From 3 to 10 Recovery Homes in < 1 year: An Interview with Eric Parra

The Interview with Eric Parra who oversees over 150 recovery house beds with PluggedIn Recovery (Full 46min Video Interview) highlights several points relevant to sober living owner/operators, but we've summarized the key points for you below!

Last May, 2023 Eric managed 3 houses. Today he manages 10. 

How did PluggedIn Recovery achieve this rapid expansion? 

1) Recognizing that Recovery Housing is a SERVICE Industry

Unlike some operators who may adopt a more authoritative approach, Plugged in Recovery focuses on service and value to residents, aiming to create a community and culture that attracts and supports individuals in recovery.

Plugged in Recovery provides additional support services to help residents overcome barriers to employment and stability, such as assistance with obtaining IDs and signing up for social services.

Eric points out the investment in quality living conditions, such as new mattresses and TVs, to make residents feel comfortable and valued, suggesting that enhancing living standards can be a differentiator in the sober living industry. 

2) Solving Operational Challenges, Compliance & Risk Management

Various operational insights are shared, including the importance of documentation, compliance with local regulations, and handling operational tasks efficiently. Eric mentions the adoption of Sobriety Hub Software for managing documents and improving communication and tracking within the organization.

The importance of strict compliance with health and safety standards is discussed. This includes ensuring that all operational practices meet local regulatory requirements, in Arizona that standard is set by AzRHA. In your community it may be the local NARR affiliate or State Agency of Mental Health. 

Our favorite quotes from Eric regarding operational challenges, compliance, and risk management: 

• "I am fully using Sobriety Hub forms for all of the intakes, all of the contracts, all of orientation agreements."
• "You're storing all of that important documentation in one central location... (with Sobriety Hub) it's impossible to submit the form incomplete... automatically mitigating that legal risk of not having your documents signed and stored correctly."

3) Community Engagement and Culture as "Marketing"

There's a strong focus on creating a community culture among residents, including marketing efforts like branded T-shirts and active engagement in local recovery meetings, which helps in building a supportive network. 

4) Continuous Innovation and Improvement

The conversation underscores the need for continuous innovation and improvement in services and operations. Eric shares his experience with Sobriety Hub software, detailing how it helps streamline operations, enhance compliance, and manage documentation and resident data effectively.

Our favorite quotes from Eric regarding continuous innovation and improvement 

• "The clean the amount of clean data that we can extract from Sobriety Hub Software is what's going to be the most valuable for us... it's going to tell us exactly how we can continuously improve and this platform is providing all of that."
• "Sobriety Hub is what's going to help PluggedIn Recovery just keep expanding. If you aren't sold on Sobriety Hub, call me"

Click here to see what other operators have to say: More Operators