Our Sober Living House Rules

• Substance Abuse: Charlotte Sober Living enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, drugs, and any related paraphernalia. A violation will result in your removal from the program.
• Violence and Theft: Charlotte Sober Living has a zero-tolerance policy for violence, threats, intimidation, discrimination, or theft. Any such behavior will lead to your removal from the program and may be reported to the authorities.

• Voluntary Participation: Your participation in the program is completely your choice. By paying the program fee, you are a participant, not a tenant, and the fees are not considered rent.

• Program Fees: Fees are due every Sunday. If you do not pay on time, you may be asked to leave the program. If you are unable to pay, you must speak with the program director or executive director to discuss a payment plan. The director will decide whether the payment plan is acceptable. Clear communication is important, so make sure to discuss payments early and often.

• Program Costs: The fee is $165 per week, due every Sunday. The entry fee is $265, which includes the first week.

• Vacating the Property: If you are asked to leave the program, you must vacate the property within one hour and take all of your belongings. Any personal items left behind will become the property of Charlotte Sober Living.

• House Manager
• Housing Director
• Executive Director (for complaints about the Housing Director)

One Step App: You must download and use the One Step app to check in for recovery meetings, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) sessions, and work (only if your job keeps you past curfew and if the house manager or directors ask you to).

• Sunday to Thursday: Curfew is 11:00 PM.
• Friday to Saturday: Curfew is 12:00 AM.

If you are going to a meeting or work outside of curfew, you must get approval from Charlotte Sober Living staff. You may also need to check in and out using the One Step app.

Lights Out:

• Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 AM
• Friday and Saturday: 1:00 AM

When lights out happens, all common areas should be quiet and shut down. If you are using an electronic device, please wear earphones or headphones and be respectful to your roommate and housemates. During lights out, do not do chores, start laundry, hang out in common areas, go outside to smoke, or open/close the garage. Show respect and courtesy to everyone in the house, just like you would want in return.

Late Arrival:
If you arrive late, you may have to do a drug screening (UA) at your own cost of $10.

Check-in Policy:
You must inform your house manager via GroupMe when you are home for the night. This helps make sure everyone is accounted for and safe.

On your 31st day, you can ask for up to 2 overnight passes each week.
You must ask for the overnight pass at least 24 hours in advance to get approval. To ask for a pass, use the OneStep Link (ask for it if you don’t have it), fill out the request, and get approval from your house manager and the men's director.

To get overnight passes, you must:

• Be up to date with your fees
• Attend all your meetings
• Do your chores
• Keep your personal space clean

Your behavior in the house will also be considered when deciding if you can get the pass.

• Sexual Misconduct: Sexual misconduct, like inappropriate touching, kissing, or any sexual involvement, is not allowed.
• Relationships: Charlotte Sober Living suggests that residents avoid starting relationships during early recovery. This is just advice. Many people say the quickest way to go back to old habits is by getting into a relationship too soon. So, it's best to wait!

Random Drug Testing: This program requires random drug tests as part of the housing rules. I agree to take these tests, which might happen without warning. If I refuse to take the test or do not finish it within one hour, it will count as a failed test, and I will be asked to leave the program.

If I fail a drug test or am found to be intoxicated, I might be offered detox or a 72-hour dismissal, but this is not certain. A 72-hour dismissal will only happen if I am honest about my substance use and take responsibility. The decision is up to the program staff, and they will consider how serious the situation is. If I get a 72-hour dismissal, I must come back at the agreed time, pass a drug test, and make sure all fees are paid in order to return to the program.

If I am discharged immediately, I have 45 minutes to collect my things. Any items left behind for more than three days will become the property of Charlotte Sober Living.

Testing for THC when Entering the Program: If I test positive for THC when I first join the program, I must pay for a separate lab test that costs $50. This test will show my THC levels. After 30 days, I will be tested again. If I still test positive, I will need to pay for another lab test costing $50. The results of this test must show a big drop in THC or it must be gone completely. If there is not enough progress, I will be asked to leave the program.

Designated Smoking Areas: Tobacco products can only be used in outdoor areas that are specifically for smoking. If I smoke or vape indoors, I will have to leave the program.

Disclosure and Storage: You must tell us about all prescription medicines when you first come to CharlotteSoberLiving or if you start taking new medicines while you're here. Medicines like narcotics and controlled drugs will be kept by CharlotteSoberLiving staff and given to you once a week. Any other medicines you have that don't need to be stored by CharlotteSoberLiving should be kept safe and out of sight from other people.

CharlotteSoberLiving supports MAT (Medically Assisted Treatment). If I am prescribed Suboxone, I understand that it is a privilege and I must follow certain rules:

• I can only take up to 8mg of Suboxone each day.
• The house manager will hold my Suboxone and give it to me weekly at house meetings.
• My Suboxone must be stored safely and out of sight of other people.
• CharlotteSoberLiving can check the medicine at any time. If the count is wrong, I understand this is a serious rule break and I may have to leave because of misuse of narcotics.
• If I haven't been prescribed Suboxone before coming to the program, I cannot just ask for a prescription and start taking it. If you have questions about this, ask your director for more information.

Mandatory Attendance: You must attend the weekly house meetings. This is when everyone in the house gets together to talk about important topics and check in with each other. House meetings are very important to keep everything running smoothly. If i don’t attend the house meetings, I will have to leave the program.

Mandatory Recovery Meetings: You must go to at least 4 recovery meetings each week. These meetings must be approved and cannot include meetings with your sponsor, therapy sessions, or online meetings.

Approved meetings include: IOP, AA, NA, CA, Religious Services, Religious Study, Celebrate Recovery, etc. I understand that sponsor meetings, therapy, and online meetings don’t count. If I miss a meeting, I will need to make it up the next week. (For example, if I miss one meeting, I will need to attend 5 meetings the following week.) If I don’t attend my required meetings, I understand I am choosing to leave CharlotteSoberLiving.

You need to check into these meetings using the One Step app.

If you go to an outside meeting after curfew (like Rogue), it’s a privilege and must be approved by the house manager. If it’s approved, make sure to come straight home after the meeting.

Each house can hold its own AA/NA meeting inside with housemates. This meeting will count towards your weekly meetings. To do this, the following must happen:

• Run a real 12-Step meeting, starting with the serenity prayer, readings, chips, etc.
• The meeting must last at least 1 hour.
• At least 4 housemates must be present for the whole hour.
• Someone must volunteer to lead the meeting.
• You must check-in using the One Step app.

Sponsor: I agree to get a sponsor within the first 21 days of joining CharlotteSoberLiving.

Visitor Rules: Visitors are not allowed in your room for any reason. Your guests must be sober. You must tell the house manager, director, and your housemates in the group chat if you are having visitors.

I understand that guests must leave the property one hour before curfew. Curfew is at 10pm Sunday through Thursday and 11pm on Friday and Saturday.

I will be respectful of my guests and keep their visits to no more than 2 hours. I know this is a shared home and will keep my visits short.

Job Search: If you don’t have a job, you must look for work every day. You need to send out at least 5 in-person job applications or 20 online applications each day. You must show proof of this.

• For online applications, send screenshots to your house manager and program director.
• For in-person applications, take pictures and share them.

I agree to be out of bed by 8:30 am and stay out of bed until 4:00 pm, unless I have permission from a staff member. This is an important rule, especially for people who don’t have a job and need to be looking for one.

I understand that if I already have a job, I don’t have to follow this rule.

Not Following the Rules: If you don’t follow the rules (except the zero-tolerance rules), you will get a chance to improve. If you keep breaking the rules, you have to leave the program.

If you plan to leave the program, you must give a 1-week notice. If you don’t give the notice, you will lose the fees you paid for that week. Any fees you paid for future weeks will be refunded. Refunds can take up to 3 days.

Parking follows the house’s parking rules. You must follow basic parking rules, like not blocking driveways or parking in fire zones.

At Charlotte Sober Living, we’re working hard to keep our weekly program fees affordable for everyone. You can help us by being careful with how we use electricity and water. Always turn off the lights when you leave a room, even if you didn’t turn them on or if you thought someone might come back soon. It’s a small step that makes a big difference!

When it comes to water, try not to let it run while you’re brushing your teeth, and keep your showers to a reasonable length. When you’re doing laundry, wash everything you need all at once instead of just one item. This helps save water and energy.

With prices for rent, household items, and utilities going up, we’re doing everything we can to keep costs from rising for you. To help out, please be mindful of how much energy you use. Also, don’t touch the thermostat—only the house managers are allowed to adjust it. In the winter, the temperature should stay set to 70 or 68 degrees.

Thanks for helping us save energy and keep expenses low! Your efforts matter!