Sobriety House was incorporated in July of 1967 by Reverend Ernest Baber, an unorthodox minister, who left behind the comfortable church setting to run a street mission for the poor 25 years before opening Sobriety House. It was called the Citizens Mission and was housed at 1617 Larimer Street.

Reverend Baber joined with several concerned citizens to offer a low cost but dignified setting where a person could change their life. He had seen so much pain caused by alcoholism that he wanted to offer a home, AA meetings, a chance for counseling, an opportunity to find work, and the support of caring people.

In 1978, an independent program called Stepping Stone was experiencing financial difficulties. After seeking technical assistance from Sobriety House’s Board of Directors, they decided that the program could not sustain itself. Stepping Stone’s Board and the State Department of Health then asked Sobriety House to take on the responsibility of running the program. This acquisition broadened Sobriety House’s capabilities to include female clients and raised capacity from 36 clients to 50.

Later, in 1987, Thomas G. Vessels gave two houses he acquired in 1974 to Sobriety House at no cost to the program. These two houses were adjacent to the original house at 121 Acoma Street. Also in 1987, Sobriety House also acquired an apartment building at 1406 Gaylord Street where graduates of the program can live for up to nine months in a sober living environment.

In 2007, Sobriety House merged with the Phoenix Concept, and Sobriety House is the surviving corporate entity. For many years, this was a male facility. This building has since been placed for sale. To replace the Phoenix Concept building, Sobriety House purchased a property in Lakewood in late 2022.

Although Sobriety House was started by a minister, it is not now, nor has it ever been, affiliated with a church.