Harvest House

The Basics

Located in the LA suburb of Encino, California, Harvest House is a 12-step based sober living home for a small group of women. They live together family-style and support each other’s recovery as they progress through the steps. Founded in 2010 by Lisa Marie Jacobsen, who resides in a guesthouse on the property, Harvest House is her way of being of service to other women in recovery. Jacobsen has been clean and sober since 2008.

Accommodations and Amenities

The ranch-style house is located in a quiet, upscale neighborhood. The front yard is replete with roses, ivy, trees and other flowery shrubs. The backyard is just as green, and includes a vegetable garden as well as apple and peach trees. The interior of this quaint home looks like a countryside bed and breakfast. In keeping with a family-style motif, Jacobsen keeps the number of clients small, usually between six and eight women. There are three double bedrooms and one triple-occupancy room.

A typical room includes two twin beds with comforters, a nightstand, a closet, and a reading lamp, One room is separated from the patio by a glass door and overlooks a beautiful garden. While clients are responsible for their own groceries, Jacobsen help her financially challenged clients by providing referrals to local food banks. Dinner is usually eaten family-style in the white dining room with wood tiled floors. Smoking is permitted outside only.

Rules and Regulations

At Harvest House, Jacobsen believes that her clients should get proper medical care, especially since many women who are new to recovery, have probably long neglected both their mental and physical health. Besides providing medical referrals for her clients, Jacobsen also helps women get outpatient substance abuse and mental health treatment, if needed.

Potential residents must have undergone detox. The recommended length of stay is between three and six months, to allow the women time to build relationships with each other and a solid foundation in recovery before venturing back into the world. Weekly requirements for residents include being at four outside 12-step meetings, attending in-house meetings, performing household chores, and working on the steps. At Harvest House, the theme is recovery. Women are not mandated to get jobs, but performing community service is encouraged. The curfew is 10 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Extras

Jacobsen has practiced various branches of law prior to opening Harvest House. Additionally, she has served on the board of Prototypes, an outpatient drug rehab, as well as being co-chair on the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Sober Living Coalition. Harvest House is an active member of that network.

In Summary

Harvest House would not be a good fit for those who doesn’t want to embrace the 12-step way of life, but it is a wonderful little home for women who really want to work the steps and be part of a tight community of other recovering women. Jacobsen cares deeply about the well-being of her clients and is aware of all their individual needs. Harvest House does not like to disclose their address, for the safety and privacy of clients.

Harvest House
Encino, CA 91436

Harvest House Cost: $750 (30 days). Reach Harvest House by phone at (818) 305-1949 or by email at LMarijay@Hotmail.com. Find Harvest House at Facebook

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Photo courtesy of HarvestHouseLiving

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