Blackburn does not have sober housing in the San Gabriel Valley. Our sober living homes for men are in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City, and our sober apartments are in West Los Angeles, on the opposite side of the county. This page is for men from Pasadena, El Monte, West Covina, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Arcadia, Pomona and the rest of the valley, roughly 23 to 55 miles away by road depending on the city (approximate figures).
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.
A valley of cities
The San Gabriel Valley is made up of dozens of separate cities and unincorporated communities stretching east from Pasadena toward the San Bernardino County line. The larger ones, with approximate road miles from Mar Vista (Census Bureau 2022 estimates via LA Almanac):
- Pomona: about 149,800 residents, roughly 50 miles
- Pasadena: about 137,600, roughly 26 miles
- El Monte: about 108,700, roughly 31 miles
- West Covina: about 108,200, roughly 39 miles
- Alhambra: about 82,300, roughly 23 miles
- Baldwin Park: about 71,700, roughly 35 miles
- Monterey Park: about 60,400, roughly 23 miles; Arcadia: about 56,200, roughly 32 miles
The eastern foothill cities, such as Glendora, San Dimas and Claremont, sit roughly 45 to 55 miles out. All of these are estimates, not routed distances, so check a map before planning around them.
From the valley to the Westside
Almost every transit trip from the San Gabriel Valley to the Westside runs through Downtown Los Angeles and onto the Metro E Line, which continues west to Culver City, Palms and Santa Monica (Los Angeles Metro). The question is how you get Downtown.
- Foothill Transit Silver Streak. Runs from Montclair through Pomona, West Covina and El Monte to Downtown LA, about 38 miles, 24 hours a day (Foothill Transit route data). For the eastern valley, this is the backbone.
- Metro J Line. Runs from El Monte to Downtown on the busway, then continues south toward the harbor.
- Metro A Line. Runs from Pomona through the foothill cities and Pasadena into Downtown, meeting the E Line at Little Tokyo/Arts District.
- Metro 501. Runs from Pasadena to North Hollywood Station on the 134, an option if you are heading to the Valley side instead.
Many cities in the valley have no cited line in our data, so check metro.net or Foothill Transit for the stop nearest you.
Why men from the San Gabriel Valley move west
From most of the valley, the Westside is not a quick trip. That is exactly why some men choose it. Thirty or forty miles puts real distance between a man and the friends, routes and habits that were part of his drinking or using, while the Silver Streak or the A Line still gets him home for a holiday.
Some come because the Westside is where the opportunity is: a job, a training program, or classes at one of the many colleges nearby. Others finished treatment on the Westside and do not want to lose their outpatient team or the meetings they found there by moving back east.
The trade-off is real. A daily commute back to the eastern valley is long, even by transit that runs around the clock. If keeping a job in West Covina or Pomona is non-negotiable, we will tell you plainly whether the Westside makes sense.
Our two options
Sober living is the structured path: drug tests 3 times a week, daily alcohol tests, medication management systems and weekly updates to families and providers. Residents can work full time and go to school. You can tour a home in person, or virtually if the drive from the valley is too much.
The sober apartments are the independent path, in West Los Angeles. They are furnished and month to month, utilities and WiFi are included, and weekly random drug and alcohol testing is the one rule carried over from sober living. You set your own hours. Open to anyone who qualifies. Schedule an apartment tour, or call or text (888) 305-5422.
For San Gabriel Valley families and treatment teams
For families in Arcadia, El Monte or Pomona, a virtual tour can replace the first long drive. Once he moves into one of our homes, families, providers and treatment teams receive weekly updates. Our free virtual family support group runs every other Tuesday, 6 to 7 PM Pacific, led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services. We also offer sober transport and sober companion support for the move across the county. See our families page and the treatment professionals page.
The county’s Substance Abuse Service Helpline, 1-800-854-7771 option 2, serves the whole valley (LA County Substance Abuse Prevention and Control).
Questions from the San Gabriel Valley
How do I get from West Covina to the Westside without a car?
Take the Foothill Transit Silver Streak to Downtown LA, then the Metro E Line west to Culver City or Santa Monica. The Silver Streak runs 24 hours a day.
Is there a train from Pasadena to the Westside?
Yes, with one change. Ride the Metro A Line from Pasadena into Downtown and switch to the E Line at Little Tokyo/Arts District.
Can I keep my job in El Monte while living in sober living on the Westside?
It depends on your hours. El Monte is roughly 31 miles away, and the J Line and Silver Streak both reach Downtown, where the E Line continues west. We will go over your schedule honestly on the call.
Can I move straight into the apartments from the San Gabriel Valley?
Yes, if you qualify and are ready for independent living. You do not need to have lived in a Blackburn home first.
Nearby places and regions
Place pages: Pasadena, El Monte and West Covina. Neighboring regions: Eastside and Northeast LA, Gateway Cities and San Fernando Valley. Back to all areas in Los Angeles County.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.