The Basics
Located about an hour northeast of Atlanta, in Gainesville, Georgia, STAR House for Men provides long-term sober living for recovering men. STAR, which is an acronym for Sobriety Through Active Recovery, clients range between 18 and 65 years old. Founder and director Jon Hollifield, who boasts double-digit sobriety, is a graduate of Circle of Recovery, a relapse prevention specialist and substance abuse counselor with over 16,000 hours of experience in the addiction field.
Accommodations and Amenities
Located in a quiet suburban neighborhood, STAR House accommodates 15 men in a white ranch-style house with black roof and matching shutters. Clients share double or triple-occupancy furnished rooms.
While the men are responsible for their own groceries, they participate in meal planning and cooking, designed to teach them valuable life skills. All utilities are paid, and staff lives on the premises.
Rules and Regulations
Program length is typically 12 months, which is broken down into four phases, with each phase being approximately 90 days in length. Some clients live at STAR House for as long as 24 months. Upon arrival, clients participate in a transition phase which includes getting a sponsor, attending regular 12-step meetings, acquiring a home group, starting step work, finding a job, and attending outpatient counseling, if appropriate. Referrals can be provided if necessary. Sponsors must be acquired within two weeks of arrival. After that, clients must contact them five times a week, which includes one face-to-face meeting.
Phase two requirements include working a minimum of 32 weekly hours, attending regular 12-step meetings and writing a paper discussing Step One or sharing thoughts on the first step with a phase three resident and staff. The curfew is 7 pm, seven days a week, unless the client attends the local 8 pm meeting. After the meeting is over, residents must be home by 9:30 pm. Phases three and four allow more freedom as clients continue to do their steps, work and attend meetings. Phase three curfew is 11 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Phase four requirements include completing step seven with a sponsor, acquiring computer privileges in rooms and adhering to a midnight curfew seven days a week.
Peer support is stressed at STAR House, and clients attend many 12-step meetings together. Additionally, residents must get a full-time job within two weeks of arrival. Residents must be out of the house, and searching for work, between 9 am and 5 pm Mondays through Fridays. Lights out is at 11 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Other requirements include performance of household chores and participation at the house meeting.
Extras
Other services include relapse prevention coaching, problem solving skills and lifestyle training. Besides Hollifield, staff includes a relapse prevention specialist. The 30-day cost is $800, not including a $400 registration fee.
In Summary
STAR House is a highly structured, 12-step oriented residence for men who seek to gain a strong foothold in recovery, and who want to rebuild their lives. This is a great program for those who want to be a part of a house that focuses on fellowship and building healthy habits in recovery.
STAR House for Men
599 North Ave
Gainesville, GA 30501
STAR House for Men Cost: $800 (30 days). Reach STAR House for Men by phone at (676) 971-4376 or by email at jon@starhouseformen.com. Find STAR House for Men on LinkedIn
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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.
