Published
Yes. Residents in Blackburn sober living can work full time and attend local colleges, and many do. The house structure is built around a normal day: work or classes, meetings, testing and time with the house. Getting around the Westside of Los Angeles by Metro, bus and bike makes it practical even without a car.
Key facts
- Blackburn sober living residents can work full time and attend local colleges.
- You do not need a job to move in.
- Our homes are in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City, close to Westside jobs, campuses and transit.
- Testing is drug testing 3 times a week and daily alcohol testing, built around the work and school day.
- Weekly 12 Step meetings and goal setting give work and school goals a regular check in.
- Food is provided by the house at the Venice, Mar Vista and Cheviot Hills homes, which makes long workdays and class days easier.
- Men who are working and steady can step down to Blackburn Sober Apartments in West Los Angeles.
Can you work full time while living in sober living?
Yes. Work is one of the best things a man can add to early recovery. It fills the day, brings back confidence and gives him something to protect. Our homes expect residents to build a full day, and for many men that means a full-time job.
Work does have to fit with recovery, not replace it. A job that keeps someone out late every night, around heavy drinking or away from every meeting can work against him. We help residents think that through during goal setting.
Can you go to college from sober living?
Yes. Residents can attend local colleges while living with us. Some return to school they left during active addiction. Others start for the first time. A sober, quiet house and a steady routine are good conditions for studying.
Men often find that going back to school slowly works best. One or two classes in the first term leaves room for meetings, testing and house life. The load can grow as recovery steadies.
What does a typical weekday look like?
Every man’s day is different, but many look something like this:
| Time of day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Morning | Wake up, breakfast, head to work or class |
| Midday | Work or classes; some men fit in a noon meeting |
| Afternoon | Work or study |
| Around the day | The daily alcohol test, plus a drug test on testing days |
| Evening | Dinner, a meeting, sponsor calls or step work |
| Night | Time with the house, home by curfew |
For a closer look at the start of a stay, read what to expect your first week in sober living.
How do you balance work with meetings and testing?
It takes planning, and that planning is part of recovery. A few habits help:
- Put meetings on the calendar first. Pick a home group and a few regular meetings that fit around your shifts or classes.
- Talk with staff about your schedule. Staff know testing has to work around real jobs.
- Use goal setting. The weekly goal setting in our homes is a good place to look at whether work and recovery are both getting enough time.
- Protect sleep. Early recovery is tiring. Long hours plus short nights is a common warning sign.
- Be honest about stress. A housemate or sponsor can help before work stress turns into a craving.
How do you get to work or school without a car?
Many men arrive without a car or without a license for a while. The Westside is one of the easier parts of Los Angeles to manage that. The Metro E Line light rail runs east and west with stations in Palms, Culver City and Westwood/Rancho Park, and the Metro 33 bus runs along Venice Boulevard through Mar Vista and Venice (Wikipedia, Metro E Line, 2026; Transit Wiki, Metro 33, 2026). Flat streets and bike paths make cycling realistic for many trips.
For more, read getting around Los Angeles in early recovery without a car and moving to the Westside for recovery.
What can families expect?
Families often worry that a job or school will pull their loved one away from recovery. In our experience it usually does the opposite, as long as the balance is right. With the resident’s permission, families get weekly updates, so they can see how work, school and recovery are fitting together. Families can also join our free virtual family group every other Tuesday, 6 to 7 PM Pacific, led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services.
What comes after sober living for working men?
When work or school is steady, meetings are consistent and testing is clean, many men are ready for more independence. Blackburn Sober Apartments are fully furnished and month to month, with utilities, WiFi and weekly random testing included, and no curfew. That suits men with early shifts, late classes or travel for work.
Questions about work and school in sober living
Do I need a job to move in?
No. You do not need a job to move in. Many men look for work or plan classes once they settle in, and weekly goal setting is a good place to plan it.
Can I keep my current job when I move in?
In most cases, yes, as long as the job fits with recovery and the house schedule. Tell us about your hours when you call. If the job is a risk to your sobriety, we will talk about that honestly.
How do I get to work without a car?
Our homes are near Metro bus and rail lines, and the Westside is flat and bike friendly. Many residents get to work and school by transit or bike. Our guide to recovery without a car has route ideas.
Can I go to school full time?
Yes. Residents can attend local colleges. Many men start with a lighter load and build up as recovery steadies.
Will testing get in the way of my job?
Testing is built into the day, and staff know residents have jobs and classes. Talk with staff about your schedule so testing fits around it.
Talk with us
Call us to talk about your work or school plans, or schedule a sober living tour in person or by video.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.