Former Social Worker Builds High-Yield Portfolio with Sober-Living Rentals

Social worker Scott Steenbergh, frustrated by endless evening and weekend shifts, sought a way to spend more time with his children. He and his wife Rebecca enrolled in the Zero to Freedom real-estate program in 2020, purchasing a short-term rental in Caseville, Michigan, that booked solid for its first year. Seeing the profit potential, they added recovery housing to their portfolio, converting a single-family home into a sober-living residence in 2022 and now operating six such homes alongside two Airbnb units.

By renting individual beds—often subsidized by government or grant funding—their properties achieve cash-on-cash returns of 50-75 percent, compared with 10-40 percent for typical rentals. While the approach brings higher maintenance costs and the need to manage relapse incidents, it provides the couple with financial freedom, allowing Scott to work only when he chooses and Rebecca to focus on their real-estate business. Their success illustrates how niche rental strategies can generate strong returns for investors with relevant expertise.