About New Life House
Located in Torrance, California, New Life House was founded in 1985 and is structured for men ranging from their late teens to 20 years of age.
Peer Grouping.
Each of the sober living homes within the New Life Houses network are grouped by specific age ranges to ensure that house members are able to identify with one another and share common experiences. Traditional sober livings open their doors to any individual (generally 18 and older), but doing this means that there may be a very broad age range within the sober living. When this occurs, members are unable to connect with one another emotionally and may not share much in common, and this lack of a connection limits interaction between members. Grouping by age encourages our house members to identify with one another and to discover the negative behaviors or issues that are hindering their personal growth in an environment where they are surrounded by others who are doing the same. Specifically, New Life House structured sober living is tailored towards young men who are nearing completion of (or have recently) finished high school and have little to no life experience being truly independent.
The years of late adolescence to young adulthood are a critical time of development. In our experience, if mounting negative behavior, coupled with alcohol and substance abuse, is not promptly and adequately addressed, the individual will inevitably fail as his responsibilities increase. The consequences associated with his poor choices therefore become much greater (DUIs, jail, etc.). By offering the young men of New Life House a structured environment with a group of peers who they can relate to, they begin to learn about their behaviors and identify the defects that have hindered them from living successfully.
Unity
The influence of a positive peer group supports our young men in developing important social skills such as empathy, mutual respect, and honesty; they learn to share with one another and care not just for themselves but for those around them as well. Like a sports team, the young men at New Life House work together in their recovery, encouraging each other to stay sober, and pushing one another to be the best that they can possibly be. Our house members invest in each other's well being and, in turn, New Life House becomes their home rather than just another recovery house.
Hands-on support
Our manager guided, in-house meetings provide the opportunity for house members to give feedback to one another while relating past experiences and offering positive solution to life's challenges. Our managers are also able to interject and give insight, further aiding the house members in their sobriety.
Successful long term sobriety is much more than abstinence from mind altering substances
New Life House is a structured sober living for teens and young adults and is modeled after the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our members actively address personal growth issues and attend daily meetings.
At New Life House, teaching our members how to lead responsible and mature lives is our priority. We help them uncover the issues that trigger their alcohol and drug addiction and impart to them the life skills necessary to lead happy, sober lives. With these skills, they are able to achieve success in social, occupational and academic settings. We find that self-esteem grows as the house members achieve success, and they begin to feel better about who they are and the direction in which they are heading. House members can work to obtain their high school diplomas at New Life House and also have the option to pursue higher levels of education.
Support for the family.
New Life House holds a family BBQ every Saturday where parents can connect, visit their kids, and gain support from those who are dealing with the same experiences.
Every other week, New Life House has a family Al-Anon meeting for the parents. Dealing with a troubled child affects the entire family and addiction is often considered a “family disease” for this reason. Al-Anon meetings are designed to allow family members to share their experiences, how to apply the principles of Al-Anon, learn that they are not alone in the issues they are facing, and begin the healing process.
New Life House Amenities
New Life House provides:
- Complementary initial assessment
- Assistance in selecting the appropriate detox/rehab treatment if necessary
- Live-in sober managers providing guidance 24/7
- Introduction into a 12-Step Program
- Outside help (psychiatric, therapy, etc.)
- High School Diploma Program
- Adult Education Program
- Legal assistance
- Transportation
- Structured social activities
House amenities:
- Study area with multiple computers/wifi
- HD Large screen television
- Exercise and weight room
- Outdoor lounge area
- Pool table
- Kitchen with professional grade equipment
- Laundry room
Graduate alumni program:
- Apprenticeship and career placement assistance
- Support and networking with individuals and groups associated with Alcoholics Anonymous
- Apartment and housing assistance
- 24/7 open door policy for support and guidance
New Life House Daily Structure
New Life House daily structure
- Morning Meditation. Each morning, house members read from a 12-Step daily meditation book and share about how it relates to their lives today, what the reading means to them and what they are looking forward to that day.
- Daily Chores. Every person is responsible for a chore inside of the house. This not only teaches a work ethic, but also the importance of living in a clean house. The more effort one puts into the house, the more pride the individual gains. New Life House is not just a program to those in it, it's their home.
- Eleven o’clock Meeting. This meeting is designed to evaluate the house member’s attitudes throughout the morning. It is also designed to bring up and address any house concerns.
- Noon Book Study. Every weekday at 12:30, the house members attend an outside Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or have a book study at the house. For the book study, the house members read from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, share about how they related to the chapter and how it pertains to their lives today.
- Study Hour. Study hour takes place between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. These hours are strictly dedicated for house members to complete assigned schoolwork. The staff and alumni serve as tutors and aid house members in completing any work they need help with.
- Family Meeting. This is the most important house meeting of the day. Every evening the management facilitates a meeting where the focus is on three orders of business:
- Personal Business. The house members set up their plans and appointments for the following day. This reinforces the habit of proper planning as well as managing their time and responsibilities according to their schedules.
- Attitude Checks. The house members write anonymous “bring-ups” – both positive and negative actions or attitudes – that focus on the other members in the house.
- Family Business. This is an essential part of the house when we address any issues or concerns regarding individuals inside the house. This gives an individual the opportunity to learn about how his actions and attitudes affect his life, why he should change and what solutions are available to him to do so.
- 12-Step Meetings. House members are required to attend one 12-Step meeting daily. Morning, noon and evening meetings are available to accommodate those working or attending school.
- One-on-Ones. The management works with all the house members on an individual level for daily “check-ins”, and to discuss any concerns that have been brought up. The management is involved with all activities and schedules for each house member.
- Wednesday Evening Meeting. Every Wednesday evening, the Director facilitates a house meeting. Serious house issues are addressed and individual goals are set up. This is a mandatory meeting for the house members and the alumni return to participate in it.
- Saturday Family BBQ. Saturdays are set aside so house members may spend quality time with their family. This informal setting is an ideal place to begin to mend broken relationships and a great way for the newer families to meet other house members and families.
24 hr phone: 888-357-7577
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA
90504