Des Moines, Iowa · Structured Sober Living

Clear rules.
Consistent structure.

Knowing the expectations before you walk through the door is how recovery starts right. Here's exactly what living at AfterHouse looks like — no surprises.

10pm Nightly curfew
0 Tolerance for substances
3×/wk Min. AA/NA meetings
$550 All-inclusive / month

The non-negotiables.

These rules apply to every resident, every day. They're not arbitrary — each one protects the community and the people in it who are fighting for their sobriety.

🌙
10pm Curfew
All residents must be home by 10pm every night. Curfew is tracked and logged. Exceptions require prior approval from the house manager — not the same night.
Repeated late arrivals without notice trigger a corrective action conversation.
🔇
Quiet Hours 11pm–7am
Common areas go quiet at 11pm. No loud music, TV at volume, or disruptive conversations. Housemates on early shifts or struggling nights need rest — respect it.
Quiet hours are a shared commitment, not a suggestion.
🚫
Zero Tolerance Policy
Alcohol and all controlled substances are strictly prohibited on the premises — in rooms, common areas, vehicles, or anywhere on property. No exceptions. This protects every person living here.
Positive drug test or substance found on premises = immediate review. Second offense = departure.
👥
Guest Policy
Guests are allowed in common areas until 8pm. No overnight guests. All guests must be introduced to and approved by the house manager before the visit. Guests are your responsibility.
Unknown guests showing up unannounced is a violation, not a gray area.
🧹
Common Area Responsibilities
Chores rotate weekly. Every resident is responsible for their assigned areas. Kitchen cleaned after every use. Dishes done within an hour. Shared spaces are everyone's home — treat them that way.
Chore chart posted weekly. Repeated non-compliance discussed at house meeting.
📅
Sunday House Meetings
Weekly house meeting every Sunday evening. Attendance is mandatory unless there's a prior-approved work or medical conflict. This is where house business is discussed, concerns raised, and the week is set up for success.
Missing house meetings without notice is treated like missing curfew — logged and addressed.
🛏️
Personal Space Standards
Your room is your space. Keep it clean and in livable condition. Room inspections happen periodically. Hoarding, unsanitary conditions, or contraband in rooms are grounds for corrective action.
You have privacy. It's not a pass to create health hazards.
📵
Respect & Conduct
Harassment, threats, intimidation, or physical altercations toward housemates or staff result in immediate removal. This is a recovery home — not a place for drama that destabilizes others' sobriety.
Zero tolerance for behavior that puts other residents at risk.

What accountability looks like here.

Rules set the floor. Accountability is what builds a life on top of it. These aren't punitive measures — they're the tracking systems that make recovery visible and give residents something real to point to.

  • Drug testing — random + scheduled. At minimum one drug test per month per resident. Unannounced tests can happen at any time. Residents must comply immediately when asked. Refusal is treated the same as a positive result.
  • 3 meetings per week minimum. AA, NA, SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, or other evidence-based peer support. Self-reported with a meeting log; verified by the house manager every Friday.
  • Weekly check-in with the house manager. One-on-one, mid-week. Goals reviewed, progress discussed, concerns addressed privately. No judgment — just structure. Notes shared with referring treatment providers only with your written consent.
  • Compliance tracking over time. Curfew, meeting logs, chore completion, and drug tests are tracked. Consistent compliance builds a documented recovery track record — something many residents use when applying for independent housing later.
  • Employment or education progress. Residents are expected to be actively working, in school, or in outpatient treatment during daytime hours. Forward motion is part of the program.
  • Daily morning meeting attendance. The 8am house meeting is a daily accountability touchpoint. Quick check-in, goal-setting, any house matters addressed. 15 minutes. It matters.
For Treatment Centers
Documentation available for referring providers.
  • Drug test results with resident consent
  • Meeting attendance logs
  • Curfew and compliance record
  • Weekly check-in summary notes
  • Employment / school progress updates
Download Referral Packet →

Most relapses happen in the first 90 days after treatment. The gap between inpatient structure and independent living is where people fall. These accountability measures close that gap — not by replacing willpower, but by giving it something to lean on while it builds.

Structure fills the space that substances used to.

A consistent daily rhythm isn't a restriction — it's a recovery asset. Here's how each day is structured at AfterHouse.

🌅
7:00 AM
Wake-Up
All residents up. Personal routine, breakfast, prepare for the day.
📋
8:00 AM
Morning House Meeting
Daily accountability check-in. Goals for the day, any issues from the previous night, house business.
💼
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Work, School & Treatment
Residents pursue employment, education, or outpatient appointments. Productivity during daytime is expected.
🤝
Evenings (Rotating)
AA / NA / SMART Recovery Meetings
Minimum 3 per week. Attendance logged and verified on Fridays.
🍽️
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Shared Evening Time
Dinner, downtime, household chores. No outside guests after 8pm.
🌙
10:00 PM
Curfew
All residents in the house. Exceptions by prior arrangement with house manager only.
😴
11:00 PM
Quiet Hours
Common areas quiet. Respect for housemates through the morning.
The full daily schedule with details is on the Programs page →

Progressive accountability.
Not punitive. Purposeful.

Rule violations are handled through a progressive model. The goal isn't to catch people failing — it's to give every resident a genuine opportunity to course-correct before the stakes escalate.

1
Conversation — first occurrence

A private conversation with the house manager. The violation is documented. An action plan is created together. Most issues stop here — and that's the intent.

2
Written corrective action plan

Second or more serious occurrence. A written plan with specific expectations, a 30-day review window, and clear consequences if the behavior continues. No surprises — everything is documented and agreed on.

3
Probationary period

Ongoing non-compliance or pattern violations. The resident moves to formal probation — increased check-ins, possible curfew adjustment, enhanced monitoring. This is the last step before removal is on the table.

!
Immediate removal — zero-tolerance violations

Substances on premises, positive drug test (second offense), violent or threatening behavior, or any action that directly endangers other residents results in immediate departure. These are not negotiable and are not processed through the progressive model.

The honest version: Most people who follow the program don't need the progressive model at all. The structure itself prevents most violations from happening. This framework exists for edge cases — not as a threat, but as a clear contract so everyone knows exactly where the lines are.

$550 / month.
Everything you need to focus on recovery.

The monthly rate is all-inclusive. No utility surprises, no hidden fees. One payment, one focus.

  • Furnished private bedroom
  • All utilities included
  • High-speed Wi-Fi
  • Full kitchen access
  • In-unit laundry
  • On-site parking
  • Common areas (living room, dining)
  • House manager on-site
  • Meeting attendance support
  • Employment assistance resources
  • Peer support community
  • Progress documentation for providers

Financial assistance: Transitioning from treatment and need flexibility on timing? Contact us directly. We'll discuss options — we want the right people in the program, not just those who can pay upfront.

Monthly Rate
$550
per month, all-inclusive
Same-day intake available when a bed is open.
No waiting lists. Call or apply to check availability.

Weekly rate: $138–$162/week for short-term stays.
Apply for a Bed →

Ready for this?

If these rules feel like structure you can commit to — or structure you've been craving — apply now. We move fast and can often do same-day intake when beds are available.