Host Dave Roberts interviews Jim Boad on the Teaching Journeys podcast about starting, launching, and scaling sober living and group homes. Jim shares how growing up with alcoholic, drug-addicted parents shaped his passion, his Army service, 25 years in real estate investing, and his shift over the past four years to sober living homes and the past year to coaching others. He explains sober living as an underemphasized but crucial step after rehab, improving long-term sobriety through structured, well-run homes and supportive community. Jim describes his Group Home Accelerator program, delivered largely through group coaching with weekly Q&A, plus tools, templates, and strategies for evaluating local need, building referral pipelines with treatment providers, maintaining bed occupancy, and running quality admissions. They discuss community stigma, being good neighbors, job training initiatives via a nonprofit, and Jim’s focus on Washington with fewer homes but more beds, emphasizing imperfect action and a memorable resident success story.

Bio and Contact Information

Jim Boad is a no-nonsense, entrepreneur on a mission to transform lives through housing. As the founder of Shelton Housing First, he’s personally launched over 14 recovery homes in the last two years—with eight more on the way—and he’s committed to helping others follow that same path with his book, Group Home Accelerator.

With a background in business and boots-on-the-ground experience in building both for-profit and nonprofit housing models, Jim blends strategy with heart. His step-by-step guide equips aspiring group home operators with the tools, mindset, and structure needed to create real impact—especially for those in recovery, reentry, or transition.

Jim also leads a high-touch coaching program designed to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs open, fund, and fill their own sober living or transitional homes. Through his work, he’s helped hundreds break through fear, red tape, and financial barriers to launch homes that change lives.

Faith and family are at the center of Jim’s mission. When he’s not building businesses or helping others do the same, he’s spending time with his wife, their kids, and their loyal pup, O’Malley. He’s known for saying, “This isn’t just real estate—it’s a calling,” and Group Home Accelerator is his roadmap for anyone bold enough to answer it.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16x6EKmA8U/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/ghaccelerator/

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-boad-aba962b5/

X: https://x.com/JimBoadGHA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClk94EgvIUVlVUzdkA7BZoQ

My Book: https://a.co/d/aElyB5E

Website: jimboad.com

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com