I had a terrible experience being apart of these homes, Littleton location to be exact. It's called a recovery home, but felt more like a cult. The clique mentality is toxic. If you don't fit in or key people don't like you, odds are your experience will be unpleasant to say the least. The amount of gossip that goes on in these houses is wild. I've seen it tear people down many times. Some one opens up in a meeting about how they're struggling, and the next thing you know they relapsed, and so on. Getting to the point where members of the general, non recovery community know about the rumors. It involves a lot of tearing people down, instead of building them up, a constant theme.
The favoritism of different clients is a huge issue as well. To the point where it discussed among the residence constantly. I've seen certain people relapse and in less than 24 hours come back into the houses, where most don't. That doesn't happen in other sober houses. You can tell who is favored and who isn't. The people who manage the houses make it clear, constantly. The rules really only apply for certain people. For example I was hardly ever tested, even though it;s required, once a week. I was tested average of once a month. The only consistent times I was tested because of rumors going around about me relapsing. I was tested 3 times in five days, then back to once a month. Again consistent with other clients I talked with.
Religious views are constantly shoved down your throat, Christianity in particular. Common for sober houses and the community but taken to whole other levels. Members of certain churches play huge roles in the houses. Taking people under their wing, proclaiming that they're saving them. truly pushing their beliefs in the faces of any of the clients they come across. And they come in contact with most of the clients. The owner borders on being a religious fanatic. Made me feel uncomfortable constantly.
NA in the area was essentially created for guys in the house.and most who attend are clients. The owner of WMRH is a sponsor for people who work/live in the houses,including the regional manager, who is also the general manger of the peer support center. The local peer support center is also heavily centered around guys in the houses. NA is held there, and really only NA. Mangers of the houses work at the center as well. Huge conflicts of interest no one cares about or talks about. Completely blurring the lines of professionalism, confidentiality, and everything in between
If you haven't already guessed I don't recommend this establishment at all. It has a lot of potential and it seemed like it was beginning to flourish, but many things have derailed it's progress.In my view due to how it's run and who runs the houses. Many simple issues could be fixed but it doesn't seem like it will anytime soon.
Keith Anderson. BS, LADCOwner12 plus years in the addictions field.