Do not use Bridgeway when looking for a Sober Living bed. About the only promise they keep to their clients is a YMCA membership and that you can bring your dog. Outside of that, don't expect anyone from the organization to provide support. They prey on people coming out of treatment not knowin enough about sober living to choose another option.
Here are some of my experiences:
The executive staff refuses to provide a copy of intake contracts signed, so you do not know your legal standing if anything comes up during your time there.
They pushed a guy out 3 days before the end of the month, selling his spot out from under him and literally throwing him out on the streets.
When one guy relapsed and lied about his use, they talked him into moving to one of their other houses in order to keep receiving rent from him. He should have been immediately kicked out and gone to rehab.
When a few guys started talking about opening their own sober living house, the staff passed along word to the owner of the business living in Hawaii. He called them directly and lied to them in order to stop them moving forward with their plans. He told them he was "in it to help out addicts", and that "I don't make any money personally from running these houses". He also warned that everyone who's started their own houses relapsed immediately and failed.
They take government money from Austin Recovery, accepting tax-payers money accepting homeless addicts for 3 months before kicking them back out on the streets when the money runs out.
They don't give current members at any house a chance to review incoming clients before entering the house. New problem guys just suddenly appear in a bed, and everyone else is forced to deal with whatever comes up.
They milk foundations at the full rent rate, and refuse to negotiate down any prices. The Sims Foundation paid for countless guys, even though they were eating off of food stamps and would be incapable of paying the rent once the Foundation stopped paying.
There is no luxury in this "Luxury Sober Living". The houses are dirty, they never have maids clean the houses regularly as advertised, and only a few locations are "centrally located" as they claim.
No matter what happens, they refuse to provide any refunds for a months rent - even if something comes up 3 days after the rent is paid. When I found out about an available bed 5 days into a new month, they refused to provide a pro-rated rent and refunding the final 3 weeks of rent.
Out of the blue, they moved house managers without notifying any clients living in the houses and without their feedback regarding the move. We were simply expected to accept the change and be happy about it.
The worst problem by far is that Bridgeway Sober Living is too cheap to hire on and keep professional staff trained to handle client situations. Two clients had to handle a problematic situation on their own - a situation that placed them in physical danger when a professional should have overseen things. House managers expected to handle anything going on at a house are clients who simply wanted cheap rent. People with no professional training are left to handle psychiatric emergencies and any other major arguments between clients.
There are plenty of other options in Austin for sober living after getting out of a treatment center.
Whatever you do, AVOID Bridgeway if you care about your recovery.
Bridgeway Sober Living Reviews
Do not use Bridgeway when looking for a Sober Living bed. About the only promise they keep to their clients is a YMCA membership and that you can bring your dog. Outside of that, don't expect anyone from the organization to provide support. They prey on people coming out of treatment not knowin enough about sober living to choose another option.
Here are some of my experiences:
The executive staff refuses to provide a copy of intake contracts signed, so you do not know your legal standing if anything comes up during your time there.
They pushed a guy out 3 days before the end of the month, selling his spot out from under him and literally throwing him out on the streets.
When one guy relapsed and lied about his use, they talked him into moving to one of their other houses in order to keep receiving rent from him. He should have been immediately kicked out and gone to rehab.
When a few guys started talking about opening their own sober living house, the staff passed along word to the owner of the business living in Hawaii. He called them directly and lied to them in order to stop them moving forward with their plans. He told them he was "in it to help out addicts", and that "I don't make any money personally from running these houses". He also warned that everyone who's started their own houses relapsed immediately and failed.
They take government money from Austin Recovery, accepting tax-payers money accepting homeless addicts for 3 months before kicking them back out on the streets when the money runs out.
They don't give current members at any house a chance to review incoming clients before entering the house. New problem guys just suddenly appear in a bed, and everyone else is forced to deal with whatever comes up.
They milk foundations at the full rent rate, and refuse to negotiate down any prices. The Sims Foundation paid for countless guys, even though they were eating off of food stamps and would be incapable of paying the rent once the Foundation stopped paying.
There is no luxury in this "Luxury Sober Living". The houses are dirty, they never have maids clean the houses regularly as advertised, and only a few locations are "centrally located" as they claim.
No matter what happens, they refuse to provide any refunds for a months rent - even if something comes up 3 days after the rent is paid. When I found out about an available bed 5 days into a new month, they refused to provide a pro-rated rent and refunding the final 3 weeks of rent.
Out of the blue, they moved house managers without notifying any clients living in the houses and without their feedback regarding the move. We were simply expected to accept the change and be happy about it.
The worst problem by far is that Bridgeway Sober Living is too cheap to hire on and keep professional staff trained to handle client situations. Two clients had to handle a problematic situation on their own - a situation that placed them in physical danger when a professional should have overseen things. House managers expected to handle anything going on at a house are clients who simply wanted cheap rent. People with no professional training are left to handle psychiatric emergencies and any other major arguments between clients.
There are plenty of other options in Austin for sober living after getting out of a treatment center.
Whatever you do, AVOID Bridgeway if you care about your recovery.