If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in the Dayton area, help exists — and most of it is free or low-cost. This is the page we wish everyone had on the hardest day. It's a resource, not a sales pitch.
In a crisis right now?
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For a mental-health or substance-use crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (dial 988, available 24/7). For free, confidential treatment referrals any time, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP). Veterans: dial 988, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
Where to start in Montgomery County
For local coordination, the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board funds and connects residents to treatment, crisis care, and recovery housing across the county. Their website (mcadamhs.org) lists the local 24/7 crisis line and funded providers. For national treatment search, FindTreatment.gov (run by SAMHSA) maps licensed programs by ZIP code.
How people pay for treatment & recovery housing in Ohio
Cost stops a lot of people from reaching out, but in Ohio it rarely needs to. Here are the main pathways:
Ohio Medicaid
Covers clinical addiction treatment (IOP, counseling, MAT, case management). The four managed-care plans are CareSource, Buckeye, Molina, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Apply free at benefits.ohio.gov.
ADAMHS housing assistance
Montgomery County levy dollars fund recovery-housing placement for residents who qualify — ask any funded provider or the Board.
Veteran programs
HUD-VASH housing vouchers, SSVF rapid re-housing, and VA Community Care for clinical services — coordinated through the Dayton VA.
Sliding scale
Many recovery homes (ours included) work with people who arrive with little or no income. Ask — don't assume you can't afford it.
For a full breakdown of recovery-housing pricing specifically, see our guide to what sober living costs in Dayton and whether Medicaid pays for sober living in Ohio.
For veterans in the Dayton area
The Dayton VA Medical Center is a hub for veteran recovery support. Veterans can access HUD-VASH (a housing voucher), SSVF (rapid re-housing grants), and VA Community Care for clinical treatment while living in recovery housing. Start with your VA case manager or the HUD-VASH coordinator, and see the VA's homeless veterans programs page. More detail in our guide to how HUD-VASH and the VA help pay for sober living.
Free recovery meetings near Dayton
Peer support meetings are free and run throughout Montgomery County, every day of the week:
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) — find Dayton-area meetings through the Dayton Area Intergroup or aa.org.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) — meeting finder at na.org.
- SMART Recovery — a science-based alternative to 12-step, with local and online meetings at smartrecovery.org.
Practical help — food, ID, transportation & work
Early recovery isn't only about meetings and treatment. The everyday barriers — no food, no ID, no way to get to an appointment — are often what knock people off track. Here's where to get the basics handled in the Dayton area, most of it free.
Food
- The Foodbank, Inc. (Dayton) — a free drive-thru pantry open to all Montgomery County residents (bring a state ID and proof of residence), plus 110+ member pantries across the county.
- House of Bread — a free hot lunch every day, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., 365 days a year, at 9 Orth Ave, Dayton.
- St. Vincent de Paul, Dayton — food pantries, clothing, and household items. Call (937) 222-7349.
State ID & vital documents
A photo ID is the key that unlocks almost everything else — housing, work, benefits, even the food pantry above. If you've lost yours:
- Birth certificate (Ohio births): Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County, Vital Statistics.
- Ohio State ID or driver's license: the Ohio BMV (online or in person); see Ohio Legal Help for step-by-step guidance.
- Coming home from incarceration? The Montgomery County Office of Reentry helps with IDs, documents, and reentry support.
Getting around
- Greater Dayton RTA — bus service across Montgomery County, with fare-assistance options. (Tina Marie's residents also get transportation to meetings and clinical appointments.)
Work — and one number for everything
- OhioMeansJobs | Montgomery County — free job search, résumé help, and placement services.
- Dial 2-1-1 (HelpLink 211) — a free, 24/7 United Way line that connects you to food, housing, utility help, transportation, childcare, and employment across Greater Dayton. When you're not sure where to start, start here.
What "OhioMHAS-registered" and "ORH-certified" mean
When you're choosing a recovery home, two credentials matter. OhioMHAS registration means the home is registered with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Ohio Recovery Housing (ORH) certification is the NARR-affiliated quality standard for recovery residences in Ohio — as of January 2025 it's required to legally operate a recovery residence in the state. Always ask a home where it stands on both. (Tina Marie's is OhioMHAS-registered and actively pursuing ORH certification.)
Recovery housing in Dayton
Stable, substance-free housing is one of the strongest predictors of lasting recovery. Tina Marie's Recovery Home operates structured sober living homes for men, women, and couples across the Dayton metro — see our homes, how the program works, and how long a stay should last. If you're a case manager, discharge planner, or family member, call (326) 212-0542 — we'll help you find the right fit, here or elsewhere.
This guide is provided as a free public resource and is updated periodically. It is informational only and not medical advice. If you spot an out-of-date link or a resource we should add, email info@tinamariesrecoveryhousing.com.