About this Sober House
Friendship House is a men's recovery home at 390 Lincoln Street in South Portland, Maine, in Cumberland County. A white house on a quiet residential street, it has been at this address since 2003, when the organization outgrew its original Portland home and moved into a larger property in South Portland to keep up with demand.
Who Friendship House Serves
The house is for men aged eighteen or over who are seeking recovery from substance use disorder, who have little or no income and who need a safe place to live. Most arrive homeless or in transition, or come directly from incarceration or from treatment, and the house is organized around that reality rather than around men who already have work, savings and a stable address.
Referrals reach the house from across greater Portland's systems hospitals, detox facilities, caseworkers, probation officers, the department of corrections, short-term rehab programs, homeless shelters and crisis management facilities as well as from churches, family and friends. A man does not need a professional referral to be considered, but the breadth of those routes says something about where the house sits in the local network: it is one of the places the region's institutions call when a bed is needed quickly.
Daily Life and House Expectations
Friendship House is staffed by people who live with the residents. A house manager shares the home rather than visiting it, which is the practical difference between a supervised household and a set of rules on a noticeboard, and the organization describes its staffing as compassionate people who understand addiction and live alongside the men in the house.
What Residents Are Expected to Do
The expectations are twelve-step in character and are stated up front.
- Engage in recovery through meeting attendance throughout the stay
- Have a sponsor and work the twelve steps
- Keep curfew: 10pm Monday to Thursday, 11pm Friday and Saturday
- Attend the weekly house meeting and take a share of the chores
How Long Men Stay
The average stay is between three and six months. Residents may stay up to a year under a contract, provided they are following all house rules and working toward attainable goals. That upper limit is longer than many sober houses allow and is aimed at men who arrive with nothing and need time to build an income, a work history and a housing plan before moving on.
Certification and Standards
The residence is certified by the Maine Association of Recovery Residences at level two, listed in South Portland and recorded as serving men. Certification is voluntary in Maine, and a level two listing tells a referrer that the house is a monitored, peer-supported residence with a house manager and stated standards rather than an unregulated rooming arrangement.
A Christian Home Open to Other Faiths
Friendship House is explicit that it is a Christian home run on Christian principles, with a weekly devotional as part of the household's rhythm. It is equally explicit that this does not narrow who may live there: the house does not exclude people of other faiths, and residents are not required to share its beliefs.
For some men that combination is the reason they choose the house; for others the faith element is simply the culture of the household they are joining. Either way it is stated plainly in advance, which is the fairest way to handle it.
Sober Living in South Portland and Cumberland County
South Portland sits directly across the harbour from Portland, giving residents access to the densest concentration of recovery meetings, employers and services in Maine while keeping the house itself in a residential neighborhood. For a man coming out of custody or off a shelter waiting list, that combination a quiet street, a household with rules, and a city's worth of meetings within reach is the practical case for recovery housing in this part of Cumberland County.
About our sober living drug addiction recovery home
Friendship House is a home for men who are in recovery from substance abuse, have little or no income and need a safe place to live. Our home extends the love and grace of God in practical ways. Our house manager lives onsite. A community and family living atmosphere is fostered where lasting friendships and support are a result, as men journey to recovery together.
The average stay for our residents is between 3 to 6 months. Ultimately, individual circumstances dictate how long a guest stays with us. Per our contract, residents may stay up to a year provided they are following all house rules and working toward attainable goals.
History
Friendship House was founded by the late Louise and Claude Montgomery. In 1985, at age 70, Louise and her prayer partner Alison Kelley, felt that God was directing them to open Friendship House. Through several miracles, she and her husband purchased a home on Brackett Street in Portland, renovated it, and opened it to the cities' homeless population. Through transition,experience and prayer, the home eventually became a haven for men who were recovering from addictions.
In 2003, after struggling to keep up with an increase in demand, Friendship House was blessed with the opportunity to move into a larger home located in South Portland, Maine.
Friendship House is a Christian home that is run on Christian principles. The director and manager are Christians. However, we do not exclude individuals of other faiths, nor do people have to believe what we believe in order
to be a resident or remain in residency. We believe that an individual is made up of three parts: physical, emotional/intellectual and spiritual. We offer support, guidance and assistance in all areas and believe that receiving, as well as extending forgiveness is a key part of recovery.
