What Is A Halfway House?

What you will learn

• A halfway house is a place where a person makes a major life transition, such as recovering from substance abuse or being released from prison.
• In the recovery community, a halfway house is a place where an individual who has completed an addiction treatment program can learn skills to live independently.
• A halfway house may have various purposes, but the main goal is to help an individual who is newly sober learn to live a fulfilling and productive sober life and prevent relapse.
• The two main types of halfway houses include sober living houses and Oxford Houses.
• Some of the services provided by a halfway house may include aftercare support, job skills training, life skills training, mental health counseling, and referrals for social services.
• Different halfway houses might have different rules, but the rules of the house include abstinence, adherence to curfew, and mandatory attendance at house meetings.
• Government and non-profit funding, as well as some types of insurance coverage, may be available to help individuals and families pay for a halfway house stay.
• Other forms of addiction treatment include inpatient treatment, medical detoxification services, outpatient treatment, and aftercare support.

What Is A Halfway House?

A halfway house is a residential environment that provides support for newly sober individuals transitioning to a life without a dependence on alcohol. Halfway houses may also be referred to as sober living homes, residential treatment centers, or transitional housing.

What Is the Purpose of a Halfway House?

Recovery housing, or halfway houses, are designed to provide a supportive environment for recently sober individuals to learn life skills necessary for independent living as a sober member of society. This sober living environment provides the structure and peer support necessary for re-entry into the world without relying on alcohol as a crutch.

A recovery house may also serve the purpose of allowing the individual time and space to process their recovery without the influence of family or friends. Even well-intentioned loved ones can sometimes do or say something that triggers a newly sober person. The same is true for familiar environments and settings. It’s important for the individual to practice successful sober living without these potential triggers that could cause them to relapse.

People who benefit most from halfway homes are those who have successfully completed detox and an addiction recovery treatment program. Those who have recently earned sobriety may need additional support for long-term recovery as they re-integrate into independent living. Some of the services that may be provided by a halfway house include:

• Career and job training services
• Mental and behavioral health services
• Referrals for social services
• Volunteer and community involvement opportunities
• Life skills training
• Relapse prevention services

Types of Halfway Houses

Sober Living Houses

Also called a sober living facility, a sober living house is a residential facility where people in recovery live for a period of time after completing a rehabilitation program. Here, these individuals receive on-site aftercare support, which may include continued substance abuse treatment, behavioral and mental health services, and community-based support groups.

These services are often individualized and designed to help the person reintegrate into society as a sober and productive member. Sober living homes may provide various levels of care and often have a limit to the length of time a person can remain a resident.

Oxford Houses

Oxford Houses represent a small but significant number of available halfway homes. [1] These recovery residences may differ from other sober living houses. For instance, an Oxford House typically has no maximum length of stay. Instead, members stay in these houses for as long as they need to prior to transitioning to independent living. Most importantly, the house is self-sustaining and democratic. [2] There is no authority figure, such as a house manager or even staff members. Instead, residents work together to support one another’s sobriety and maintain the house.

Halfway House Rules

A halfway house will inevitably have its own set of rules and expectations for residents. Below is a list of common rules for halfway houses to give you an idea of what you can expect when you or your loved one arrives.

• Sobriety: Perhaps the most important rule of halfway houses is abstinence from drugs and alcohol. No such substances are allowed within the house, and residents may be subject to random drug testing to enforce this rule.
• Curfew: As residents are adjusting to sober living, a curfew may be imposed to help reset sleep schedules that may have been disrupted by late-night drinking. This level of structure may also contribute to the healing environment of a halfway house.
• Employment: Residents of halfway houses may be asked to maintain employment and pay part of their wages to the upkeep of the house. Exceptions may be made for individuals enrolled in school.
• House Meetings: Some halfway houses have mandatory house meetings where people discuss concerns about the living environment and make suggestions for improvement. These meetings may or may not directly reference a house member’s sobriety or recovery journey.
• Peer Support: Some halfway houses require residents to attend a peer support group, whether on-site or through an organization like Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA.
• Visitation: Halfway houses may have rules about who can visit the resident. For example, it may be limited to family members, or the house may have specific visiting hours. Overnight guests are typically not allowed.
• Conduct: There may be certain rules and expectations regarding a resident’s behavior. Typically, halfway houses encourage residents to respect one another and one another’s property and make meaningful contributions to the house (such as doing chores, for example). No fighting or use of weapons is allowed, and the person may be asked to leave the house after repeated or severe infractions.

How to Pay for a Halfway House

The cost of a halfway house can be fairly steep. This service provides not only a place to stay but also around-the-clock services for residents, which requires a lot of overhead. There are different ways individuals might pay for residential support:

• Private Pay: In some cases, an individual or their family members are able to afford the full cost of a halfway house stay.
• Government Funding: Government funding opportunities are available at both the federal and state levels in many cases. [3] There may be certain eligibility requirements, such as income thresholds or past incarceration, for example.
• Non-Profit Funding: In many cases, individuals can apply for grants offered by the treatment center or an outside agency. These are often funded by non-profit organizations or charities.
• Insurance: In some cases, your insurance plan may cover a portion of your halfway house expenses. This could depend on the type of insurance plan you have, your specific health insurance company, and whether it’s considered medically necessary for you to live in a halfway house for a period of time.

Addiction Treatment Services

Halfway houses or residential care facilities represent one of many different treatment options for people recovering from a substance use disorder. Others may include detoxification support, inpatient or partial hospitalization programs, outpatient services, and substance use counseling, for example. The most effective services for an individual may depend on where they are in their recovery journey. Whether you’re starting to think about recovery or you have months of sobriety behind you, support is available.

Amanda is a prolific medical content writer specializing in eating disorders and addiction treatment. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S. in Social Work. Read more