Caring for People in Early Recovery
Northstar Recovery Living serves adults in early recovery who are stepping out of treatment centers or completing the GRE program and need a stable, substance-free place to land. We see residents as neighbors showing up for one another, not case numbers, and we build our days around shared responsibility, honesty, and peer support that feels real.
We stay intentionally small and personal so that support never gets lost in the shuffle. New residents feel that quickly in simple, concrete ways, such as someone walking them through bus routes, checking in after a job interview, or sitting down to review a budget together so the next month feels more secure and predictable.
How Our House Began
Founder Mbemba Ceesay watched too many people leave treatment or complete the GRE program only to end up in unsafe housing, back with old using contacts, or on a friend's couch without structure. The pattern was painfully familiar, because many of us in the recovery community had lived it ourselves, and we knew that even strong motivation could not stand long without a safe place to sleep and clear expectations each day.
Northstar Recovery Living grew out of that frustration and hope combined. Instead of waiting for a large institution to fix the gap, our peer community decided to build a small, structured, peer-run home that mirrors the accountability of treatment while feeling like real life. We wrote house rules, set up bi-weekly meetings, and designed a model where people with lived experience guide the culture so residents can move toward independence with stability and dignity.
Mbemba Ceesay
Owner & Program Director, Northstar Recovery Living
Mbemba Ceesay founded Northstar Recovery Living in 2026 to address a critical need in Washington state: providing structured, accountable transitional housing for individuals navigating early recovery. Driven by a vision of safe community governance, Mbemba established a peer-run sanctuary designed specifically to bridge the gap between intensive treatment programs, the Department of Corrections Graduated Reentry (GRE) program, and stable independent living.
Under his leadership, Northstar Recovery Living emphasizes strict peer accountability, high residential standards, and compassionate support. Mbemba is dedicated to empowering residents through practical life skills, employment readiness, and mutual respect, ensuring that every individual has the foundation necessary to build a self-sufficient, sober future.
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TOLERANCE POLICY
100%
FURNISHED ENVIRONMENT
24/7
RESPONSE CAPABILITY
Peer Leadership In Practice
Lived experience shapes our rules, support, and shared accountability daily.
Lived-Experience Peer Leadership
We rely on peers in recovery to guide culture, model accountability, and make daily decisions that keep the house safe and sober.
Structure, Rules, and Accountability
Clear expectations, random UA testing, and bi-weekly meetings create dependable structure that protects every resident's progress in early recovery.
Growth Toward Independent Living
We treat each stay as a training ground for stable, independent living, focusing on life skills, employment, and financial responsibility.
We welcome conversations with residents, families, and professional referrers who want to learn how our peer-run housing can support a safe transition into independent living, and our team is ready to discuss eligibility, house expectations, and next steps in clear, straightforward language.
Reach out by phone, email, or the website contact form to start the intake conversation at a pace that respects both your needs and program requirements.
If you are interested in sponsoring a resident or supporting our program, please call (206) 538-4979 to speak with a member of our team.