Do I need a license to open a sober living home in New Hampshire?
+
No. New Hampshire does not license recovery houses or sober living homes. Under RSA 172-B:2, certification and the state registry are voluntary, but state agencies and vendors with state or federally funded contracts may refer people only to certified recovery housing. Local zoning and fire rules apply either way.
What does New Hampshire require for recovery house certification?
+
RSA 172-B:2 requires certification based on nationally recognized standards, with health, building, zoning, and fire inspection approvals, proof of insurance, a resident agreement, emergency procedures, and policies on grievances, non-discrimination, code of ethics, and safe storage of medication. The standards also protect residents from unfair fee practices.
How much does NHCORR certification cost?
+
The New Hampshire Coalition of Recovery Residences (NHCORR) lists a fee of $275 for the first certified house and $100 for each additional house. Certification lasts one year and is renewed annually.
How do I get a recovery house certified in New Hampshire?
+
Apply to the New Hampshire Partnership for Recovery Residences (NHPRR), the certifying body designated by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). You apply through NHPRR's online portal, upload the documents your home's level of support requires, sign the required forms, and have a site visit. Only NHPRR-certified houses can join the DHHS registry. The New Hampshire Coalition of Recovery Residences (NHCORR), the state affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), offers separate NARR certification.
Can a New Hampshire town use zoning to keep a recovery house out?
+
The federal Fair Housing Act bars local governments from using zoning or land use rules to exclude group homes for people with disabilities, but houses still follow neutral zoning and occupancy rules. Housing discrimination can be reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
How do I list my recovery house in this guide for free?
+
Request a free listing. You choose what it shows, such as who the home serves and its certifications. The street address is shown only if you want it to be. Listing never requires ARKHE software.
How do I find a certified sober living home in New Hampshire?
+
The New Hampshire Partnership for Recovery Residences (NHPRR), the state-designated certifier, publishes a directory of the homes it certifies, by county and town. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) keeps a registry of NHPRR-certified recovery housing. The New Hampshire Coalition of Recovery Residences (NHCORR) also lists the homes it certifies to NARR standards. Oxford House lists open beds in its self-run homes.
Are sober living homes regulated in New Hampshire?
+
New Hampshire does not license them, but RSA 172-B:2 creates voluntary certification based on national standards and a state registry. State agencies and state- or federally funded providers may refer people only to certified homes, so a referral from one of them should lead to a certified house.
How do I file a complaint about a recovery house in New Hampshire?
+
Start with the home's own grievance procedure. Residents, family members, staff, and neighbors can file a complaint about a home certified by the New Hampshire Partnership for Recovery Residences (NHPRR), by name or anonymously, online or by phone at (603) 369-3679. If the home is certified by the New Hampshire Coalition of Recovery Residences (NHCORR), you can then send a confidential grievance to NHCORR's ombudsman at [email protected], or go straight to the ombudsman if you faced retaliation. Housing discrimination can be reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Where can I get help in a substance use crisis in New Hampshire?
+
Call the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point at 833-710-6477 or 988, or text 988. It is open 24/7 and can send a mobile crisis team or set up a same-day or next-day appointment at a community mental health center. Dial 211 for other local help.
What should I ask a recovery house before moving in?
+
Ask about costs and fee practices, the resident agreement, house rules, whether medication for addiction treatment is allowed, how medication is stored, the grievance procedure, and whether the house is certified by the New Hampshire Partnership for Recovery Residences (NHPRR) and listed on the state registry.