A Message from the Director
People who are in active drug addiction and alcoholism have grown accustomed to living a life of near total chaos. The details of the individual’s life may differ, but whether a person is living in the streets, or is financially and emotionally dependent on his family members for support, discontinuing the use of alcohol and drugs is only the beginning.
A person in active addiction has usually become physically, emotionally, and spiritually isolated from others. They have lost the ability to practice the basic, healthy life skills necessary to deal with the ups and downs of normal, daily life.
At Perimeter we provide the structure to make sure that our residents get to Twelve Step meetings, find a sponsor, and start working the Steps. We also ensure that they find a job and keep showing up for that job while also relearning how to participate in community and family life.
In short, many people find that they need a structured sober living community to help them direct their time and energy for the 23 hours of the day that they are not in a Twelve Step meeting. This is what we provide for our residents.
I went through a similar transition in 2004 when I began my long-term recovery. I found the accountability and structure of a healthy sober community, and it changed my life.
In 2008, I felt a calling to help provide this experience for others. I wanted to create a similar environment, that was affordable, for people who may not have the financial resources or health insurance to cover attending an addiction treatment center, but are in need of safety and structure that a quality sober living environment can provide.
My goal has been, and continues to be, to provide a clean and orderly place for the men living in my sober living house to do their Twelve Step work, get a sponsor, learn how to be part of a community, begin working again, and put in the practice it takes to live a life of long-term recovery when they are out on their own.
As a member of GARR (Georgia Association of Recovery Residence), we are held to a high standard. Many halfway homes or sober living facilities are not GARR-certified, and they also do not have this level of structure, community accountability, and daily interaction with staff. Without these components, it is common for drug use, alcohol consumption, and any number of other harmful behaviors to be introduced into the community, turning the facility into something that resembles a flophouse more than a recovery residence.