Kentucky Senate Bill 82: How New Regulations Harm Recovery Housing

Kentucky has made significant progress in supporting recovery by expanding sober living options and implementing quality standards statewide. However, Senate Bill 82 now threatens to effectively eliminate recovery housing as we know it through extreme occupancy restrictions that would make most homes financially impossible to operate. In our assessment, this legislation would not merely reduce services – it would fundamentally dismantle Kentucky’s recovery housing infrastructure, forcing the majority of homes to either close their doors or operate at such limited capacity that they could no longer sustain their mission of supporting individuals in recovery.

Devastating Impact: SB 82’s Occupancy Restrictions Would Cut Sober Living Beds by Half

Senate Bill 82 proposes to cap recovery residence occupancy at one person per 500 square feet of living space. This drastic density restriction would slash the number of available sober living beds across Kentucky. For example, a recovery home with 2,000 square feet of living area currently housing 8–10 residents would be limited to only 4 occupants under SB 82. Many houses are smaller, meaning some homes might be reduced to 2–3 residents. In practice, this rule cuts capacity by well over half in most sober living homes. Such a steep drop in bed count would leave countless individuals without a place in a sober living environment just when they need it most.

NARR Standards vs. SB 82: 50 Sq Ft vs. 500 Sq Ft

The National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) – the widely accepted standard-setting organization for recovery homes – currently requires only 50 square feet of bedroom space per person. In other words, if a bedroom is, say, 120 square feet, two residents can safely share it under NARR guidelines. This ensures comfortable living conditions while maximizing the availability of beds. SB 82’s one-person-per-500-sq-ft rule is ten times more restrictive than these nationally recognized standards which are enforced in Kentucky by KRHN (Kentucky Recovery Housing Network). There is no evidence that such an extreme space requirement is necessary for safety or recovery; on the contrary, recovery residences nationwide have operated effectively under the 50 sq ft/bedroom standard for years.

Financial Reality: Making Recovery Homes Unsustainable

By forcing homes to halve (or worse) their occupancy, SB 82 would jeopardize the financial survival of recovery residences. These homes typically rely on modest program fees or rent from each resident to cover expenses like rent or mortgage, utilities, house managers, and basic upkeep. Most recovery homes are not lavish facilities – they are ordinary houses operating on thin margins and a mission to help people. They often need around 8–10 residents contributing to make ends meet. If a house that today comfortably hosts 8 people is suddenly limited to 4, its total income plummets by 50%. The math is simple: with half the paying residents, either each remaining resident’s fees must double (an unrealistic burden on people just regaining stability), or the home will run a deficit. In many cases, that deficit would force the home to close.

It’s not just hypothetical – even courts have recognized the economics of recovery homes. Oxford House, a well-known network of sober living homes, has noted that recovery houses generally need 8 to 12 residents to be financially and therapeutically viable. This range allows the house to cover its costs while also creating a supportive community dynamic. SB 82’s 4-person (or fewer) limit falls far below that viability threshold. In effect, the bill would render the standard recovery home model financially unsustainable. Existing homes would struggle to keep the lights on, and new recovery homes would no longer be feasible to open in Kentucky. The end result would be fewer providers willing or able to offer recovery beds at all – at a time when we desperately need more of them, not less.

Human Cost: Devastating Impact on Families and Communities

The fallout from these occupancy limits would directly harm individuals striving to maintain their recovery and devastate families across Kentucky. If SB 82’s restrictions take effect, here’s what our communities would face:

Fewer Safe Beds – and More Homelessness

With half or more of current beds eliminated, many people ready to leave treatment or unsafe living situations will find no bed available in a sober living home. Kentucky already has a shortage of quality recovery housing in relation to the size of the need; this bill would make it far worse. Those unable to secure a spot may end up homeless or forced back into environments filled with triggers (such as abusive households or neighborhoods plagued by drug use).

Higher Risk of Relapse and Overdose

Stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of sustained recovery. Research shows that recovery housing is associated with decreased substance use and a lower likelihood of relapse. The peer support and structured, drug-free environment of a sober living home are critical in the vulnerable months after someone stops using. If hundreds of people are denied access to recovery housing, many will inevitably relapse due to stress, lack of support, and exposure to high-risk situations.

Devastating Impact on Families

When a loved one is overcoming addiction, families pray for them to find stability and safety. Recovery homes are a lifeline in these situations – a place where sons and daughters, mothers and fathers can continue healing in a structured, supportive setting. Every bed lost to SB 82 is one less opportunity for a family to see their loved one safe, sober, and on the path to a healthy life.

Loss of Crucial Peer Support Networks

Recovery residences offer more than just a roof – they cultivate a built-in peer community. Residents in these homes support each other’s sobriety daily: sharing experiences, holding each other accountable to house rules and recovery goals, and forming an alternative family unit that understands the struggle of addiction. This camaraderie and mutual support are a cornerstone of recovery. Cutting the number of residents per house down to only 2–4 people (or closing houses outright) will shatter these support networks. A house that used to have eight people cheering you on and noticing if you’re struggling will now have maybe three – or none at all if the home couldn’t stay open. People in early recovery would be more isolated, which is dangerous when fighting a disease that thrives on isolation and despair.

Call to Action: Stand Up for Recovery Housing

Kentucky’s families and communities cannot afford to lose any more recovery beds. We must take action now to protect recovery housing in the Commonwealth:

1. Contact Your State Legislators Immediately
   • Use Kentucky’s online tool to find your state senator and representative
   • Call or email them and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 82
   • Explain how reducing recovery housing will hurt families and public safety
2. Share Your Story
   • If you have a personal connection to recovery, tell your lawmakers how sober living homes have made a difference
   • Personal stories are powerful and can persuade lawmakers by putting a human face on the issue
3. Rally Your Community
   • Spread the word about SB 82’s harmful impacts
   • Encourage others to contact their legislators
   • Share information on social media and in community groups

Conclusion: The Future of Recovery Housing Hangs in the Balance

By dramatically reducing capacity, undermining financial viability, and dismantling support networks, the one-person-per-500-sq-ft rule in SB 82 would devastate the recovery community in Kentucky. The very people this legislation purports to help – those struggling to overcome addiction – would be the ones most hurt. At a time when opioid overdoses and substance use disorders continue to ravage our communities, we should be expanding access to recovery housing, not gutting it.

We strongly urge policymakers to oppose SB 82’s harmful occupancy restriction. This misguided policy would destroy effective recovery homes and displace vulnerable residents. Kentucky’s focus should be on supporting and improving recovery programs, not stripping them of the capacity to save lives. For the sake of thousands of individuals seeking a second chance in life, and for the families longing to see their loved ones thrive, SB 82 must be rejected. The recovery community is counting on it.

Need Support for your Recovery Residence?

Catalyst can help schedule a consultation or reach out today!