In 2007, eight sober home operators established the nonprofit Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH). Legislation in 2014 created voluntary certification of Massachusetts sober homes, and MASH began managing voluntary statewide sober home certification in 2016. MASH serves as the primary agency for accountability of all certified homes in Massachusetts. MASH also provides supervision and training for sober homes and maintains a database of more than 180 MASH-certified sober homes.
MASH’s recovery values emphasize health, home, purpose, and community. Successful sober homes establish and reinforce healthy lifestyles, provide a safe and stable place to live, conduct meaningful activities, and build relationships and social networks for support. Through their network of certified sober housing and empirically based recovery principles, MASH’s goal is to help create and foster these safe living environments for those with substance use disorders.