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What We Learned from Over 400 Residents in Certified Wisconsin Sober Homes

By   ·  1 minute read

The Wisconsin Association of Sober Homes (WASH), in partnership with Sobriety Hub Software, has released a powerful new data report analyzing outcomes for 413 residents across five certified sober living providers. Covering over a year of data (April 2024 – May 2025), the findings offer a rare look into what actually works in sober living.

Key Findings at a Glance

  • 72% of residents were marked “sober” at discharge

  • The average stay across all residents was 151 days

  • Employment significantly increased both length of stay and discharge success

  • Longer stays were strongly associated with better outcomes

1. Staying Longer Leads to Better Outcomes

Residents who stayed longer were far more likely to be discharged with staff recommendation—a key sign of program success.

  • Average stay for “With Advice” discharges: 179 days

  • Average stay for “Against Advice” discharges: 54 days

Takeaway: Focus on supporting residents through their first 30–60 days, where early dropout risk is highest.

2. Employment Makes a Difference

Residents with jobs—especially full-time—stayed longer and had better outcomes.

  • Average stay (full-time): 175 days

  • Average stay (unemployed): 71 days

  • Successful discharge (full-time): Highest among all groups

  • Unsuccessful discharge (unemployed): 71% left “Against Advice”

Takeaway: Job readiness and employment support may play a critical role in recovery success.

3. Opiate Users Face Steeper Challenges

Different substances correlate with different outcomes. Opiate users had the lowest program completion and sobriety rates.

  • Completion Rate (Opiates): 23%

  • Sober at Discharge (Opiates): 73%

  • Completion Rate (Marijuana): 29% (highest)

  • Sober at Discharge (Marijuana): 85% (highest)

Takeaway: Targeted programming for opiate users may be needed to improve outcomes.

4. Women Stayed Longer

Among residents who reported their sex:

  • Average stay (females): 169 days

  • Average stay (males): 151 days

Takeaway: Female residents tended to stay longer—an area that may warrant deeper exploration.

5. What the Data Tells Us About WASH Homes

Here’s a snapshot of the WASH resident population:

  • 413 total residents

    • 290 discharged

    • 124 current

  • Average length of stay: 151 days

  • 72% sober at discharge

  • Only 25% completed the full program

  • Most residents were unemployed (77%)

  • Top drugs of choice:

    • Stimulants (37%)

    • Alcohol (28%)

    • Opiates (17%)

Final Thoughts

This data underscores what sober living homes have long observed anecdotally: recovery takes time, structure, and support. The WASH report not only validates these truths with real numbers, but also spotlights where programs can focus their efforts—like employment support and early engagement—to improve outcomes.

By making de-identified, real-world data accessible, WASH and Sobriety Hub are pushing the field of recovery housing toward greater transparency, accountability, and effectiveness.
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