One of the most crucial parts of treatment at 449 Recovery is helping clients get integrated back into the community at an improved level of function using evidence-based treatments. However, there is a lot of work that goes into life outside of treatment that is not always addressed within its walls. 449 Recovery recognizes this and, as a result, connects with trustworthy resources to aid clients’ journeys of living as adults outside of substance abuse treatment.

What Goes Into Independent Living?

There are organizations available in California that prove you do not need to do everything on your own. Independent living does not mean learning to do everything for yourself and never asking for help. Instead, it means learning what, when, where, and how to access valuable resources. Sometimes clients come into treatment with no knowledge of how to navigate the world outside of their addiction and mental disorders. This is why it is important to explore organizations that will help individuals to get back on their feet and be successful.

The cost of living in California is incredibly high, and often clients are not aware of this. Many of them have no idea where to start in living on their own. After you complete treatment, you may need to gradually work up to living on your own, rather than trying to manage that immediately, especially in such an expensive stage. There has to be a gradual build-up of responsibilities to ensure an individual can manage them together. That may mean you choose to live with a group, with a roommate, or in a sober home for a bit after treatment before you seek independent housing.

The journey looks different for everyone as everyone’s recovery is unique. However, there are many ways to take some pressure off yourself along the way. There are plenty of organizations willing and ready to help you work toward greater independence and responsibility in your life.

StandUp For Kids

StandUp For Kids is a nonprofit organization that partners with 449 Recovery partners. Anyone under the age of 25 can join StandUp For Kids. They help with resume building and provide resources like laptops and phones. They are also a great resource to help clients retrieve their birth certificates and social security numbers. If clients do not have a driver’s license, they will help them to start that process or provide them with a bus pass. All 449 Recovery clients that are able to join can be connected with this organization and are encouraged to use their resources.

This nonprofit is dedicated to ending cycles of youth homelessness and transitioning at-risk youth from crisis to connection. They provide a sense of safety, hope, and belonging with housing support, mentoring, drop-in centers, and street outreach.

Street Outreach

Volunteers at StandUp For Kids are located in every state that they operate in at places known as “hotspots” and other areas where young people congregate. The volunteers distribute food, clothing, and hygiene products. They also provide information about local resources that can connect people with housing, education, and employment opportunities and can direct people to other support services.

Mentoring

StandUp For Kids pairs each young person in its program with two members who meet with them weekly to help them develop and execute a plan for them to achieve their goals. The mentor will provide clients with life and career counseling, computer access, and other help. It is quite a valuable service to those who need support overcoming challenging situations.

Housing

Getting youth into safe housing is a major mission for StandUp For Kids. Safe housing environments can be a great stepping stone for clients to feel capable and comfortable with taking care of themselves. They also can receive help in locating and taking care of an apartment, life skills training, clothes, furniture, and referrals to medical support.

499 Recovery Can Help

Clients coming out of treatment should have no shame in seeking resources to help them with getting acclimated to life outside of addiction as well as integrating themselves back into a community. Often if you have never lived on your own, you will have no idea how much it costs to support yourself. In California, costs of living are high, and figuring out how to cover those expenses yourself can be a lot of pressure on someone in the beginning stages of recovery. Accessing resources and working with professionals in this area can be truly beneficial. 449 Recovery works hard to make these options available to you.

There are many options for housing outside of treatment aside from getting your own place right away. Recovery housing is always an option, and there are four different levels depending on where you are at in your journey. Housing programs typically require some form of employment or community involvement. Research has found that people who enter recovery housing—when compared to people returning to their community directly after treatment—typically have decreased rates of substance use.

Navigating life outside of treatment and becoming more involved in a community can be incredibly difficult. We recognize that clients are indeed fully capable adults. However, receiving resources and direction is not a negative thing. This is why we partner with trustworthy, mission-oriented organizations passionate about your success in eliciting change in your life. If you have never lived on your own before, it is okay to be intimidated, but don’t allow that to keep you from asking for help. The cost of living in California is very high, but we can help you transition into independent living. At 449 Recovery, we aim to connect our clients with helpful organizations, including the nonprofit StandUp For Kids, which is an amazing resource for those under 25 years old. Call 449 Recovery at (949) 435-7449 to learn more about resources that assist clients in integrating back into life at a higher level of functioning.