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Missouri Recovery Houses & Sober Living: Resources & Directory

Find recovery housing and sober living resources for Missouri: Department of Mental Health certification, MCRSP accreditation, treatment and crisis lines, and organizations that serve all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. Browse the guide below or choose your county.

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Missouri recovery house rules at a glance

Certifying agency
Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH), Division of Behavioral Health (DBH)
State certification
Required only to hold a Division of Behavioral Health contract (9 CSR 30-3.310)
Voluntary accreditation
Missouri Coalition of Recovery Support Providers (MCRSP), using standards from the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR)
Local rules
City and county zoning and occupancy permits apply to every home

Step by step

How to open a recovery house or sober living home in Missouri

In Missouri, a recovery house needs state certification only to contract with the Department of Mental Health (DMH). To open one, check local zoning and occupancy permits, write your house policies and rental agreement, run Family Care Safety Registry background checks, keep naloxone on hand, and decide whether to seek accreditation from the Missouri Coalition of Recovery Support Providers (MCRSP).

The steps most new operators follow to open a recovery house in Missouri, in order. Each one links to the official form or rule behind it.

  1. 1

    Decide whether you'll seek a DMH contract

    State requirement

    Missouri does not license recovery houses. You need Department of Mental Health (DMH) certification, and/or MCRSP-NARR accreditation for recovery housing, only to contract with the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH). DMH says its recovery support bid is closed for now and encourages providers to finish certification or accreditation before the next one opens.

  2. 2

    Check zoning and occupancy permits

    Local requirement

    Call your city or county about zoning and occupancy rules before you sign a lease. Some areas, such as the City of St. Louis, require an occupancy permit. The Fair Housing Act protects people in recovery from discriminatory land-use decisions.

  3. 3

    Choose a level of support and prepare the property

    State requirement

    Certified recovery housing is peer-run, monitored, or supervised. Properties need an initial Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection, an annual fire inspection, and local occupancy and zoning approval, unless a provider organization such as a NARR affiliate has inspected and approved them.

  4. 4

    Set up your business, insurance, and background checks

    Voluntary certification

    MCRSP asks for a certificate of good standing from the Missouri Secretary of State, property or renter's insurance with liability coverage for each location, the landlord's written permission if you rent, and background checks on all staff and volunteers through the Family Care Safety Registry.

  5. 5

    Write your policies and resident paperwork

    Voluntary certification

    Write a mission statement, code of ethics, rental agreement, fee and refund disclosures, drug testing and medication policies, and a grievance policy. MCRSP also asks for naloxone in the residence and training for staff and residents.

  6. 6

    Apply for MCRSP accreditation

    Voluntary certification

    Complete the self-assessment checklist and apply online. MCRSP lists a non-refundable application fee of $400 for members or $700 for non-members, plus $300 for a one-day site visit. If a residence does not meet the standards, the organization has 90 days to fix the issues before reapplying.

  7. 7

    Apply for DMH certification if you'll contract

    State requirement

    Use DMH's recovery support certification materials and policy and procedure checklist to apply for certification as a recovery support provider.

  8. 8

    Renew and keep records current

    Voluntary certification

    MCRSP accreditation lasts two years. Renewal requires new assurance and insurance documents, any updated policies and city permits, and a new grievance policy. Report critical incidents to MCRSP under its reporting policy.

Startup checklist

  • Decide whether you'll seek a Division of Behavioral Health contract
  • Call your city or county about zoning and occupancy permits
  • Choose a peer-run, monitored, or supervised level of support
  • Schedule HQS and fire inspections if you'll be DMH-certified
  • Get a certificate of good standing from the Secretary of State
  • Insure each location and get the landlord's written permission
  • Run Family Care Safety Registry background checks
  • Write your rental agreement, fee, refund, and grievance policies
  • Keep naloxone in the house and train staff and residents
  • Apply for MCRSP accreditation
  • Apply for DMH certification if you'll contract
  • Set a reminder for renewal every two years

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