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Living in Recovery Inc

EIN 30-0651794 · Columbia, MD

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP MEN AND WOMEN RECLAIM THEIR LIVES FROM ADDICTION BY COMBINING SAFE, STRUCTURED, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT FOSTERS AN ENVIRONMENT OF PERSONAL AND PEER ACCOUNTABILITY.

Income
$610,473
Spending
$313,964
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-15 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
3
Volunteers
22

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $229,567 spent. LIVING IN RECOVERY, INC. (LIR) CURRENTLY OPERATES TWO HOUSES FOR MEN AND ONE FOR WOMEN WITH A TOTAL OF 19 BEDS. THE POPULATION SERVED IS ADULTS IN RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUG ADDICTION. TOO OFTEN PEOPLE LEAVING DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND QUICKLY RELAPSE BECAUSE THEY RETURN TO THEIR FORMER HOUSING AND ASSOCIATES THAT WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR ADDICTION. RECOVERY HOUSING HELPS STOP THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION-REHAB-RELAPSE AND INCREASES THE CHANCE FOR SUSTAINED RECOVERY. LIR OWNS OR LEASES RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN HOWARD COUNTY TO PROVIDE THIS HOUSING, BUT THE FOCUS OF THE WORK IS ON HELPING RESIDENTS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SOBRIETY AND DEVELOP THE SKILLS, HABITS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO SUSTAIN IT. LIR DOES NOT PROVIDE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT BUT REQUIRES THAT RESIDENTS MUST REMAIN FREE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AND BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN A DAILY RECOVERY PROGRAM, INCLUDING REGULAR ATTENDANCE IN AA OR NA MEETINGS, ALL RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN A SPONSOR AND A HOME GROUP IN THEIR FIRST 30 DAYS. THEY ARE SUBJECT TO RANDOM DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL RECOVERY PLAN THAT MAY INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. LIR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MONITOR SOBRIETY, SAFETY, HOUSEKEEPING, AND ROUTINE HOUSE ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, SHARE HOUSEHOLD CHORES, PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY HOUSE MEETINGS, ABIDE BY CURFEWS AND PAY RENT WEEKLY IN ADVANCE. THEY PROVIDE THEIR OWN FOOD AND PREPARE THEIR OWN MEALS. THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON RESIDENCY; THEY MAY STAY AS LONG AS THEY LIKE, ALTHOUGH MOST MOVE TO MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING WITHIN ONE YEAR. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, LIVING IN RECOVERY HAS SERVED OVER 300 RESIDENTS AND 65% HAVE REMAINED CLEAN AND SOBER WHILE IN RESIDENCE. THE POSITIVE IMPACTS ARE MANY: SOBRIETY, EMPLOYMENT, RECONNECTION WITH FAMILY, THE MUTUAL SUPPORT OF RESIDENTS ALL FACING THE SAME STRUGGLE, AND A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE. THE IMPACT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE RESIDENT, BUT EXTENDS TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, EMPLOYERS, CO-WORKERS AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, WHICH WILL NO LONGER NEED TO HOSPITALIZE, ARREST OR INCARCERATE THEM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.