How to Refer Someone to Recovery Housing

AFV Resource Center

Published and updated September 29, 2026 · A Father’s Vision, Inc.

Referring someone to recovery housing should be simple, respectful, and privacy-conscious.

The goal is not to send every document in a person’s file. The goal is to help the housing provider understand whether the person may be appropriate for the residence, what timing they need, and how to continue the intake process.

Who may make a referral?

Recovery-housing inquiries commonly come from:

• Case managers
• Treatment providers
• Hospitals
• Courts and justice-system professionals
• Reentry programs
• Peer-support professionals
• Social workers
• Community organizations
• Family members
• The person seeking housing

A referral does not guarantee placement. The residence still needs to review fit, availability, and its own intake requirements.

Step 1: Confirm the person is looking for housing

Start with the basic need.

Is the person looking for:

• A substance-free living environment?
• Structured recovery housing?
• A specific city or state?
• A community residence?
• A more private housing option?
• Immediate placement or future planning?

If the person actually needs detoxification, hospitalization, emergency shelter, acute psychiatric care, or another higher level of care, recovery housing may not be the right first destination.

Step 2: Check basic fit

Before referring, discuss the residence’s public expectations.

Useful questions may include:

• Is the person medically stable enough for community-based housing?
• Can they participate in shared living?
• Are they willing to follow house expectations?
• Do they understand the program fee?
• What is their expected move-in timing?
• Are there legal or supervision requirements that affect placement?
• Do they have transportation or employment needs that should be discussed during planning?

Do not make guarantees on behalf of the residence.

Step 3: Protect privacy

A general referral inquiry usually does not require someone’s entire clinical history.

Avoid sending unnecessary:

• Medical records
• Diagnoses
• Medication lists
• Therapy notes
• Substance-use treatment records
• Court files
• Identification documents
• Other sensitive personal records

Use secure, appropriate channels only when specific documentation is actually required.

AFV’s public inquiry forms instruct referral sources not to submit unnecessary sensitive medical, treatment, diagnosis, medication, or court information through general forms.

Step 4: Provide the useful basics

A housing inquiry can often begin with simple information such as:

• Person’s name
• Best contact method
• Desired move-in timeframe
• Preferred AFV market
• Referral source and organization
• General housing need
• Any non-sensitive scheduling or coordination information

The housing provider can then explain what additional intake information is actually required.

Step 5: Let the housing provider confirm availability

Housing availability changes.

Do not tell a person that a bed is guaranteed until the provider confirms placement.

At AFV, public residence pages use statuses such as "Accepting inquiries" rather than promising immediate availability. Columbia, South Carolina is marked Coming Soon.

Private Residence availability is assessed individually.

Step 6: Confirm the financial terms

Make sure the person understands the current program fee before move-in.

AFV community program fees vary by location. A standard $200 move-in deposit applies to community residences where applicable.

Private Residences use monthly program fees, and any deposit or additional move-in requirement is confirmed during intake.

Step 7: Coordinate the transition

Once placement is approved, the referral source may help coordinate:

• Transportation
• Release/discharge timing
• Medication continuity through outside providers
• Employment schedule
• Probation/parole requirements
• Identification
• Benefits
• Follow-up appointments
• Family communication where appropriate

Housing works best when the transition is realistic.

What AFV provides

AFV provides recovery housing and practical non-clinical support.

That can include:

• Structured housing
• House Mentor accountability
• Recovery-oriented community connection
• Practical resource navigation
• Housing stabilization and transition planning
• Reentry and stability support

What AFV does not provide

AFV is not:

• Detox
• A hospital
• Emergency medical care
• Licensed clinical treatment

Referral partners should continue to use appropriately licensed outside providers for clinical services.

Make an AFV referral

Professionals, families, and community partners can begin through Families & Referral Partners.

The public referral pathway connects to AFV’s housing intake process.

If you need to speak with AFV before referring, use the Contact page.

Source notes

• SAMHSA, Best Practices for Recovery Housing
• Bureau of Justice Assistance, Smart Reentry: Housing Demonstration