The Basics
Established in 2012, The Blue Lotus House is a basic, comfortable women’s sober living home in a quiet, suburban neighborhood in Kerrville, in the Texas Hill Country.
Accommodations and Amenities
The remodeled one-story, brick, former family residence has five bedrooms, including three double-occupancy rooms, one quad with two bunk beds and one single room. There are three full bathrooms and one half-bath. Rooms have comfortable lounge chairs and desks and sufficient closet space to hold residents’ clothing and personal effects.
In the living room are two couches and three comfortable lounge chairs, in addition to TV with cable and a collection of DVDs for viewing by residents, a house phone with a long-distance line and a computer with Internet access, which is monitored daily. There are also video games in the house. The kitchen is fully stocked with modern appliances and there is a freezer in the basement. All utensils and dishware are provided. There are also laundry facilities on the premises.
Rules and Regulations
Residents are required to attend 90 12-step meetings in 90 days and must secure a sponsor (who is also currently working the 12 steps and is not a resident) within the first month of moving into the Blue Lotus House. Mandatory house meetings are at 9:30 pm Thursday. Curfew is 11 pm Sunday through Wednesday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.
By 9 am on weekday mornings, and 11 am on weekends, residents have to be up and out of bed. Within two weeks of moving in, they have to be working or volunteering for community service for 24 to 32 hours a week. While living in the house, they are assigned chores and are responsible for picking up their own belongings and keeping bedrooms neat and clean. Eating is allowed in common areas only—residents are encouraged to eat together—and kitchen appliances, dishes and cookware have to be cleaned immediately after use.
Off-site passes are granted based on a number of criteria including a resident’s completion of chores, attitude and timely payment of rent. In the first 30 days in the house, there are no pass privileges except in special circumstances. But after 90 days, residents can get two or more passes a month to leave the premises overnight. Each time they return, a urine analysis is required.
In terms of behavior, Blue Lotus is pretty standard. Verbal or physical abuse are not tolerated. Residents are evicted for theft and disruptive behavior. For house safety, vehicles, rooms and belongings may be searched at any time. The house manager has to approve all male visitors and music has to be kept at a reasonable volume.
Three rule-violation write-ups require a residence review. If a client is evicted due to relapse, re-entry is possible after completion of a detox program, a negative urine test for drugs and a demonstrated commitment to recovery. Re-entry is also contingent on a house meeting vote, though the house manager ultimately approves all decisions.
Residents cannot share prescriptions and must provide house managers with a medications list.
Extras
Residents get a free membership to a nearby gym.
After 90 days living in The Blue Lotus House, they are eligible for a refund for half their deposit. But rent paid after the fourth of the month is subject to a $10-a-day late fee.
In Summary
The Blue Lotus House in a moderately-priced, no-frills sober living facility. The environment encourages personal responsibility and sustainable sobriety. If all rules are followed, sober living at Blue Lotus can be positive and long lasting. Its limited number of residents allows for community fellowship and shared strengths through common goals.
Blue Lotus House
929 Pecan St
Kerrville, TX 78028
The Blue Lotus House Cost: $500 to $600 (30 days), $175 security deposit. Reach The Blue Lotus House at (830) 481-7406 and by email at nikki@soberkerrville.org or this email contact form.
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Photo courtesy of GoogleMaps
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