Here’s a closer look at these two different resources for people in addiction recovery. It’s always a good idea to speak with the sober living home directly to get a better understanding What is a halfway house of the cost and any available payment options. Many individuals that have been living in prisons or jails for extended periods of time also don’t have anywhere to live.

There is no shortage of sober living homes in most areas of the United States. The Sober Living Home movement in California, which started in the 1970s, played a major role in growing the application of sober living homes. Instead of using a specific treatment model that viewed addiction as “completed” after a quick stay at an inpatient program, the movement emerged as a way to have long-term recovery in the real world. Halfway houses have a long history in the realm of addiction and alcohol recovery. In fact, the idea of halfway houses, which originated in America in the mid 1800’s, was created to integrate prisoners, not people in recovery, into society. Some facilities provide residents with a lot of structure and assistance in order to help them stay on track with their recovery, while others are less structured.

Should You Go to a Sober Living House?

While halfway houses are licensed by the state and staffed by the provider, sober homes are typically privately owned. They are regulated differently and are overseen by a “house manager” who is also a resident in recovery. Those who feel they need long-term accountability and community support can benefit from sober living homes. Another benefit of attending a sober house is that sober houses don’t specify the amount of time that their patients can reside there. This is different from halfway houses which often court-order their residents to live there for designated amounts of time. Instead, sober living homes require their residents to agree to other certain conditions prior to living there.

Other Recovery Residences have significantly more accountability and structure. The owner or paid staff may be involved in such a way that they check on the house and administer the drug tests. The owner or staff will also provide support and guidance to the residence.

What Is the Purpose of a Halfway House?

Halfway houses also help keep individuals that are newly released from prison or jail from getting in trouble. This is because halfway houses provide former inmates with places to live in housing communities that are filled with other people that are trying to better themselves after leaving prison or jail. Halfway houses also help former inmates stay out of trouble by providing them with structure in their lives. Since sober living typically follows addiction treatment, getting a referral from the treatment provider is recommended.

This was a home, typically placed in low-income housing, that enforced policies around sobriety and required attendance to AA meetings. Meetings were held both in the home and in neighboring organizations in the community. Often the structure and routine of treatment programs help keep folks sober, and risking the loss of that when completing the program can be a threat to your recovery. While FARR is not a licensing authority, the organization does ensure that certified recovery residences provide quality services nationwide.

What are sober living house rules?

Other referral sources may include the criminal justice system, a mental health professional, Twelve Step meeting participants, or friends and family. Whatever the source of the referral, take a tour of the facility and talk to the people living there to decide if it’s the right fit for you. Sober living houses, like halfway houses, maintain a strict abstinence policy which may be enforced with drug testing. Additionally, a sober living home may offer resources like career support, housing assistance and so forth, but each sober living home will differ in its requirements. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

• Sober living houses are often recommended for folks finishing up a drug rehabilitation program.Leaving the structure of a treatment program can be jarring, sometimes triggering a relapse.
• As you have read, there are fundamental differences in the terms “Halfway Houses” and “Sober Living Homes”.
• Sober living is encouraged early on in the sobriety process, after treatment, but before returning home.
• One distinct difference between halfway houses and sober living is that the initial establishment of halfway houses was for criminals.

Sober living homes also provide their residents with 12 step meetings, regular house meetings, and addiction recovery sponsors. Halfway house is a residence where people can stay after they complete a residential or inpatient treatment program or continue outpatient services. Halfway houses provide a transitional living environment for those who aren’t yet able to remain abstinent from drugs or alcohol on their own. They can also serve as a temporary residence while people in recovery take time to find employment and become financially stable before finding their own housing. While in an IOP house or OP sober living home, there are often more rules than a halfway house since it is affiliated with a treatment center.