Recovery Home Commission Prerequisites

Designation: Commissioned Recovery Home (CRH)
Protected Class Standard: FHA & ADA-Compliant

1. Legal Compliance

• Property must be:

  • Registered as a recovery residence in the state (if applicable).

  • Operating in full compliance with FHA, ADA, and local fire/building/zoning codes.

• Property must house individuals in recovery from substance use or mental health disorders, establishing protected status as a disability residence.

• There must be a written Reasonable Accommodation policy if local zoning conflicts arise.

2. Ownership and Transparency

• Must submit:

  • Proof of property ownership or lease.

  • Operating agreement and business structure (LLC, nonprofit, etc.).

  • Full ownership and financial interest disclosure in any referral pipelines or affiliated clinical providers.

3. House Management Standards

• Live-in or on-call house manager with documented:

  • Minimum 1 year sober (if peer-led model).

  • Minimum 20 hours of recovery training (peer support, house operations, ethics).

• All staff and residents must pass background checks, excluding non-violent felonies directly related to past substance use.

4. House Rules and Recovery Environment

• Must operate a structured recovery environment, including:

  • Curfew, chore schedule, visitor policy, zero-tolerance substance use policy.

  • Weekly house meetings.

  • Mandatory participation in recovery (e.g., 12-step, faith-based, or other).

• Residents must sign:

  • House rules agreement

  • Release of liability

  • Sobriety commitment

5. Ethical Housing Practices

• No patient brokering or referral kickbacks.

• No coercive financial arrangements or “labor in exchange for rent” unless formalized under vocational programming.

• No mandatory affiliation with a specific treatment provider unless disclosed and legally compliant.

• Eviction policy must include written warnings, conflict resolution options, and referrals to alternative housing or services.

6. Property and Safety Requirements

• Bedrooms are limited to four residents per room ( adult bunkbeds) unless a dorm room is at least 20ft x 30ft and has at least one bathroom (Toilet and shower) for every four residents. Fire Marshal Occupancy or Building Safety Occupancy supersedes these limitations.

• Property must include:

  • Working smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors.

  • Clean, safe, well-maintained bathrooms and kitchens.

  • Adequate food storage, first aid, and hygiene supplies.

• Conduct monthly internal inspections with documentation.

7. Peer Support and Recovery Structure

• Must demonstrate:

  • Minimum 3 recovery support meetings per week (in-house or off-site).

  • Peer mentoring or sponsorship is encouraged.

  • Residents participate in goal-setting, service work, or employment preparation.

8. Resident Rights and Fair Housing Notice

• Visible posting of:

  • Resident Bill of Rights.

  • Fair Housing & Disability Rights information.

• A formal grievance procedure and response documentation process must be followed.

• Residents may not be terminated without written cause and review.

9. Oversight and Continuing Review

• Must agree to:

  • Annual recertification.

  • Unannounced property inspections by BHSO or authorized agents.

  • Submit quarterly census and incident reports (anonymous).

10. Optional Enhancements (Bonus Distinctions)

• "Veteran-Friendly" or "First Responder Recovery" if serving specialized populations.

• Trauma-informed training completion for staff.

• Employment or educational support programming on-site.