Published
Every week we talk with men who are thinking about moving to the Westside of Los Angeles for their recovery. Some are coming from the Valley or the San Gabriel Valley. Some are coming from out of state after treatment. Some just want to get away from the block where everything went wrong.
Moving for recovery can be one of the best decisions you make, or it can be a geographic cure that changes the scenery and nothing else. This practical guide covers why men choose the Westside, how to get around without a car, how to build a meeting schedule, how to find work, and what to bring when your housing is furnished. Blackburn Recovery Services has run sober living homes for men on the Westside since 2012, along with sober apartments in West Los Angeles, so this is ground we know.
A move is not a cure, but it can be a reset
People in recovery have a name for the belief that a new city will fix everything: the geographic. It rarely works on its own, because you bring yourself with you.
What a move can do is take away the easy paths back. New streets without memories. Distance from the people you used with. A schedule built from scratch around recovery instead of around old habits. When it is paired with real support, a sober home, meetings, a sponsor and accountability, relocating gives that support room to work.
So the question to ask is not “Will moving fix me?” It is “Will moving put me somewhere I can do the work?”
Why men choose the Westside
A deep recovery community
The Westside has meetings from early morning until late at night, every day of the week, in neighborhoods from Venice to Mid City. You can try different formats and find a home group that fits. Our West LA meeting guide is a good starting point.
Work across many industries
West Los Angeles has jobs in healthcare, education, technology, entertainment, hospitality, retail, fitness and the trades. Whether you want to get back to your old field or start fresh, there is usually a way in close by.
School within reach
The area is surrounded by community colleges, universities and trade programs. Men in Blackburn’s sober living homes can work full time and attend local colleges, and many go back to school part time while living independently.
A life worth showing up for
The beach, the bike paths, the hiking, the coffee shops. Recovery goes better when the hours you are not working or at a meeting are spent somewhere you actually want to be.
Getting around without a car
Plenty of men arrive on the Westside without a car, or without a license for a while. That is workable here.
- Metro E Line. The light rail runs from East Los Angeles through Downtown to Downtown Santa Monica, with Westside stations including Palms, Culver City, Westwood/Rancho Park, Expo/Sepulveda and Expo/Bundy (Wikipedia, E Line). If you are coming from the Eastside or Downtown, it is a one-seat ride.
- Metro 33. This bus runs along Venice Boulevard between Downtown and Venice and Santa Monica, with stops in Culver City and Mar Vista, 24 hours a day (Transit Wiki).
- Metro 761. From the San Fernando Valley, the 761 runs from Sylmar over the Sepulveda Pass to Westwood, with buses every 15 minutes at weekday peak (Transit Wiki).
- Biking. The Westside is flat in many places and mild most of the year, and a lot of men in recovery get around by bike.
Our post on getting around in early recovery without a car has more practical tips. Always check current routes and schedules on the Metro site before you plan around them.
Building your meeting schedule
When you move, your recovery routine has to move with you. Do not wait until you feel settled. The first two weeks in a new place are exactly when you need a schedule most.
- Pick meetings before you arrive. Look at the meeting guide and choose a few near where you will live and near where you will work.
- Go to a meeting your first day. Even if you are tired from the move.
- Try several in the first month. Then commit to a home group.
- Keep your old sponsor for now if the relationship is working, and start meeting people who could become local support.
- Take a commitment. Making coffee or setting up chairs is one of the fastest ways to become part of a new community.
Finding work
A job gives your days a shape, and on the Westside there are usually options. A few tips for men in early recovery:
- Start with work that fits your recovery schedule, even if it is not your dream job. Stability first.
- Be careful with jobs built around nightlife or alcohol until you have solid time.
- Ask around in meetings. People in recovery often know who is hiring and who is a good employer.
- Consider where the job is relative to transit and your meetings. A shorter commute leaves more time for everything else.
Where to live when you arrive
The biggest decision is the kind of sober housing you land in.
If you are coming straight from treatment, or you have not lived sober in the real world yet, a structured sober living home is usually the safer start. Blackburn’s homes in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City are men only, with drug testing 3 times a week, daily alcohol testing and weekly updates to families, providers and treatment teams.
If you already have some solid time and a routine, a sober apartment can work from the start. Ours are men only and located in West Los Angeles, fully furnished with utilities and WiFi included, month to month, and include weekly random drug and alcohol testing with no curfew. They are open to anyone who qualifies, not only men who lived in our homes.
Not sure which fits? That is what the first call is for.
What to bring when housing is furnished
If your housing is furnished, packing gets simple:
- Clothes for work, workouts and the beach
- Toiletries and medications, organized and labeled
- Phone, laptop and chargers
- ID and any documents for work, school or benefits
- Your recovery literature and a few personal things that make a room feel like home
Skip the furniture. Ask us before you buy anything large.
Coming from elsewhere in Los Angeles County
If you live in another part of the county, the move may be shorter than you think, and your family can still visit. Our areas we serve page has regional guides with honest detail on distance and transit. If you are already close by, start with our Westside page. For help with the trip itself, ask about sober transport.
For families
If your loved one is moving to the Westside, you may be farther from him than you are used to. Stay connected, ask how his routine is going, and get support for yourself. Blackburn’s free virtual family support group meets every other Tuesday from 6 to 7 PM Pacific, led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services. Details are on our families page.
Talk to us before you move
We will tell you honestly whether the Westside makes sense for you, and whether sober living or the apartments is the better place to land. Sober living tours are available in person or virtually. For the apartments, schedule an in-person tour or call or text (888) 305-5422.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car to live on the Westside in recovery?
No. The Metro E Line, bus lines like the 33 and 761, and biking make it possible to get to work, school and meetings without one.
Is moving for recovery a good idea?
It can be, if the move puts you somewhere with real support: a sober home, meetings, a sponsor and accountability. A move alone rarely fixes anything.
Can I work or go to school while living in Blackburn housing?
Yes. Sober living residents can work full time and attend local colleges, and in the apartments your schedule is your own.
Can I tour before moving from out of the area?
Blackburn’s sober living homes offer virtual tours, which helps if you are coming from a distance. For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour or call or text (888) 305-5422.
Are Blackburn’s homes and apartments only for men?
Yes. All Blackburn sober living homes and sober apartments are for men only.