The Runwell Guide
Questions to ask on a tour
A good recovery home can answer these questions directly, without rehearsing. If the person giving the tour avoids them, keep looking. You are allowed to ask everything on this list.
About the program
- What recovery program do you follow? (AA, NA, SMART, MAT, faith-based, eclectic?)
- What does a typical weekday and weekend look like here?
- What are the house rules? Curfews, chores, mandatory meetings, employment requirement?
- How long do residents usually stay?
- How is relapse handled? Immediate discharge, or a step-down plan?
About the people
- How many residents live here? How are rooms assigned?
- Who runs the house day to day? Is there a house manager on-site?
- What's the staff to resident ratio, if there's staff?
- Can I talk to a current or former resident before committing?
About safety
- Are you certified by ORH or OhioMHAS? Can I see the certificate?
- Have there been complaints filed against this home? How were they resolved?
- What's the policy on medications (including MAT)?
- What's the policy on visitors, overnight guests, and privacy?
About money
- What does rent cover? Food, utilities, transportation, programming?
- What's the deposit? What's refundable and what's not?
- Do you have sliding-scale fees or scholarships? What's the application process?
- What happens if I can't pay on time?
About life after
- What support does the home provide for finding a job or finishing school?
- Do you help with transportation to meetings and appointments?
- How do residents typically transition out, and to where?
- Do you stay in touch with alumni? How?
Bring a friend, a family member, or your case manager to the tour. Two sets of ears hear more than one. And take notes. Houses blur together after the third visit.
Find a home to tour