Why do users choose sober living?
The majority of users reported seeking sober living for the support and community that is inherent to that type of environment.
How do users find sober living homes?
Most users reported learning about sober-living opportunities through their in-patient care facility (either from a patient-care coordinator or word of mouth.
What would users change about sober living?
The most repeated response was cost. Other users reported that sober living needs a "better reputation" due to stigma or location of homes in bad neighborhoods.
What do users want the general public to know about addiction?
Responses suggest that users feel a sense of stigma about addiction and anxiety while searching for sober living opportunities.
Uncovering the Problem
User research began by distributing voluntary surveys within the recovery community through social media, primarily Facebook, to gather insights on what users think, feel, do, and say.
Here is what we learned from a survey of 20 users:
Opportunities
User research revealed that most individuals seeking sober living learn about housing opportunities while in in-patient treatment. This suggests that most users will have limited phone access and minimal access to a computer. Participants of the survey reported feeling anxiety while searching for a sober house. However, participants of the survey almost unanimously agreed that sober living played a positive role in their recovery.
Here are the goals that were gleaned from user research:
1. A mobile-first experience.
Ensure the platform is optimized for mobile devices, allowing users to easily access information from their phones.
2. Tour feature
Allow users to tour the house virtually.
3. An elevated user experience
Make navagation simple and information on availability easy to access.
Site Building
During the initial kick-off meeting with stakeholders, a checklist of "must haves" was developed to serve as an outline for the website:
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Home page
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About
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Tour
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Availability
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Contact
Inspiration was drawn from rental sites like VRBO and Apartments.com to include many high quality images of the home and interactive tiles to allow users to "walk through" spaces digitally. These features were included in the "Tour" page of the Hammell House website. The idea is to settle any anxiety by giving users the best "feel" for the house prior to moving in.
Prototypes
The initial website was built, proofed and published as a MVP with consent from stakeholders. Shortly after the soft launch, user feedback was gathered from two sources: data analytics and a questionnaire.
Example
Tour Page
On click
Open Hover Box
Prototype
Availability
Final
Availability
Final
Availaility
Marketing Materials
Final publication of Hammellhouse.com was followed by the creation of an Instagram account. In preparation for marketing outreach to inpatient rehabilitation facilities, a small, 5"x5" flyer was created which can be used by individuals seeking sober living and care coordinators alike.
Example: Desktop
Home screen
Learnings from MVP Testing
MVP testing reiterated what we learned in the first round of user research: that cost is a major deterrent to sober housing. After launch, there were many phone calls inquiring about bed availability. Since "Availability" was the second most-trafficked page on the site, this was an opportunity to increase the functionality of this page.
Cost
A "Funding" page was added to educate potential residents of financial options.
Availability
The CMS list of beds was added to the "Availability" Page to easily list availabe beds.
Example: Desktop
Home screen
Final
Availaility
Before
Availability
Final
Availability
Hammell House
Hammell House is a newly remodeled LGBTQ+ sober house in Minneapolis. This project included designing and building a web solution for a small business looking to elevate their digital experience. Visit: hammellhouse.com
Industry: Behavioral Health, Wellness
Role: Web Designer, Branding, UX
Duration: 1 month
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Final
Funding Page
The Funding page serves as a resource bank of non-profits that assist in immediate costs for sober living (such as the deposit and first month's fee).
Marketing materials
Final publication of Hammellhouse.com was followed by the creation of an Instagram account. In preparation for marketing outreach to inpatient rehabilitation facilities, a small, 5"x5" flyer was created which can be used by individuals seeking sober living and care coordinators alike.
JONATHAN JAKUBAS