Blackburn does not have homes in the San Fernando Valley. Our sober living homes are in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City, and our sober apartments are in West Los Angeles, on the other side of the Sepulveda Pass. This page is for men from the Valley, from Sherman Oaks and Studio City out to Chatsworth and Sylmar, plus Burbank and Glendale on the eastern edge, who are weighing a move over the hill.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.
A big valley with a short commute
The Valley is spread across City of Los Angeles neighborhoods and separate cities. A few of the larger places, with approximate road miles to Mar Vista:
- North Hollywood: about 142,500 residents, roughly 15 miles (LA County Countywide Statistical Area table, 2020)
- Van Nuys: about 90,900, roughly 16 miles (same source)
- Sherman Oaks: about 88,000, roughly 13 miles (same source)
- Woodland Hills: about 71,400, roughly 19 miles; Northridge about 68,400, roughly 21 miles (same source)
- Glendale: about 187,100, roughly 21 miles; Burbank about 102,800, roughly 18 miles (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 2023 estimates)
- Calabasas: about 23,100, roughly 21 miles (Census Bureau 2022 estimate via LA Almanac)
From the south edge of the Valley, the trip is short. From the north end, around Sylmar and Granada Hills, it is roughly 25 to 27 miles. These are estimates, not routed distances, so check a map for your own trip.
Crossing the Sepulveda Pass
Almost every trip from the Valley to the Westside goes through the Sepulveda Pass, along the 405 or Sepulveda Boulevard. By car, traffic decides how long it takes. By bus, the Valley has something most regions do not: direct lines that come all the way over the hill.
- Metro 761. Runs from Sylmar down San Fernando Road, Van Nuys Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard, over the pass to Westwood and West LA, every 15 minutes at weekday peak (Los Angeles Metro). It serves Pacoima, Panorama City, Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks along the way.
- Metro 233. Runs from Lakeview Terrace along Van Nuys Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard to West LA.
- Metro 234. Runs Sylmar to Sherman Oaks along Sepulveda Boulevard, a useful link to the 761 for North Hills.
- From the west Valley: the G Line busway runs from Chatsworth and Canoga Park east to North Hollywood, and Metro 150 runs from Chatsworth along Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard to Encino.
- From North Hollywood and Studio City: the B Line goes to Downtown, where the E Line heads west. It is the long way around, but it is all rail.
- From Burbank and Glendale: Metrolink’s Antelope Valley Line runs to Union Station, then the E Line west. Metro 155 also links Burbank Station to North Hollywood.
Many stops along these lines are not confirmed for every neighborhood, so check metro.net for your nearest one.
Why Valley men come over the hill
The Valley is where a lot of men grew up, went to school and started drinking or using. It is also close. That combination is why the Westside works for so many of them: the pass puts real distance between you and the old routine, and the 761 still gets you back for a Sunday with family.
The other reason is work. Plenty of Valley men already commute to the Westside, or have a job offer there. Living on the Westside turns a daily trip over the pass into a short ride, which frees up time for meetings, a sponsor and sleep. And some men finish a treatment program on the Westside and want to keep their outpatient appointments without the commute.
Which fits you?
Coming straight from treatment, or still finding your footing? Our sober living homes offer drug testing 3 times a week, daily alcohol testing, medication management systems and weekly updates to families and providers. You can work full time or attend local colleges while you live there.
Already have a job, a sponsor and some time? Our sober apartments in West Los Angeles are furnished, month to month, with utilities and WiFi included and weekly random testing as the only rule borrowed from sober living. No curfew, and you do not need to have lived with us before. Schedule an apartment tour, or call or text (888) 305-5422.
For Valley families and referring professionals
Parents in Encino or Northridge can tour a sober living home in person or virtually before anyone packs a bag. Once he moves in, our sober living homes send weekly updates to families, providers and treatment teams. The free virtual family support group runs every other Tuesday, 6 to 7 PM Pacific, with a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services, so you can join from the Valley without crossing the pass. Our families page has more, and clinicians can start at our treatment professionals page.
If you need publicly funded treatment, LA County’s Substance Abuse Service Helpline is 1-800-854-7771, option 2.
Questions from the San Fernando Valley
Can I take a bus from Van Nuys to the Westside?
Yes. Metro 761 and Metro 233 both run along Van Nuys Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard over the Sepulveda Pass to West LA. The 761 runs every 15 minutes at weekday peak.
Can I move from the Valley to a sober apartment directly from treatment?
Sometimes. If you have a solid plan, work lined up and your treatment team agrees, the apartments can be a first step. If not, we will suggest sober living first. Either way, call and we will talk it through.
Can I keep my job in Burbank while living on the Westside?
Some men do. Burbank is roughly 18 miles away, and Metrolink to Union Station plus the E Line is one option without a car. It depends on your hours, so we will look at your schedule together.
Is the Westside far enough from the Valley to make a difference?
For many men, yes. The Sepulveda Pass is a real dividing line in daily life, even if the miles are modest. Family stays close; the old routine does not.
Nearby places and regions
Place pages: North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Burbank, Woodland Hills, Northridge, Glendale and Calabasas. Neighboring regions: Santa Clarita Valley, Westside and Malibu and the coast. Back to all areas in Los Angeles County.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.