Addiction Recovery Housing & Sober Living in Washington State: A Complete Guide

You're Not Behind. The System Is Hard.

Finding stable housing while you're working on recovery is one of the hardest parts of the whole journey. You already know that — you're living it. You've probably been told to “just get into treatment” by people who have no idea how long the waitlists are, how thin the funding is, or how scary it feels to leave the place you know, even when that place isn't safe.

Here's something most articles won't tell you: “recovery housing” and “sober living” are not the same thing. They sound alike. They get used like they mean the same thing. They don't. And knowing the difference can save you weeks of frustration, dead-end phone calls, and waitlists you didn't need to be on.

This guide walks you through every major recovery housing and sober living option in Washington State. State-funded programs. Oxford Houses. DSHS pathways. Apple Health coverage. Programs for parents. Programs for people leaving violence. The full map. We don't gatekeep. We don't shame. We meet you where you are.

What's the Difference: Recovery Housing vs. Sober Living?

These two phrases get mixed up all the time, even by people who work in the system. Here's the plain-language version.

Recovery housing

Recovery housing is usually more structured. It often comes with case management, peer support, regular check-ins, and connections to outpatient treatment. Many recovery housing programs are funded through the state — through DSHS, your local Behavioral Health Organization, or federal grants like the Recovery Housing Program (RHP) and the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant.

Because there's funding behind it, recovery housing is usually low-cost or free for people who qualify. The trade-off is that there are usually rules: a curfew, mandatory meetings, drug testing, and a defined length of stay (often 6 to 24 months).

Recovery housing is a strong fit if you're early in recovery, leaving treatment, exiting incarceration, or coming out of homelessness and you need real structure to stay safe.

Sober living homes (SLH)

Sober living homes are peer-run. There's no professional staff living in the house. Residents pay rent, share chores, and hold each other accountable. The most common model in Washington — and across the country — is the Oxford House.

Sober living is resident-funded, which means you pay rent (usually $125–$175 per week in Washington). There's no built-in case management, but there's also no time limit. You can stay as long as you keep the rent paid and stay sober.

Sober living tends to fit people who have some recovery time under their belt and want a stable, drug-free home with a community of peers — not a program that runs their day.

Which one is right for you?

There's no wrong answer. Many people start in recovery housing and move into sober living once they're working and stable. Some go straight into Oxford House from treatment. Some need a residential treatment program first. Where you are in your journey matters more than which label fits.

Washington State Recovery Housing Programs

Here's the landscape — the programs that actually exist, who they serve, and how to reach them.

DSHS Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR)

The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (now part of the Health Care Authority) is the state body that funds and oversees most public substance use disorder services in Washington. State-funded recovery housing is accessed through your Apple Health managed care organization (MCO) or your local Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization (BH-ASO).

If you have Apple Health (Medicaid), call the number on the back of your card and ask to speak to a behavioral health navigator. If you're not sure, call 211 and ask for a recovery housing referral in your county.

Recovery Housing Program (RHP) — federally funded

Washington receives federal Recovery Housing Program funding, plus Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and State Opioid Response (SOR) dollars that flow into recovery housing. These dollars subsidize beds across the state, often through the providers listed below. You don't apply to “RHP” directly — you apply to one of the local providers it funds.

WA Recovery Coalition

The Washington Recovery Coalition (warecovery.org) is a statewide advocacy network of recovery community organizations (RCOs). They don't run housing themselves, but they can connect you to local RCOs that do — and to peer recovery coaches who can help you navigate the rest of this list.

Compass Health

Compass Health is the largest community behavioral health provider in northwest Washington. They serve Snohomish, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Chelan counties with recovery support, residential treatment, and recovery housing partnerships. Reach them at 1-800-457-9303.

Catholic Community Services

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington runs recovery housing and outpatient programs in multiple counties. You don't need to be Catholic — they serve everyone. Find your local office at ccsww.org or call 1-800-410-9043.

Pioneer Human Services

Based in the Seattle metro area, Pioneer Human Services specifically serves people with criminal justice histories — folks coming out of incarceration who are working on recovery. They run residential treatment, sober living, employment programs, and reentry housing. Phone: 206-768-1990.

Triumph Treatment Services

Triumph operates in the Yakima Valley and runs residential treatment, recovery housing, and one of the few programs in the state that lets women bring their children into treatment with them. Phone: 509-248-1800.

Union Gospel Mission (Seattle and Spokane)

UGM offers long-term residential recovery programs in both Seattle and Spokane. Note: UGM is faith-based, but they serve people of all faiths and no faith, and all genders. If a faith-rooted environment fits you, this is one of the deepest free programs in the state.

• Seattle: 206-622-5177
• Spokane: 509-535-8510

Sundown M Ranch (Yakima)

Sundown M Ranch is one of Washington's oldest and most respected residential recovery centers. Located outside Yakima, they accept Apple Health and most private insurance. Phone: 1-800-326-7444.

For women specifically

• DAWN (Domestic Abuse Women's Network) — King County. DV-focused but supports survivors who are also in recovery. Hotline: 425-656-7867.
• Navos — King County behavioral health provider with co-occurring (mental health + substance use) programs. Phone: 206-933-7000.
• Sunrise Services — Snohomish County, recovery and supportive housing. Phone: 425-622-3640.

For parents and people with kids

If you have children and you're in recovery, the DSHS Family Treatment Court pathway is built for you. It's a court-supervised program that lets parents stay engaged with their kids while completing treatment. Ask your local DSHS office or 211 about Family Treatment Court in your county.

Oxford Houses in Washington State

If you've been to a meeting, you've probably heard someone talk about Oxford House. There's a reason.

What is Oxford House?

Oxford House is a self-supporting, democratically run, sober community. Each house holds 6 to 12 residents. There are no professional staff. The residents vote on house rules, who joins, and who has to leave (one relapse and you're out — that rule is non-negotiable, and it's what keeps the houses safe).

There's no time limit. You can live in an Oxford House for as long as you stay sober and pay your share. Many residents stay for a year or two. Some stay much longer.

Washington's Oxford House network

Washington has one of the largest Oxford House networks in the United States — well over 200 homes statewide, in nearly every region. Whether you're in Seattle, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Bellingham, Olympia, Tacoma, or somewhere smaller, there's likely a house near you.

How to apply

1. Go to oxfordvacancies.com.
2. Filter by Washington.
3. You'll see open beds with the address, weekly cost, and contact phone for the house.
4. Call the house directly. They'll set up an interview (usually a quick phone call or in-person meeting). The current residents vote you in.
5. Most houses can move you in within a few days of the interview.

For general questions about the Oxford House model, call Oxford House World Services at 1-301-587-2916.

Different houses for different residents

• Men's houses — search for these if you identify as a man.
• Women's houses — for women without children.
• Women with children houses — fewer of these, but Washington has some. Filter for “women and children” on oxfordvacancies.com.

What does it cost?

Most Oxford Houses in Washington charge $125 to $175 per week for rent. That covers the room, utilities, and basic house supplies. Food is shared among residents.

If you can't afford it on your own, there are paths:

• Some Apple Health managed care plans cover sober living during early recovery.
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) can fund sober living while you're in job training.
• Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) sometimes covers sober living for parents in dependency proceedings.
• A peer recovery coach (find one through the WA Recovery Help Line at 1-866-789-1511) can help you put the funding pieces together.

DSHS and Apple Health Pathways

Most people in Washington who need recovery housing qualify for help they don't know about. Here's the map.

Apple Health (Medicaid) covers residential SUD treatment

If you have Apple Health, your plan covers residential substance use disorder treatment — including room and board during your treatment stay. That's huge. It means you don't pay out of pocket for a bed during inpatient or residential care. Call the behavioral health number on the back of your Apple Health card to start the assessment.

If you don't have Apple Health yet, you can apply at wahealthplanfinder.org or call 1-855-923-4633. Recovery housing programs can often help you apply on the same day you ask for a bed.

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

DVR helps people with disabilities — and substance use disorder is recognized as a disability — return to work. DVR can pay for sober living during job training, vocational classes, certifications, and work-related expenses. Call 1-800-637-5627 or find your local office at dshs.wa.gov/dvr.

Behavioral Health Organizations (BHOs / BH-ASOs)

Each region of Washington has a Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization that manages publicly funded behavioral health services. Your local BH-ASO holds the recovery housing waitlist for your area. To find yours, call 1-800-737-0617 or dial 211 and ask for “behavioral health crisis line for my county.”

Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

If you're a parent in a dependency case, DCYF has recovery housing partnerships and can sometimes pay for sober living, treatment, and reunification-supportive housing. Talk to your social worker or call DCYF at 1-800-723-4831.

Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers

Section 8 (the Housing Choice Voucher program) is the federal rental subsidy. It's accessible to people in recovery. A few notes:

• A drug-related felony conviction can affect eligibility for some federally assisted housing — but this is decided case by case, not as a blanket ban. Many people with old convictions still qualify.
• McKinney-Vento protections apply if you have school-aged children and you're experiencing homelessness — your kids cannot be denied school enrollment because you're between addresses.
• Local public housing authorities run Section 8. Find yours at the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (wshfc.org).

If You're Leaving a DV Situation and In Recovery

Domestic violence and substance use happen together more often than the system likes to admit. Many survivors started using to cope with what was being done to them. That isn't a character flaw. It's a survival response.

Don't let a shelter's sobriety language stop you from calling. Washington law (WAC 388-61A) is clear: DV shelters that receive state funding cannot deny access solely because someone is using substances. If a shelter tells you that you can't come in because you're using, that's not legal — and 211 can help you find one that follows the law.

Programs that specifically support survivors with co-occurring substance use:

• Covenant House (King County) — youth-focused, strong co-occurring support. 1-800-388-3888.
• New Connections (Tacoma / Pierce County) — reentry and DV support with co-occurring programs. 253-617-1505.
• Triumph Treatment Services (Yakima) — accepts survivors and runs women + children residential. 509-248-1800.
• Navos (King County) — co-occurring outpatient and residential. 206-933-7000.

To get connected fast: dial 211 and say you're leaving a DV situation and need recovery-friendly shelter. Or call the Washington State DV Hotline: 1-800-562-6025.

If You're a Single Parent in Recovery

You shouldn't have to choose between getting well and keeping your family together. Washington has built specific pathways for parents.

DSHS Family Recovery Court (Family Treatment Court)

Family Recovery Court is a specialty court that keeps families together during treatment by giving parents intensive treatment, supervision, and support instead of removing kids automatically. Ask your DSHS social worker, your dependency attorney, or 211 whether it operates in your county — most major counties have a version of it.

FPAWS — Family Policy and Advocacy for Washington State

FPAWS (fpaws.org) is a parent-led advocacy network. They can help you understand your rights inside dependency proceedings, find a parent ally, and connect to recovery-friendly family resources.

Oxford Houses for women with children

Filter oxfordvacancies.com for “women and children” houses. There aren't many, but they exist, and they can be a stable next step after residential treatment.

Homestreet and DESC family programs (King County)

The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) and partners like Homestreet run supportive housing programs in King County that include parents in recovery. Reach DESC at 206-464-1570.

Your 5-Step Action Plan

If this article feels overwhelming, just do these five things in order. You don't have to do them all in one day.

Quick Reference Table

How Bossplayah Haven Fits In

We are a Washington State non-profit. We run a Comprehensive Sanctuary Model that integrates support for single parents, domestic violence survivors, people experiencing homelessness, and people in addiction recovery — all under one roof, all in one care path. No cold transfers. No “that's not us, call this other number.”

We do not gatekeep by gender, family configuration, or the path that brought you here. We serve men, women, and non-binary folks. We serve parents and people without children. We serve survivors. We serve people who are 30 days sober and people who are 30 minutes sober. The door is the door.

If you're not sure where to start, contact us and we'll help you map a next step. You can also browse our full resources hub — it includes housing, legal aid, mental health, financial recovery, and credit rebuilding guides for people coming out of crisis.

Related Reading

• Addiction Recovery Support for Washington State Families
• Substance Abuse Resources in Washington State
• Mental Health & Addiction Co-Occurring Resources in Washington State
• Housing Assistance for Single Parents in Washington State
• Domestic Violence Resources in Washington State
• Rebuilding Credit After Homelessness or Domestic Violence in Washington State