While the two may seem similar, there are differences between a sober house vs. a halfway house. First, because halfway houses are tied to the criminal justice system, they are often government-run. On the other hand, sober living homes tend to be affiliated with an addiction treatment facility. Level one sober living homes tend to be single-family homes, whereas level two homes may be single-family homes or apartment buildings. Level three homes can include several different residential settings, whereas level four homes may be more institutional in nature.

• A halfway house is a community home typically designed for men or women who are mandated to spend time in a transitional facility.
• There are situations when people in recovery will move into a halfway house, usually as part of a court order or plea agreement.
• Sober living is just like it sounds, a place to stay where you’ll have a supportive community and can start your new life free from alcohol or other drugs.
• Because of the great depression, strict rules on parolees, and the mandatory requirement of prisoners having a job upon release, halfway houses began to decline.

Contact us to schedule a free addiction assessment with a licensed clinician at Design for Change Rehab. These software solutions make the whole process of case management, right from induction till exit a breeze for both the client and the case managers. In our previous piece, we had a look at how Transitional and Supportive Housing help in ending chronic homelessness for those in need. We looked at how Living in insecure housing can have a significantly negative impact on one’s health.

What is the Difference Between Sober Living House and Halfway Houses?

New concepts that combine scattered-site housing are now being embraced as the concept of transitional housing has evolved. Some of the transitional ‘supports’ are considered transferable in such instances. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Ultimately, your decision should be based on your individual needs and personal preferences. Talk to your support system and your healthcare provider or counselor to decide which option is best for you.

There are situations when people in recovery will move into a halfway house, usually as part of a court order or plea agreement. 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. Additionally, halfway houses customarily require residents to be enrolled in a treatment program or to have recently completed such a program. There may also be a limit on the amount of time a resident can stay at a halfway house.

How a Sober Living Facility Is Different from a Halfway House

This environment can be critical to allow people to move forward in life while surrounded by a community who is focused on support as each member transitions from one way of living into another. Halfway houses usually require enrollment in or completion from a treatment program and also tend to limit a resident’s stay. As well, residents of sober living homes may stay as long as they need to, as long as they adhere to the house rules, such as attendance at a certain number of weekly meetings. In these programs, individuals can develop positive coping skills with the tools necessary to maintain sobriety. We also include supervised, short-term housing to provide support for newly sober individuals.

People that are new to substance addiction recovery live in sober living homes to help them transition back into regular society post-rehab. Since sober living typically follows addiction treatment, getting a referral from the treatment provider is recommended. 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.

How Case Management Helps in Transitional and Halfway Housing

Typically, there are rules about shared living spaces and individual room maintenance and chores, visitor hours, meal times, curfews and Twelve Step meeting requirements. Also like other sober-living environments, halfway houses generally have systems in place to keep residents sober, and drugs tests are usually administered to monitor for any substance use. They also often come with additional mental health, medical, recovery or educational services that help people get accustomed to their new lives.

• They provide support for those who are struggling with a substance abuse problem and cannot control their urges on their own.
• For example, in a sober living house, the resident is responsible for paying their rent and food.
• Many people are shocked to learn that halfway homes were opened up in the 18th century.
• While you can work and/or go to school while living in a sober living home, you must continue to work on your recovery by attending 12-step meetings (or other recovery meetings).
• Back then, sober living homes acted as “dry” hotels that didn’t allow their residents to consume alcohol.
• The time spent in a sober-living home depends on a number of factors including strength of recovery from addiction, progress on clinical milestones and the personal living situation at home.

The need for housing for those in recovery was then addressed on a community level. Residents of the halfway house must complete or be enrolled in rehabilitation. Many of these homes will also reject individuals with a criminal background.

In contrast, three-quarter houses are typically less structured than halfway houses. While both halfway houses and three-quarter houses provide transitional housing for individuals in recovery, there are some key differences between the two. Inpatient treatment centers are also residential and allow recovering addicts to live at the facility for days. During inpatient care, patients will participate in different types of therapy and support groups. Inpatient rehab does not allow patients to leave the facility until their program is complete. This can be essential for those who are considering long-term options and feel that they would benefit from community support and accountability for a longer period.

Sober houses for guided independent living is provided through sober living programs. However, because high-quality sober houses are still somewhat supervised, you must adhere to the sober house’s basic regulations. Another big difference between halfway homes and sober living homes is the cost of the stay. Since halfway homes offer fewer perks, such as less privacy, they are generally less expensive. Sober living homes are usually more expensive because they are a little more luxurious.

Virtual Services

As you have read, there are fundamental differences in the terms “Halfway Houses” and “Sober Living Homes”. Basically, halfway houses are for parolees, who need to integrate into society after leaving prison. Sober living homes are for the general public, who are struggling with addiction or alcoholism and need to sober house vs halfway house find a structured environment to obtain long term recovery. Like sober living homes, residents must abide by specific rules and regulations of the halfway house or they may be asked to leave the facility. Some halfway houses also require participation in community volunteer activities or other forms of service.

For example, some people need active help transitioning back into the real world after completing their addiction treatment programs. 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. A halfway house is a community home typically designed for men or women who are mandated to spend time in a transitional facility.