Sober Living Homes in South Dakota

What is a sober living home and how is it different from rehab?

A sober living home, also called recovery housing, is shared housing where residents agree to stay alcohol- and drug-free and follow house rules, with no clinical treatment on site. Homes in South Dakota are not the same as residential treatment, which is a level of care with counselors and a treatment plan.

In South Dakota, programs that offer substance use disorder treatment are accredited by the Office of Licensing and Accreditation within the Department of Social Services, and a sober home sits outside that system unless its operator also runs a treatment program. Correctional halfway houses differ again, because placement comes through corrections or a court and residents live under supervision.

Many sober home residents attend outpatient care or an intensive outpatient program during their stay, or move in after residential treatment. Residents usually cover their own rent and house fees, though the Division of Behavioral Health funds recovery housing through participating providers and helps people who qualify.

Before signing anything, get the house rules in writing and ask about drug testing, curfew, deposits, refunds and how long residents may stay. Homes set different rules on medication for opioid use disorder, so raise that question directly, along with what happens if someone returns to use.

Are sober living homes in South Dakota certified or regulated?

No state certification or registration of recovery residences in South Dakota was found in state sources. The Division of Behavioral Health in the Department of Social Services funds recovery housing through participating supported housing providers and offers financial assistance to eligible people. Because no official certified-home list exists to check, ask the operator directly whether the house is one of those participating providers. Some operators say they follow national standards from the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). In other states that certification runs through state affiliates, and no South Dakota affiliate appears in state sources, so treat any such claim as a question to raise with the operator.

NARR support levels

How much does sober living cost in South Dakota, and who pays?

Residents usually pay their own rent and house fees, and each operator sets its own prices. Ask whether the house is a participating provider for the Division of Behavioral Health’s recovery housing assistance, since eligible people may get financial help there. The State Opioid Response grant, run by the Department of Social Services, funds recovery activities for opioid use disorder, and the state’s opioid settlement Community Grant Program supports local organizations. People in a Treatment Court run by the Unified Judicial System’s Division of Treatment Courts can ask their coordinator about housing; see court-ordered programs in South Dakota. State sources do not say whether Medicaid or private insurance covers anything at a sober home. Treatment costs are a separate matter, and state-funded rehab may help with those.

What should you ask before moving into a sober home?

Before moving in, ask for the house rules in writing. Find out about curfew, visitors, chores and any work or meeting requirements, and how often drug testing happens and by what method. Ask about the minimum and maximum length of stay, the deposit, and the refund policy if you leave early. Find out what happens after a return to use. A home that discharges residents should explain how it handles that safely, including whether staff help you find another place to stay or a treatment referral.

Can you live in a sober home while taking medication for opioid use disorder?

Policies on medication for opioid use disorder vary by house. Ask directly, and ask how medication is stored.

Naloxone, safety and your rights

Tolerance drops after time without opioids, so a return to use carries a higher risk of overdose. Ask whether naloxone is kept in the house. Under South Dakota’s statewide standing order, pharmacists can dispense naloxone without a prescription to people at risk and to their family and friends, and the Department of Social Services pays for it for people without insurance coverage. South Dakota’s 2017 Good Samaritan law protects a person who seeks emergency help for an overdose from arrest or prosecution for possession, as long as they stay on scene and cooperate. Federal fair housing law generally protects people in recovery who are not currently using illegal drugs. If you think a landlord or neighborhood has treated you unfairly, a local fair housing office can explain how to file a complaint.

How to search sober living listings across South Dakota

South Dakota’s sober living listings lean rural: 60 percent are in rural settings and 40 percent in towns, with Rapid City, Hot Springs, Sturgis and Madison among the places named. Four in five sit within 25 miles of a waterfall, a median of 9.6 miles away, most often Thunderhead Falls. Sixty percent are within 25 miles of protected forest such as Black Hills National Forest (see national forests). Rapid City Regional Airport is the nearest airport for most listings, a median of 32.6 miles away. You can filter by gender, medication policy, populations served, location and languages, then compare with the national sober living guide or other services on the South Dakota page. For help finding services, calling 988 reaches the South Dakota Resource Hotline. Care Coordination is available weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central, and you can text “opioid” to 898211.