Live in Recovery: Hudson’s Treatment Housing Program

Tell us about your day-to-day schedule as Director of Housing at Hudson.
Director of Housing is a fast-paced and varied job; every day is different as I oversee six level 3.1 houses in Maryland and two sober living houses in Delaware. Each house has its own staff: counselors, case managers, live-in managers, mental health therapists, and nurse practitioners, and part of my job is clinically supervising the staff. My favorite part of the job is that I’m still able to give direct patient care and occasionally lead groups. Seeing patients progress through the program at Hudson is incredibly rewarding and inspiring.

Why is treatment housing an important and often necessary step in the recovery process?
Our treatment houses at Hudson offer up to a 1-year stay in a safe and supportive environment, offering patients more time to gain knowledge and skills that they’re not able to acquire in the first 30-60 days of high-intensity treatment at our residential campus. Giving patients a full year of structured support where they learn accountability, life skills, and coping mechanisms is an invaluable step in the recovery process.

How is a treatment house different from a sober living house?
As I previously mentioned, we have two sober living houses in Delaware, and the primary difference is that they offer less structure and oversight than a 3.1 house. Our 3.1 treatment houses in Maryland have 24-hour staff, a live-in house manager, and a phased system to help patients work towards more independence as they progress.

Tell us a little more about the phased system in the 3.1 houses.
One of the most beneficial things about receiving treatment in a level 3.1 house is that it helps individuals reintegrate into society at a pace that suits their needs. It allows them to transition back to work, family and other responsibilities gradually, minimizing the risk of being overwhelmed.
Orientation: All patients start with an orientation period to acclimate to the community, and this can last up to 30 days but could be expedited if the patient is coming directly from our inpatient facility in Salisbury. We have drivers available to take patients to all their appointments and meetings during this phase.
Phase 1: In phase 1, patients can start working and if they have access to a car, they can drive themselves to and from work, but will still utilize our provided transportation for everything else.
Phase 2: As patients progress, they can request extra incentives and time out of the house, utilizing the time management skills we teach them to plan their schedules.
Phases 3 & 4: Once a patient reaches phase 3, we expect them to be accountable for making their own schedules and decisions, and if they have access to a car, they can drive themselves where they need to go. If a patient doesn’t have a vehicle, we work with them on budgeting and saving money to buy a car or prepare to rent a home.

The program sounds very structured, especially in the earlier phases. What can patients do for fun?
The main goal of 3.1 housing is to help patients establish a routine and structure that is conducive to maintaining sobriety, but we do understand that having fun is also necessary to a successful recovery! The camaraderie built within our houses allows patients to provide mutual support and build a network of sober friends. We also organize regular outings for patients that can include beach days, cookouts, holiday activities and more. On Fridays, our group meetings always have an element of fun, whether it’s a game, karaoke, or cornhole. One of the most important life skills we can teach patients is that it’s still possible to have fun without drugs and alcohol.

Tell us about the new treatment house in Salisbury.
We just opened our sixth level 3.1 house in Salisbury! This home, located on the east side of Salisbury, will provide treatment for 10 men for up to 1 year. The house is beautiful; it’s newly renovated and landscaped and offers all the comforts of home.

How do you prepare patients for independent living?
We’ve recently converted one of our treatment houses to a house dedicated to men in Phases 3 and 4 who are nearly ready to venture out on their own. Patients have the option to share an apartment with one or two other people, gaining access to their own private kitchen and bathroom and preparing them for what they can expect when they leave our program. This option gives patients a feeling of independence while they are still held accountable by the program.