If you are in the process of addiction recovery, you have probably heard the term ‘halfway house.’ It even comes up in popular culture often enough that if you haven’t heard it in the recovery setting itself, you’ve likely heard it used on TV or in a movie. There are some misconceptions about halfway houses, and some confusion as to what they really are. This post will explain the basics of what living in a halfway house is like, and how it can be a major benefit to addicts in recovery.
Halfway Houses
Halfway houses are a sort of transitional living place for those who are in recovery from drugs or alcohol. Some states also refer to these as “sober living houses,” due to legal requirements. In essence, halfway houses are safe spaces where residents can live in between rehab and re-entering the “real world,” that allows time and space to cultivate a normal, everyday routine without the temptation to drink or use. Some people go to halfway houses after a stay in a treatment center, some enter them after release from prison, or a homeless situation. Others go into halfway houses or sober living houses to have a clean environment to begin the process of recovery.
Most halfway houses require residents to pass regular Breathalyzer and drug screening tests—administered either on a random basis, or weekly, or on other schedules depending on the facility—because they are not equipped to deal with withdrawal symptoms, unlike treatment centers and rehab facilities. It is also important for those who are coming from a treatment center to still have a way to be held accountable for their sobriety as part of the process of recovery.
What is Living in a Halfway House Like?
Many halfway houses are run by individuals who are former residents in recovery; typically halfway houses are single-sex—they will either accommodate women or they will accommodate men, though there are some that will take both. The ultimate goal of living in a halfway house is to get accustomed to regular daily life outside of the routines and schedules of treatment, and to reintegrate into normal society. The amenities available at a halfway house or sober living house will vary the same way that those at a treatment center tend to; there are sober living facilities that are very low in price because they are government-subsidized, and those that are privately owned entirely and cost more.
You will continue to undergo treatment while living at a halfway house, although generally not in as aggressive a manner as you do in a treatment center. There is usually a requirement to attend regular meetings—such as NA or AA—as well as to meet with a drug and alcohol counselor one or more times a week as part of ongoing “outpatient” treatment. You may also be subject to curfews or restrictions, such as having to be at home by a certain time each evening. Typically another requirement is to find a short-term job or vocation to participate in, as part of the process of reintegration. On average, residents stay for one to six months following their time in rehab, at which point they can go back into the “real world,” with healthier habits and a commitment to their recovery.