We Are
IDA CARES.
A Philadelphia-based sober living organization built on the belief that where you live matters in recovery — and that everyone deserves a real chance to rebuild.
Our Mission
At IDA CARES, our mission is simple: to provide safe, supportive, and structured homes where people in recovery can do the hard work of rebuilding their lives — with community around them and accountability built in.
We exist because the gap between inpatient treatment and independent living is where too many people fall. We're here to close that gap.
How IDA CARES Started
IDA CARES was built from a name and a memory.
Marc Jackson grew up in North Philadelphia — no heat, no running water, and a mother named Ida whose battle with addiction shaped everything about his childhood. He was eight years old when he understood, in a moment he's never forgotten, that the life he knew was about to change.
IDA CARES is named for his mother, as a promise. A promise to provide the people addiction touches with real support, real community, and a real chance to rebuild.
Our homes are built on that belief: structure without restriction, accountability without judgment, and a community that doesn't let you rebuild alone.
"I am a product of what I'm trying to teach." — Marc Jackson, Founder
What We Stand For
Dignity
Every person who walks through our doors deserves to be treated with respect — not as a case file, not as a liability, but as a human being with a story and a future.
Accountability
We hold our residents to real standards — not because we don't trust them, but because we do. Accountability is one of the most powerful gifts a community can offer.
Community
Recovery doesn't happen in isolation. We're intentional about creating homes where people actually know each other, look out for each other, and celebrate each other's wins.
Equity
Sober living shouldn't be a privilege. We work hard to keep our homes accessible to people at every stage of their financial recovery.
Rooted in Philadelphia
IDA CARES was built in Philadelphia because Philadelphia is home, and right now, our home needs a helping hand. We know this city — its neighborhoods, its recovery community, its referral networks. We're not a franchise. We're neighbors.
Want to Know More?
We'd love to tell you about what we're building.