The Basics
About 40 miles north of San Diego, in Vista, California, North County Sober Living was founded in 2006. There are four gender-specific sober living homes—A Woman’s Place, Vale Terrace Estate for women, Melrose Place for men and Emerald Home for women. North County is heavy on the 12-step approach to recovery, as well as the establishment of a strong peer network to provide a sense of accountability for recovering alcoholics and addicts.
Accommodations and Amenities
A Woman’s Place is a single-family five-bedroom house, which includes three bathrooms, a country-style dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, a living room and landscaped yard. The home accommodates ten clients who are paired in comfortably furnished rooms. There are three refrigerators on the premises for residents to store perishable food items.
Melrose Place has 11 bedrooms, five bathrooms, two spacious living rooms, an enormous fully equipped kitchen, weight room, patio and large yard. Melrose Place accommodates 26 men who share double or triple-occupancy furnished rooms. There are six refrigerators on the premises, and bathrooms have shelves for the storage of personal hygiene products. This house provides some basic food items, coffee, cleaning supplies and toilet paper.
Emerald House includes four bedrooms, a wood tiled living room with a fireplace and a modern, fully equipped kitchen. Additionally, there is a computer workstation, central air conditioning and a landscaped backyard with a designated outdoor smoking area. The house accommodates approximately eight women who are paired in rooms with full-sized beds.
Vale Terrace Estate for women is the most recent addition to the North County Sober Living network and has room for 20 residents.
All locations feature Wi-Fi, Cable TV and laundry facilities. Additionally, all three houses are within walking distance of public transportation, shopping centers and fast food restaurants. The beach is seven miles away. Each location has a live in house manager.
Rules and Regulations
Prior to admission, potential residents must pass a drug and alcohol screening. All medications must be approved prior to entry. Additionally, narcotic pain meds are not allowed, since they might cause a resident to test positive on a drug test. At North County Sober Living, weekly requirements include attendance at a minimum of three 12-step meetings, participation at 8 pm Monday house meetings and successful execution of all assigned household chores. Residents who fail to be present at the mandatory house meeting must leave the house for five days before they are eligible to reapply for residency. Residents must have weekly attendance slips signed by the AA/NA meeting secretary. On Sunday nights, the slips are deposited into a drop box. There is a face-to-face curfew check in with a house manager from 9 pm and 10 pm seven days a week.
After the first 30 days, residents are granted 24 hour passes and after 60 days, they are eligible for weekend passes. A house manager must approve all overnight outings. While North County Sober Living has a zero tolerance policy for residents who test positive on a drug or alcohol screening, some clients are allowed to return after a 30-day probationary period. Once they return, they must complete 30 meetings in 30 days.
Extras
North County Sober Living is a member of the San Diego Sober Living Coalition.
In Summary
North County Sober Living is passionate about providing in-house support, as well as helping their residents establish a strong peer network. While this is a 12-step based organization, other needs are addressed here, including providing referrals for outpatient treatment and dual diagnosis support. This is high quality housing at a highly affordable rate.
North County Sober Living
A Woman’s Place
517 E Indianrock Rd
Vista, CA 92084
Emerald Home
537 Collyn St
Vista, CA 92083
Men’s Melrose House
1028 Lau Hala Canyon Road
Vista, CA 92081
Valle Terrace Estate for Women
123 Alta Mesa Dr
Vista, CA 92084
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Photo courtesy of North County Sober Living; used with permission.
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