Diversity Policy

Zen Sober Living | zensoberliving.org
Effective Date: April 20, 2026
Last Updated: April 20, 2026

1. Statement of Commitment

Zen Sober Living (“ZSL,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to fostering a residential community that is welcoming, inclusive, and free from unlawful discrimination. We believe that every woman seeking recovery deserves access to safe, supportive housing without regard to her background, identity, or circumstances. This policy affirms ZSL’s legal obligations and organizational values with respect to diversity, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination in all aspects of our admissions, residency, and operations.

2. Governing Legal Framework

ZSL operates in full compliance with all applicable federal and Florida state fair housing and non-discrimination laws, including:

• The Federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3619), as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability;
• The Florida Fair Housing Act (Florida Statutes §§ 760.20–760.37), which mirrors and reinforces federal protections across the seven federally protected classes;
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which requires reasonable accommodations for individuals with qualifying disabilities, including substance use disorder;
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving federal financial assistance;
• The Affordable Care Act (ACA), Section 1557, prohibiting discrimination in health programs and activities;
• Florida Statutes § 397.501, which enumerates rights of persons seeking or receiving substance abuse services in Florida, including the right to be treated with dignity and without discrimination;
• NARR Standards (National Alliance for Recovery Residences) and FARR Standards (Florida Association of Recovery Residences), which establish best-practice ethical obligations for certified recovery residences in Florida, including non-discrimination principles.

3. Women-Only Residency: Lawful Limitation of Scope

ZSL is a women-only sober living residence. This limitation is lawful and intentional. Under the Fair Housing Act and applicable Florida law, a housing provider may restrict residency based on sex where the restriction is substantially related to a significant programmatic interest, including the creation of a gender-specific safe environment tailored to the trauma-informed, recovery-focused needs of women. ZSL’s women-only model is supported by clinical and social research demonstrating that gender-specific recovery environments improve outcomes for women navigating substance use disorder, domestic trauma, co-occurring mental health conditions, and related vulnerabilities.

Admissions are open to individuals who identify as women, including transgender and non-binary individuals who identify as women, subject to ZSL’s standard admissions process and program requirements. This limitation to women does not constitute unlawful sex discrimination under applicable law.

4. Non-Discrimination in Admissions and Residency

Within the scope of ZSL’s women-only program, ZSL does not discriminate against any applicant or resident on the basis of:

• Race or ethnicity;
• Color;
• National origin or immigration status;
• Religion or lack thereof;
• Disability, including physical disability, mental health diagnosis, or substance use disorder in recovery;
• Familial status;
• Age (for adults 18 years and older);
• Sexual orientation or gender identity;
• Marital status;
• Socioeconomic background;
• Source of income, including public assistance, Medicaid, or housing vouchers (to the extent applicable under Florida law); or
• Recovery pathway (including 12-Step, SMART Recovery, faith-based, medication-assisted treatment, or other recognized frameworks).

ZSL evaluates all applicants solely on the basis of admissions criteria that are directly related to safety, program compatibility, and capacity to participate in and benefit from ZSL’s recovery-supportive community.

5. Disability and Reasonable Accommodation

ZSL recognizes that substance use disorder, as well as co-occurring physical and mental health conditions, may constitute a disability entitled to protections under the ADA and the Fair Housing Act. ZSL will provide reasonable accommodations and modifications to its rules, policies, practices, or physical premises as required by law, unless doing so would constitute an undue hardship or fundamentally alter the nature of ZSL’s program.

Requests for reasonable accommodation may be submitted in writing to ZSL’s administrative contact. ZSL will engage in an interactive process with the requesting individual and respond in a timely manner. ZSL will not retaliate against any resident or applicant for making a reasonable accommodation request in good faith.

Examples of reasonable accommodations ZSL may provide include:

• Permitting the use of prescribed medications as part of a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) plan under physician supervision;
• Flexibility in curfew or scheduling requirements related to documented medical appointments;
• Allowing assistive devices or mobility aids;
• Modified house rules for residents with documented mental health conditions, where consistent with overall program integrity;
• Accessibility modifications to shared or private spaces, where feasible.

6. Language Access and Communication

ZSL strives to make its services and communications accessible to individuals regardless of primary language. Where reasonably practicable, ZSL will make efforts to provide translated materials or interpreter assistance to applicants and residents with limited English proficiency. Applicants or residents requiring language assistance are encouraged to notify ZSL at the time of inquiry so that accommodations may be arranged.

7. Culturally Responsive Environment

ZSL is committed to maintaining a residential environment that is culturally sensitive and affirming. ZSL does not favor any particular religious tradition, recovery ideology, or cultural practice in its programming, and strives to honor the diverse backgrounds and identities of its residents. Residents are encouraged to observe their own cultural, spiritual, and personal practices to the extent that doing so is consistent with ZSL’s house rules and the wellbeing of the community as a whole.

8. Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is strictly prohibited by ZSL staff, management, contractors, and residents, and will result in corrective action up to and including termination of residency or employment:

• Harassment, intimidation, or verbal abuse directed at any resident, applicant, or staff member based on any characteristic listed in Section 4 of this policy;
• Creating a hostile living environment for any resident based on a protected characteristic;
• Making derogatory comments about any resident’s race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or recovery pathway;
• Interfering with any resident’s right to access ZSL’s services or exercise their rights under this policy; or
• Retaliating against any individual for reporting a suspected violation of this policy in good faith.

9. Reporting Discrimination or Harassment

Any resident, applicant, or third party who believes they have experienced or witnessed discriminatory treatment or harassment in connection with ZSL’s residency program is encouraged to report the concern promptly. Reports may be made:

• Directly to ZSL management in writing via email at info@zensoberliving.org;
• To the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR), which enforces the Florida Fair Housing Act, at (850) 488-7082 or fchr.myflorida.com;
• To the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at 1-800-669-9777 or hud.gov/fairhousing.

ZSL will investigate all good-faith complaints promptly and confidentially to the extent practicable. ZSL will not retaliate against any individual for filing a complaint or cooperating in an investigation under this policy.

10. Admissions Criteria Are Not Discriminatory

Nothing in this policy shall be construed to require ZSL to admit any applicant who does not meet ZSL’s published admissions requirements, which are applied uniformly and without regard to protected characteristics. Lawful admissions criteria may include, but are not limited to: evidence of completion of a medically supervised detoxification or inpatient program, agreement to comply with ZSL’s house rules and resident agreement, willingness to actively participate in a recovery program, background screening where required by law or program policy, and the capacity to maintain financial obligations associated with residency. Denial of admission based solely on the application of such criteria to any individual does not constitute a violation of this policy.

11. Policy Review and Updates

ZSL will review this policy annually and update it as necessary to reflect changes in applicable law, FARR/NARR certification standards, or ZSL’s operational practices. The most current version of this policy will be posted on the ZSL website at zensoberliving.org. Residents and applicants are encouraged to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Information

Questions regarding this policy, accommodation requests, or non-discrimination inquiries may be directed to:

Zen Sober Living
Naples, Florida
Email: info@zensoberliving.org
Website: zensoberliving.org

Zen Sober Living is an equal opportunity housing provider within the scope of its women-only recovery residence program. We are committed to the dignity, safety, and equitable treatment of every woman who seeks our services.