Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Sullivan
Hi Maggie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a native St. Louisan, raised in a large Irish-American Catholic family primarily out of South St. Louis. My upbringing was painful, shaped by growing up in a working-class family steeped in alcoholism and mental illness. My father, who grew up in the projects of downtown St. Louis, suffered from schizophrenia and alcoholism. He rarely drew a sober breath while awake, and his struggles deeply afflicted my family.
Amid this chaos, I bounced from school to school through 8th grade, but school was indeed my happy place. I loved everything about the structure it provided, from the schedule to the textbooks to sports (I still love textbooks!). My brain lit up when I was reading books, diagramming sentences, and learning history. I was incredibly fortunate to attend an outstanding all-girls high school that truly changed my life. The sisters of St. Joseph influenced my desire to be a strong and confident woman and “serve the dear neighbor.” They instilled in me a need to grow spiritually and their support helped me excel in high school and earn a full athletic scholarship to the University of Florida.
I began drinking in high school and can see now how rapidly it progressed even though it seemed normal at the time. In college, my addiction escalated dramatically. Despite feeling liberated by being so far from my family, I struggled with depression and lacked any real coping skills. I drank heavily, often alone.
I left college with admission into several PhD programs in history and job offers to teach at two wonderful suburban public school districts. But by that point, I was so dependent upon alcohol that I turned them all down to work full-time at a bar in Soulard, where I could drink excessively and cheaply.
In 1998, I drove myself to the Hyland Center and checked myself into treatment. I knew it existed because we had dropped my dad off and picked him up from there dozens of times.
Leaving treatment, I was committed to sobriety and took the common suggestion to attend 90 12-step meetings in 90 days. However, like so many who leave treatment, I really had nowhere to go when I was discharged. I looked at my only real choices: I could return to my drug-dealer ex- boyfriend’s apartment in a dangerous part of the city or move in with family members who were often abusive, unsupportive of my recovery, and actively drinking. I chose the latter, but it was excruciatingly hard—I cried every day and tried to spend as little time there as possible. A few months later, a kind and anonymous person in AA gave my sponsor money to cover a deposit for my own apartment. That gesture may have saved my life, and I’ve often reflected on how lucky I was to stay sober. Many are not so fortunate when returning to unstable environments, which is why I believe so deeply in the transformative power of sober-living homes.
My sobriety became the foundation for a beautiful life that includes a 27-year career in education. I worked in phenomenal public and private high schools across three states, taught at WashU and St. Louis Community College, coached volleyball, and eventually transitioned to school administration. School administrators are like CEO’s as they oversee everything from educational programming to finance, marketing, fundraising, safety, IT, human resources, and community outreach. My career also led me to amazing programs at Stanford, Yale, and Harvard, and I earned my master’s degree at WashU and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University.
Most people do not last more than a few years in education, so I am proud of my career, I worked incredibly hard and was passionate about teaching and learning. However, the demands finally took a toll on my health. Stress-related issues forced me to reevaluate my path; when I left education, I knew I wanted to lead a nonprofit with a mission that either empowered women, uplifted the underserved, or promoted the arts. My involvement on the board of Gratitude House made it a natural fit when the organization realized it needed an Executive Director. The board offered me the position, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Running a sober-living home is a lot like running a school actually. At Gratitude House, I’ve come full circle, using my personal experiences and professional skills to help women in recovery. Every day, I am inspired by the resilience of the women we serve and our all-female board. I cherish the opportunity we have to help addicts rebuild their lives. And I am on a mission to mentor women to realize that their dreams are probably too small -that with hard work, spiritual growth, and service to others, nothing is impossible.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
see previous answer
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Gratitude House ?
The mission of Gratitude House is to reduce the rate of relapse by providing a safe, supportive, and beautiful home for sober women committed to 12-step recovery.
At Gratitude House, women with 30 days of continuous sobriety—having completed either 30 days of in-patient treatment or 30 days of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, with a sponsor and a commitment to recovery—are welcomed into a community where they can rebuild their lives. Grounded in the principles and traditions of the 12-steps, residents are immersed in fellowship, service, and gratitude, surrounded by others who share their dedication to sobriety.
Our vision is for women to stay for as long as they need, up to one year, during which time they will gain the structure, accountability, and fellowship needed to reduce the risk of relapse and empower them to thrive. Gratitude House offers not only a clean, beautiful home but also a supportive environment that promotes financial responsibility—requiring women to work at least 20 hours a week and pay rent on time—ensuring they develop the tools necessary for long-term sobriety and independent living.
While living at Gratitude House, women support each other, complete household chores, attend daily 12-step AA and/or NA meetings, and contribute positively to the home and the wider community. Our aim is for every woman to leave with a solid foundation, increased confidence, and a network of supportive women to help her sustain her recovery.
Even after leaving, Gratitude House remains a resource—a place where former residents can seek guidance, receive support, and give back by serving others in recovery. We envision every woman leaving with a sense of pride, knowing she has the tools and support system to continue her journey, and that Gratitude House will always be here for her.
As an organization, we aim to create a superior model of care that we can replicate, enabling us to expand by purchasing additional homes and increasing the number of women we serve.
ABOUT GRATITUDE HOUSE
Opened in the spring of 2024, Gratitude House is nestled in a peaceful suburban neighborhood on a one-acre lot and can accommodate up to eight women. Residents must have 30 days of sobriety (inpatient treatment or 30 meetings in 30 days of AA and/or NA) before moving in, and they are expected to maintain their recovery through active participation in the 12-step program.
Applicant Requirements:
• Sobriety: Applicants must have maintained 30 days of sobriety, achieved either through inpatient treatment or by attending 30 AA or NA meetings within 30 days supported by a sponsor.
• Employment: A job or a strong readiness to secure employment upon moving in is essential.
• Financial Readiness: A $50 security deposit and two weeks’ rent are required upfront (Total=$300).
• Medication-Free: Applicants should not be using mood-altering or addictive prescription medications.
• Commitment to Recovery: Above all, applicants should have a genuine desire to stop drinking and using substances, with a commitment to working a 12-step program and an attitude of gratitude.
Resident requirements: Residents are welcome to stay as long as they need for up to one year as long as they can follow these simple but important guidelines:
• Stay sober
• Attend daily AA and/ or NA meetings
• Employed for at least 20 hours a week during the day
• Complete chores
• Attend morning and evening check-in everyday
• Honor 9 pm curfew
• Pay rent on time
• Contribute positively to the household
• Be an ambassador for Gratitude House, helping to serve others
Rent is $125 per week and includes room and utilities, with coffee and snacks always available.
Gratitude House stands out as the only sober living home for women in St. Louis County. It is more than a place to stay—it offers a comprehensive approach to recovery, combining structure with compassion. The home features a live-in house manager, a woman with decades of sobriety, who provides constant support.
To further enrich their experience, professional volunteers offer residents financial literacy training, academic counseling, career guidance, and wellness programming. These resources help women stabilize their lives and prepare them for success post-recovery. Backed by a strong board of women and an Executive Director with extensive experience, Gratitude House is meeting a critical need in the St. Louis area, where the demand for sober living homes far exceeds the available supply.
WHAT MAKES GRATITUDE HOUSE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SOBER LIVING HOMES?
A home with heart: Raising the standard for transformative, personalized, and accountable sober living.
Many sober living homes provide only basic housing and minimal structure, operating more as a place where residents are just expected to live and not use drugs or alcohol. These homes often lack live-in guidance; instead, they may rely on a resident with slightly more sobriety to act as a monitor in exchange for reduced rent. This approach often falls short of providing effective accountability or true mentorship.
In many SLHs, the focus is solely on staying sober, without structured programs for personal development. Requirements may be as low as three meetings a week, with little verification, allowing residents to go through the motions without real engagement. Such environments may allow residents to even become “dry drunks” where individuals are abstaining but not actively acquiring new tools for living.
The physical environments of standard SLHs are often bare, institutional, or even rundown, and may be even located in less desirable neighborhoods. These settings fail to provide the warmth and stability that foster healing and a sense of dignity. Residents are often left on their own to find meetings, jobs, recovery friends, and sponsors, which can make it challenging for them to build the solid foundation needed for long-term sobriety.
In contrast, Gratitude House elevates every aspect of the sober living experience. Our home is beautifully furnished, meticulously clean, and located in a serene, desirable suburban neighborhood, creating a welcoming, dignified space. Our House Manager, who lives on-site, has over 36 years of sobriety and professional experience, offering hands-on, compassionate guidance far beyond what most SLHs provide. Unlike typical SLHs that allow residents to come and go with minimal engagement, we require morning and evening check-ins and daily meeting attendance, fostering accountability and community.
Gratitude House is deeply rooted in the 12-step AA and NA programs, emphasizing the importance of not just sobriety but active recovery work. Our residents engage in daily reflections on their meetings, focus on gratitude, service, and financial responsibility, and have access to weekly support from volunteer professionals in areas such as job readiness and financial literacy. We also have a therapy dog, adding an extra layer of comfort and companionship to our supportive environment.
Gratitude House is more than a sober space—it’s a community dedicated to genuine transformation, blending structure, care, and empowerment to create a foundation for lasting recovery
We rely 100% on donations from individuals, so please consider making a gift in honor of the alcoholic/addict you love or have lost by donating on our website or mailing a check to PO Box 37057, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.
Learn more about us at gratitudehousestl.org or contact us at gratitude@gratitudehousestl.org.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
The Spirituality of Imperfection by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
Breathing Underwater by Richard Rohr
The Bhagavad Gita
Each Day a New Beginning by Karen Casey
Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir by Matthew Perry
Recovery: Freedom from our Addictions by Russell Brand
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gratitudehousestl.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gratitudehousestl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GratitudeHouseSTL
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-sullivan-ed-d-866b6020
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gratitudehousestl/
