South Bay Pioneers is among the few recovery and sobriety organizations that offers long term transitional supportive housing, in what we describe as a social model recovery home. This model has proven benefits as it provides residents with the opportunity to effect positive change in their lives and learn how to live as sober, responsible citizens.
We recognize that persons in recovery need support and community around them in order to be successful, and we believe that one of the best ways to provide this is through the social model peer counsel that exists within our residential environment. Participants may reside in our facility for up to two years, building a solid foundation in recovery and the ability to transition into a normalized lifestyle. One unique component on our model is our emphasis on personal responsibility. Participants are required to seek and gain employment, to adhere to a set schedule, to participate in 12 step meetings, to engage in house meetings and service work in addition to everyday household chores. This structure serves individual accountability and allows them to earn income, contribute a nominal fee and to lay the necessary foundation to be productive citizens in recovery.
In our program, supportive housing is a two-year process in which men reside in the main residence, a community living model, for up to a year; and then progress to the apartments for another year, for a total of two years. Women participating in our program are offered the opportunity to utilize the apartments as a sober living environment upon completion of long-term programs at other facilities.
We currently serve up to 24 people at a time in the communal residence and 18 people in the apartment residences. Although our primary focus is recovery, we provide other social services such as employment counseling, medical and dental services, financial education and credit repair, ongoing education and GED assistance, and legal concerns.
We welcome opportunities to share our experiences, not only with our residence but with the sober community at large.