Difference Between Sober House and Halfway House

Residents are expected to participate in rehabilitative programs and to complete all court-mandated requirements, such as community service. Many people develop meaningful and fulfilling relationships with their roommates. Sober living houses (also called halfway houses or recovery houses) refer to group residences for people recovering from addiction. Sober living homes offer safety and support for people recovering from drug or alcohol abuse.

If you’re seeking substance abuse treatment, consider us here at Harris House. Feel free to reach out with any questions about our different programs — we’d love to talk to you about your options. If you’re getting out of an inpatient program, there should be plenty of discussion between you and your treatment team about what the next steps for you will look like.

What is it Like to Live in a Sober House?

Sober living homes provide a combination of freedom and structure to help the person begin to adjust to life outside of rehab. They are set up specially to serve as transitional housing for people coming out of treatment. Finances can be crucial in determining the best plan for your recovery. However, sober living houses are not covered under insurance since they do not provide treatment services and thus aren’t considered rehabilitative facilities. All of the individuals that live in a sober living facility are new to addiction recovery. Thus, it’s usually a requirement within sober living homes for residents to abstain from alcohol or drugs while living there.

It’s important for aftercare to be considered before you even enter treatment. Many people benefit from residing in a sober living house after completing treatment, but you don’t have to make this decision alone. Those searching for the right sober living home should look for facilities with reputable staff, and a safe and productive living environment and culture. Today, sober houses are “free-standing,” independently owned and operated. They’re not licensed by an official body, nor do they provide licensed professional services onsite.

Effectiveness of Going to a Sober Living House

You might be wondering how long most people stay at a substance abuse halfway house or sober living home. After all, the idea isn’t to be there forever; the goal is to get you out into the world on your own terms. Each program will have a different policy when it comes to length of stay. Some will allow you to stay for as long as you’d like, as long as you’re following the rules.

What’s the difference between a sober home and a recovery residence? In Massachusetts, sober homes and recovery residences are different models for substance abuse recovery. Recovery residences —formerly known as halfway houses Selecting the Most Suitable Sober House for Addiction Recovery — are licensed residential treatment programs, while Massachusetts sober homes are peer-led and do not provide treatment. Sober homes provide mutual support, emphasize independent living skills, and depend on peer leadership.

The History of Sober Living Houses

However, they also have to submit to random drug testing, adhere to a curfew, and follow house rules. Have you or a loved one completed a substance abuse treatment program or detox? There are many benefits of sober living homes, with the most obvious one being that they offer people a safe place to live and heal. Users can get away from the temptations of their hometown – their peer-pressuring, drug-using, party-going friends – and find solace in a protected, peaceful environment. They can focus on their healing (physically, mentally, emotionally) and take the steps needed to re-discover and re-establish themselves. Clinical services are also used in communities separate from the sober living facility.

• Typically there is either a house manager that enforces the rules or the home runs under a social model where residents share in the decision-making for the home.
• Each sober living house will have its own specific set of house rules, and these rules are more detailed than the resident requirements listed above.
• However, there is no limit to how long an individual can remain in sober living, provided they continue to follow all the rules.
• Sober living houses (also called halfway houses or recovery houses) refer to group residences for people recovering from addiction.

View our editorial content guidelines to learn how we create helpful content with integrity and compassion. The use of this website is subject to our privacy policy and disclaimer. Lack of administrative attention suggests that the facility may not be well-run or legitimate, which could put your sobriety at risk. Let our team help you find the recovery program that is right for you. Choosing recovery close to home means your support system is just a few miles away. An operator of a Certified Sober Living Home that voluntarily reports its certified status to DMHAS shall provide the number of beds available in the Sober Living Home at the time of its report and weekly thereafter.

Residents of sober living facilities must abstain from drugs and alcohol, which provides an excellent peer support system for everyone who lives there. Recovering addicts can practice life skills, such as paying rent and maintaining a clean living space, while surrounded by other sober individuals. Sober living houses allow those in recovery to develop independence, to establish themselves, and to thrive in a sober environment. In treatment settings specifically, sober living homes will couple this independence with the benefit of 24/7 watchful and accessible care. This means you can meet with a counselor or clinician, whenever you need it most.

Sober living refers to a type of supportive housing that offers residents a substance-free living space. Generally, a sober living home will house six to eight people, with two roommates to each bedroom. A house manager oversees the daily activities in the house, including the distribution of housework, cooking, and other duties, and ensures that the house rules are being followed. The house manager also convenes a weekly house meeting, which provides residents with an opportunity to engage in productive discussions and to air any grievances. Today, sober living homes can be run by a business, a religious group, or by private individuals.