Close to downtown, close to the river
Riverside, Avondale and Ortega line the west bank of the St. Johns River, just southwest of downtown. Riverside Avenue, Park Street, St. Johns Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard (US-17) are the main roads. Ortega sits farther south, across the Ortega River.
Being this close to the core helps. Downtown, with the courthouse and many county offices, is a short drive. I-95 crosses the Fuller Warren Bridge to the Southbank, and from there it is a straight shot south and east to the Southside, where many programs are.
For outpatient care, that means a manageable commute for many families here. For residential care, you have the whole city, and the rest of the First Coast, to choose from.
If a sober home comes up
Good questions to ask a sober home
- Is the home certified? Florida has a voluntary certification for recovery residences, so ask whether the home holds it.
- What are the house rules on drug testing, curfews, visitors and jobs?
- Does the home expect residents to be in treatment or going to meetings?
- What does it cost each week or month, and what happens to the deposit if your loved one leaves?
Signs to slow down
- Free rent, gifts or cash offered if your loved one goes to a certain program
- Someone asks for your insurance card for the house, not for a treatment program
- No written rules, no lease or no clear person in charge
Florida law bans paying for patient referrals. If an offer sounds too good, read our patient brokering red flags before you agree to anything.
Resources near Riverside, Avondale and Ortega
- Libraries. The Jacksonville Public Library has the Willow Branch (2875 Park Street) and the Bill Brinton Murray Hill Branch (918 Edgewood Avenue South) nearby. They offer public computers and free WiFi, and some locations have meeting rooms you can book.
- Free naloxone. DOH-Duval’s NARCAN distribution page lists its Westside Children’s Dental Center at 120 King St. (32204) among the sites that give out NARCAN free. Call 904-253-1488 to confirm before you go. See also free naloxone in Jacksonville.
- Court options. If your loved one is in danger and refuses help, Marchman Act petitions are handled by the Duval County Clerk of Courts downtown. Read how to file a Marchman Act in Duval County.
- Rides and referrals. Dial 2-1-1 for United Way 211, free and open 24/7.
Living close to downtown also means you are close to San Marco and Downtown and Springfield. If the list below is short, check those pages too.
After treatment, staying close to support
The weeks after treatment are often the hardest. Living close to downtown makes it easier to keep going to outpatient care, meetings and doctor visits, even without a car.
Before discharge, ask the program for a written aftercare plan with names, times and places. If your loved one will move into a sober home, make sure the plan covers how they will get to treatment from there. Our aftercare guide has more ideas.
Licensed programs near Riverside, Avondale and Ortega
Free listings, checked against Florida DCF. Sponsored listings are always labeled.
Chemical Dependency Counseling (Westside)
6983 103rd Street Suite 2A, Jacksonville
Gateway Community Services
555 Stockton St, Jacksonville
Inspire to Rise (Westside)
5927 Old Timuquana Road, Jacksonville
Recovery Counseling and More
4570 St Johns Ave Suite B, Jacksonville
Riverside, Avondale and Ortega families ask
Is a sober home the same as rehab?
No. A sober home is a place to live with others in recovery, with house rules. It is not medical or clinical treatment. Many people move into one after detox or residential care, while they keep going to outpatient treatment.
How do we find out if a program near us is licensed?
The centers listed on this page were checked against Florida DCF records. For anything else, check the license with Florida DCF yourself before your loved one starts.
Can my loved one stay close to home and still get serious care?
Often, yes. A partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient program (IOP) can be strong care while your loved one sleeps at home. Our PHP and IOP guides explain each one.
How do we know if a sober home near us is a good one?
Ask whether it is certified, read the house rules and visit before move-in. Be wary of any home that offers free rent or asks for insurance details.
Where can we find free meetings?
AA, NA and other mutual-help groups meet across Jacksonville. Our AA and NA meetings guide shows where to find current lists.