What is a Halfway House? What to Expect in Halfway Housing

Sober living homes and halfway houses are a wonderful option for those seeking a substance-free environment. Our Silicon Beach rehab offers clients a range of addiction and mental health support options. Beyond treating substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, our drug rehab in LA also allows clients to stay in a sober living home. Our LA addiction treatment program provides clients with a choice between three fully-equipped sober living homes. While sober living homes and halfway houses are similar in the purpose they serve, they do have several differences. For starters, halfway homes are often designated for people who are coming out of incarceration and who underwent a drug treatment program during their incarceration.

• Frequent drug testing ensures compliance with this cardinal rule, providing another layer of accountability within these shared living spaces.
• These are typically located in single-family homes in stable communities whose residents hold each other accountable and promise to not use drugs or alcohol.

Another significant difference — and benefit — is that sober living homes do not have a residency time limit. The expense is another significant distinction between sober living and halfway houses. Because they often have fewer facilities, less privacy, and less structure, halfway homes are the less expensive option.

What’s a Sober Living Community?

Many halfway houses also make attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or other 12-step meetings mandatory. Additionally, halfway houses assist individuals in transitioning back into society by helping them find difference between sober living and halfway house employment, develop life skills, and establish a support network. After treatment has been completed, not everyone has a safe and supportive environment to return to as they continue their sobriety journey.

Most sober living houses emphasize the use of 12-step group attendance and peer support. Sober living homes, sometimes referred to as transitional living arrangements, halfway houses, or recovery residences, can be a step down from formal substance use treatment programs. These homes can offer an in-between option for individuals after they complete a treatment program and before they return to their homes and lives.

Which Type of Recovery Housing Is Right for You?

While both sober living homes and halfway houses have many similarities there are also some important key differences to keep in mind when considering the best transitional home for you and your needs. Regardless of the reason, for those in need of somewhere to live while navigating the start of their new sober life, transitional homes are available. The two most common transitional homes are sober living homes and halfway houses. The ownership structures diverge significantly between these two options. While many halfway houses are state-owned entities providing free or low-cost accommodations to eligible residents, most sober living homes are privately owned.

In addition to these rules, people who live in these types of houses are encouraged to find work or go to school during the day and must contribute to the home by doing chores. Some people who live in halfway houses are required to be home by a certain time of night. These rules help residents learn to be responsible for themselves and their behavior. Sober living homes often have certain similarities, including the ability to come and go as you choose. There are rules that residents are expected to follow during their time at a sober living home, one of the most important being that they are sober and commit to remaining sober while there.