About Us

The Minnesota Association of Sober Homes, or M.A.S.H. for short, was formed in the summer of 2007 in an attempt to form a unified voice for owners of sober houses in situations where a public voice became necessary.

Leadership

The organization is run by a board, currently consisting of:

John Curtiss, President
Chris Edrington, Vice President
Dan Knutson, Secretary
Pat Deneen, Treasurer 
Randy Young, Chris Edrington, Housing Inspection Managers
Jennifer Deiderich, Marketing Researcher
Meghan Buster, Administrative Assistant

Standards

All of the homes in the MASH network have been inspected and received a passing grade for a set of standards we insist members uphold in their homes. These standards are outlined here.

Safety

  • Smoke detectors in all sleeping rooms
  • Fire extinguisher in kitchen
  • Minimum two exits
  • Property address posted in front, and back, if alley is present
  • Smoking is prohibited in hazardous areas
  • Approved safety disposal containers for cigarettes
  • No extension cords or electrical outlets pose a hazard
  • No piles of newspapers, clothes or other stored materials create a fire hazard
  • Building meets local building and safety codes

Health

  • No signs of roach or pest infestations
  • Kitchen and appliances are clean and well maintained
  • Minimum 1 refrigerator for every 7 residents
  • Refrigerators temperature reads 36 to 44 degrees and freezers at approximately 0
  • Adequate and clean food storage space
  • Bathrooms are clean and orderly
  • Minimum 1 bathroom for every 7 residents
  • Furniture and furnishings are clean and of reasonable quality
  • Sleeping rooms provide all residents with adequate space

House Management

  • Management has completed sober housing workshop
  • Clear acceptance criteria for all applicants
  • Personal information sheet is kept for all residents
  • All residents sign a resident agreement
  • Rules are in place for key issues
  • Residents have a significant role in the management of the home
  • Management does not provide clinical recovery or treatment services as defined by state licensing
  • Management has signed a code of ethics agreement
  • Building and grounds are well kept and consistent with the neighborhood

Benefits

The Minnesota Association of Sober Homes is the only established organization of sober home owners in the state of Minnesota. Benefits of joining MASH include:

  • Access to years of experience, know-how and heritage in the sober home field
  • Participation in a rich exchange of knowledge and experience with like-minded professionals
  • Tap into a wealth of wisdom as we envision our future and value our past
  • Become inspired and energized by new ideas grounded in rich tradition and immersed in the spirit of recovery
  • Learn how to design and operate quality recvoery environments from those who are living it
  • Experience the fellowship of like-minded professionals grounded in the spirtiual principleses of Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Participate in the annual peer-oriented, training and education conference
  • Listing in the membership directory
  • Access to online resources and forum discussions
  • Networking with the Halfway House and Recovery Home field
  • Regular organization newsletters
  • Further validate the quality of your programs and services through membership participation in MASH’s program standards
  • Promote the quality of your staff through participation in MASH’s certified recovery specialist credentialing process
  • Access to a variety of educational materials related to program development and service enhancements (e.g. business plans, marketing plans, job descriptions, policies & procedures, fund raising, chore descriptions, etc.)

If joining MASH interests you, please contact us for further information or to request a membership application.