a home group within your first two weeks, and review your recovery plan weekly with the house manager. Every resident also works with a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS).
What are the first weeks like?
New residents start in an orientation phase. You stay at the house except to look for work, go to outpatient treatment or recovery meetings, or meet with your CRS, and you go to meetings with a more senior resident. You move on as you reach milestones in work, recovery and life in the house.
Can I take prescribed medication?
Yes. Take your medication as prescribed, including maintenance medication for substance use disorder. Each resident’s medication is kept in a locked locker that only they and the house manager can open. Sharing or misusing medication means leaving the house.
What happens if someone drinks or uses?
Drug and alcohol tests happen at random. Using, being under the influence, or refusing a test means leaving the house right away. That rule keeps the home safe for everyone in it.
Can I have visitors?
Day visitors need approval ahead of time, and family visits are supervised by the senior resident. There are no overnight guests, and no partners or members of the opposite sex in the house.
How long can I stay?
There’s no set end date. You complete your stay once you’ve shown you can stay sober, live on your own in a stable home, and keep up your recovery support.
How do I apply?
Call 267-436-7515 for men’s housing or 610-715-5960 for women’s housing, or fill out our online application.
