Northern Lights Residence

Community Care Housing, Recovery-Oriented Community Living

The Northern Lights Residences (NLR) is on the upper level of the Northern Lights House. The NLR exists to provide safe, stable, recovery-oriented housing rooted in community, mutual respect, and personal growth. We believe growth, stability and long-term recovery are strengthened through connection, accountability, meaningful activity, and belonging.

The Residence is housing that is communal. It is co-located with the Northern Lights Clubhouse, and they programs share a kitchen. The Clubhouse is open three days a week from 10-3 which provides our residents with access to community, Wednesday lunches, but still provides plenty of time with the house to themselves.

The Residence is housing that offers income-based rent. Rent is typically does not exceed 30% of income.

The Residence is housing that is supportive. Residents have access to the WBD Care Facilitator, who is there to coordinate rides, help them interpret information they receive, help them access benefits and help them with any goals they might have.

The Residence is housing that is application-based. To reside at the NLR, you must complete and application or speak to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Residents are selected based on need and on being able to join the community. The Residence is housing that is sober. The Northern Lights House is a substance free space. Our residents often have a history of substance misuse and abuse.

If you think the Northern Lights Residence may be right for you or someone you know, reach out and contact our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Northern Lights Residence

Is the Northern Lights Residence right for you?

The Northern Lights Residence (NLR) provide Community Care Housing for people who need emergency, short- or even longer-term housing.

NLR is recovery-oriented communal housing, so it is a great setting for people in in recovery or anyone seeking a sober living environment. Successful residents have typically completed a longer recovery program and have been successful in a more highly structured environment like a halfway house. At the NLR, you will be responsible for you own sobriety and for the cost of any drug tests staff determine may be called for. During the application process, staff may request a referral from counseling staff connected with past recovery settings.

NLR is a communal living environment co-located with the Northern Lights Clubhouse. Clubhouse is a community for connection and wellbeing that occupies the main floor of the Northern Lights House. The NLR and Clubhouse share a kitchen. Clubhouse membership is an option for NLR residents. To learn more about the benefits of Clubhouse click here.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

The NLR provides an environment of:

sobriety and recovery,
dignity and mutual respect,
honesty and accountability,
community connection,
personal growth,
and maintaining a safe, welcoming environment.

The NLR is intended to feel like a home rather than an institution. Residents are expected to contribute positively to household culture and shared living. This house operates with Core Vaues of:

shared responsibility,
mutual support,
intentional community,
and belonging.

This house is not:

inpatient treatment,
detox,
emergency psychiatric care,
a homeless shelter,
involuntary placement
or 24-hour supervision.

Most importantly: Residents are responsible for managing their own healthcare, recovery, appointments, medications, and personal needs.

For more, check out our House & Community Living Rules.

Why Housing?

Recovery-Oriented Community Housing: An Evolving Housing Vision for the Community

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), stable supportive housing supports recovery and wellbeing.

After an extensive WBD-led community engagement project to explore the need, WBD opened a Recovery Residence in 2025. Months of learning from residences and funding changes, have added clarity and focus to the program.

The Northern Lights Residence has a lot of features of what SAMHSA would define as Recovery Housing:

It is
- safe, healthy, family-like substance free living environments
- supportive to individuals in recovery from addiction.
- centered on peer support and
Recovery Houses must also provide connection to services that promote long-term recovery. The Northern Lights Residence CAN assist with this through our Community Health Worker, but we consider the resident to be responsible for managing their own recovery, which would include connecting themselves to resources they need.
- So in this way The Residence is not a typical Recovery House per SAMHSA

The Northern Lights House also meets several elements of SAHMSA’s definition of Supportive Housing.

It is
- Accessible, the Northern Lights Residence offers income-based rent
- Includes access to support services, the housing is co-located with the Clubhouse program, and a Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) provides assistance to residents
However, Supportive Housing is expressly defined as permanent. The Northern Lights Residence may be long-term but is not expressly permanent and, like many Sober Houses, ask residents to agree to behavioral norms like sobriety and communal living.
- So in this way The Residence is not typical Supportive Housing per SAMHSA

These Housing Models Help People Live and Thrive in the Community

Research has shown that these housing models can:

help people obtain and sustain recovery,
increase employment outcomes, and
improve housing stability.

They also reduce systemic reliance on costly approaches such as hospitals, emergency services, and prisons and jails. Individuals working across different systems may not have awareness of or access to these and other housing models. This limits equitable choice and access.

Resources

If you are in need of housing or struggling with substance issues here are some resources:

Ely Housing & Redevelopment Authority - The HRA offers safe, decent, and affordable housing for low and moderate-income persons without discrimination. The HRA is committed to effective management with wise and prudent use of public funds, in providing housing options and opportunities, to enhance the quality of life in our communities.

Kathrine’s House - Katherine’s House is a licensed board and lodge facility specializing in supporting women who are in the recovery process for their mental health and/or chemical dependency struggles.

MN Adult & Teen Challenge – Comprehensive residential mental health services for substance dependency.

Range Mental Health - integrated person-centered behavioral health and a substance use treatment care services to help people reach and maintain productive and dignified lives. Residential and outpatient care.

Range Transitional Housing - provides transitional and permanent supportive housing to homeless households in northern St. Louis County, MN. Anyone who is currently homeless will first need to contact 211 to schedule an assessment.

Bill’s House - Bill's House provides temporary shelter and services to meet basic needs of individuals who have fallen on hard times and have nowhere left to go.