What to bring to sober living — and what to leave at home
Packing for sober living is easier than people fear, and the mistakes are predictable: too much stuff, undeclared medication, and a bag full of things that will be sitting in an office until move-out. Here’s the complete list — what to bring anywhere, what never to bring, and what’s already waiting for you at Kokoro.
The list
Bring these, whatever house you choose.
One duffel and a backpack covers it. If it doesn’t fit in those, you probably don’t need it in month one.
| Documents | Photo ID, Social Security card if you have it, insurance card, EBT or benefits cards, and any court or program paperwork. These unlock jobs, benefits and appointments — the three errands of month one. |
|---|---|
| Medication | Every prescription in its original labeled bottle, plus the prescriber’s information. Everything gets declared at intake — including MAT medications like Suboxone, which are welcome at Kokoro under a written policy. |
| Clothes | About two weeks’ worth plus one laundry cycle: everyday clothes, one interview-ready outfit, workout clothes, swimwear (there’s a pool at Community Street), a jacket for Valley evenings, and shoes you can actually walk in. |
| Toiletries | The usual kit — with one caveat: alcohol-free everything. Mouthwash, hand sanitizer, even some colognes will be flagged at most homes. Check labels before you pack. |
| Electronics | Phone and charger, laptop if you have one. Phones aren’t restricted at Kokoro and every guest has a private workstation — job applications, school, telehealth appointments. |
| Money | A debit card and a realistic month-one budget: food, transport, phone, personal items — commonly $400–$800/month in LA. At Kokoro there’s no security deposit, so move-in doesn’t require the lump sum most homes ask for. |
| The personal things | Photos of people you love, a journal, a book, whatever your recovery practice uses. A room becomes yours through small objects, not furniture — the furniture is our job. |
Leave behind
What never to bring.
Anything containing alcohol — drinks obviously, but also mouthwash, cooking wine, some aftershaves and sanitizers. Non-prescribed drugs and paraphernalia, including someone else’s prescription. Weapons of any kind. These three are universal across every legitimate sober living home in California, and finding them after move-in is treated seriously everywhere.
Also worth leaving at home: valuables and heirlooms (shared houses are safe, but why test it), large furniture (your room is furnished — at Kokoro, brand-new), and the boxes of possessions that make a room feel like storage. Move in light. You can bring more later once you know what the room and the life actually need.
Not sure about a specific item — a supplement, an e-bike, a gaming console, a pet? Ask before move-in day: (626) 224-3711. Pets are considered case by case — here’s how that works.
Already here
What’s waiting when you arrive at Kokoro.
This is where homes differ most, and where packing lists on other websites go wrong — because what you need to bring depends entirely on what the house provides.
At Kokoro, every guest arrives to a full-size bed — never a bunk — already made with brand-new linens, a private dresser that’s empty and theirs, a workstation, and a fully equipped kitchen. The furniture is new, the appliances are new, towels are provided, laundry is on site, and wifi covers the whole property. You bring your clothes and your life; the bedroom is done.
So the honest Kokoro packing list is short: documents, declared medication, two weeks of clothes, alcohol-free toiletries, your phone, and the personal things that make a room yours. Everything else is our job — that’s the point of the house.
Moving in this week?
One call answers the packing questions and today’s availability at the same time. Move-in can happen in one to three days — sometimes same-day.