The Basics
Founded in 2007 in Austin, Texas, R House Transitions operates one 12-step based sober living house for five women in recovery. House manager Janice Hernandez lives on the premises. Women live together as a close-knit family unit. They provide peer support as they work on their recovery, and make successful life affirming changes. Hernandez has been clean and sober for over 15 years.
Accommodations and Amenities
The two-story five-bedroom Mediterranean style home includes three single and one double-occupancy rooms. They are all furnished with full sized beds, comforters and matching curtains. Since the house accepts single moms in recovery, occasionally a mother with her infant resides on the premises. Smaller children are preferred as the house is not toddler-friendly. Amenities include Cable TV, Wi-Fi, a house computer and a digital landline phone. The house is one half block away from grocery stores, and a bus line.
Clients are responsible for their own meals, which are prepared in the fully equipped kitchen. The kitchen includes white cabinets, tiled floors and an attached dining room that has a dark wood table with country-style chairs. Smoking is permitted outside, in designated areas and butt cans are provided.
Rules and Regulations
Since the opening of the house, only one client who had less than 30 days of abstinence from chemical substances was accepted. However, Hernandez does interview women on a case-by-case basis. Her belief is that a good client is one who puts sobriety in top priority and is in full compliance of house rules. A minimum 90-day length of stay is required.
Admission into R House Transitions is based on Oxford House procedure. Should the phone interview result in a positive outcome, clients are invited to tour the house, meet with other residents and undergo an in-person interview. Twenty-four hours later, the house members vote on whether or not the client should move in, and the majority rules. There is a non-refundable $150 move-in fee.
For the first 45 days, the house has a strict 10 pm, seven night a week, curfew. After that time period, the curfew is 10 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 pm Fridays and Saturdays. Requirements include getting a sponsor, performing household chores, attending a mandatory Tuesday house meeting, and participating in three outside 12-step meetings. During the house meeting, residents discuss their progress, share about their week, as well as deliberate house issues. Those who miss a house meeting are charged $10, and clients missing three house meetings in a row face the risk of being expelled from the house.
Clients must be willing and able to find employment, attend outpatient treatment or do activities that are conducive to recovery. All unemployed clients must be out of the house between 8:30 am and 9 am daily and looking for work.Random drug and alcohol screenings are conducted. Those testing positive are immediately evicted from the property. Other grounds for immediate dismissal include having weapons, damaging the house, taking other people’s belongings, not working a 12-step program, not respecting the curfew and going into another client’s room when they are not home.
Extras
Male guests are only allowed at the house when another client is home. They must be announced at the door and are not allowed in any bedrooms. The only guests allowed in a client’s bedroom are her mom and her sponsor.
In Summary
While the house has some serious protocols, those who are serious about turning their lives around will do well at R House Transitions. Hernandez offers guidance and really cares about her clients and their well being, as long as they remain committed to their recovery and work an honest program. Overall, this house is a good choice for women who are looking to commit themselves to a sober living environment that encourages a 12-step approach to recovery and enjoys a respectable reputation.
R House Transitions
7013 Thannas Way
Austin, TX 78744
R House Transitions Cost: $650-$750 (30 days). Reach R House Transitions by phone at (512) 350-2613 or by email at rhousetransitions@gmail.com. Find R House Transitions at Google+
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
