Comparison against a national standard
Comparing Recovery Residences by Level of Support
Recovery residences are not interchangeable, and the vocabulary for telling them apart already exists. The National Alliance for Recovery Residences publishes a national Standard that defines the spectrum of recovery-oriented housing and distinguishes four residence types, referred to as levels or levels of support. Asking which level a residence is certified at is a far better question than asking whether it is a good one.
What this page recommends
Ask which level of support a residence corresponds to and whether it is certified by a NARR affiliate, then compare residences within the same level rather than across levels.
Short answer
Recovery residences are not interchangeable, and the vocabulary for telling them apart already exists. The National Alliance for Recovery Residences publishes a national Standard that defines the spectrum of recovery-oriented housing and distinguishes four residence types, referred to as levels or levels of support. Asking which level a residence is certified at is a far better question than asking whether it is a good one.
Why families end up comparing things that are not comparable
Families researching recovery housing usually start by comparing whatever they can see: photographs, monthly cost, and how quickly someone answers the phone. Those are all real, and none of them tells you what kind of residence it is.
There is an established framework for that. The National Alliance for Recovery Residences publishes the NARR Standard, which it describes as defining the spectrum of recovery-oriented housing and services and distinguishing four residence types referred to as levels, or levels of support. The Standard was developed with input from regional and national recovery housing organisations and from providers representing all four levels.
NARR describes the Standard as built on the lived experience of operators and residents rather than the decisions of an external accreditation body, and as grounded in the Social Model, a community-based approach built on shared lived experience, support and structure. NARR also publishes a Code of Ethics that owners, operators, staff and volunteers in affiliate organisations are expected to follow.
What to compare, and what the answer tells you
Ask each residence the same questions. Comparing two residences at different levels of support tells you less than comparing two at the same level.
| Question | Why it matters | Where the answer should come from |
|---|---|---|
| Which level of support does this residence correspond to? | It places the residence on the published national spectrum | The residence, checkable against the NARR Standard |
| Is it certified, and by which NARR affiliate? | Certification is done through affiliate organisations rather than by the residence itself | The residence, and the state affiliate |
| Does it follow the NARR Code of Ethics? | NARR expects owners, operators, staff and volunteers in affiliates to adhere to it | The residence, in writing |
| What is the structure of a typical week? | It distinguishes levels far better than a description of the house does | The residence |
| What are the house rules and how are they enforced? | This is where most placements succeed or fail in the first month | The residence, in writing before moving in |
| What happens if someone returns to use? | The policy differs sharply between residences and should be known in advance | The residence, in writing |
| What is included in the fee and what is extra? | It makes two residences comparable on cost | The residence, itemised |
How to run the comparison
A sequence that keeps the comparison honest.
- Read the NARR Standard page first so the levels vocabulary is familiar before any call.
- Ask each residence which level of support it corresponds to.
- Group the shortlist by level, and compare within groups.
- Ask each one about certification and which affiliate certified it.
- Ask for house rules and the return-to-use policy in writing.
- Ask what a typical week actually contains, hour by hour.
- Ask what is included in the fee and what is billed separately.
- Confirm what happens at the end of a stay and how transitions are supported.
If the immediate need is help rather than a comparison
Research is the right activity when there is time for it. When there is not, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a National Helpline, a free and confidential federal service available around the clock, and that is a better first call than any comparison exercise.
This publication is not a referral service and cannot assess anyone's situation. It can point at the national standard that makes residences comparable and at the federal helpline that exists for the moment when comparison is not what is needed.
Sources
The national standard and federal service referenced above:
- Standards — National Alliance for Recovery Residences. The NARR Standard, the four levels of support, the Social Model basis and the Code of Ethics.
- National Helpline — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The free, confidential federal helpline available around the clock.
These are independent sources. They are not affiliated with this publication and nothing was paid for their inclusion. Requirements change; confirm the current text at the source before relying on it.
Related resources
Affiliated resources on recovery housing:
- recovery housing information — Plain-language information about recovery housing. Affiliated / approved target.
- plain-language recovery housing answers — Common questions from families and referrers. Affiliated / approved target.
Questions people ask when comparing recovery residences
What are the levels of support?
The NARR Standard distinguishes four residence types, referred to as levels or levels of support, which together define the spectrum of recovery-oriented housing. NARR publishes the framework; the Standards page is linked in the sources above.
Is certification required?
Requirements differ by state, and certification is carried out through NARR affiliate organisations. Asking which affiliate certified a residence, and when, is a more useful question than asking whether it is certified in the abstract.
Does this page recommend a residence?
No. This publication does not evaluate, endorse or rank residences. It explains the published framework that lets a family run its own comparison.
What if we need help right now?
SAMHSA operates a National Helpline that is free, confidential and available at any hour. It is linked in the sources section above.
Editorial boundary
This page explains a published national framework and links to it. It is educational only, is not clinical or treatment advice, and does not evaluate, endorse or rank any residence.
This page is informational. It is not legal, medical, mental-health, immigration, financial, or professional advice.