In certain areas, a halfway house is much different from a recovery house or sober house. In these areas, a drug and alcohol halfway house is licensed by the Department of Health and has staff coverage 24 hours a day. Residents of work release housing are frequently required to pay rent on a « sliding scale » which is often dependent on whether or not they can find a job while in residence.5 In addiction-recovery houses, a resident’s stay is sometimes financed by health insurance.
- A sober living home is a structured, transitional living facility for recovering addicts or alcoholics who are reintegrating into society.
- These developments might have been expected to be the death knell for the halfway house movement.
- Sober living homes are privately operated, self-funded, and provide a more flexible, peer-driven environment for individuals seeking long-term recovery support without strict program timelines.
- There are different types of halfway houses, each of which is oriented toward helping individuals transition from specific situations.
- However, they are generally open to people who have completed an inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment program.
- Yes, you can leave a halfway house during the day however it is only permitted under specific conditions outlined in house policies.
- Cases of COVID-19 are uniquely dangerous in halfway houses due to the work release component of many facilities.
Benefits of Halfway Houses for Rehab Aftercare
Sober living homes may or may not be accredited or licensed through a state, local, or national agency. The National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) sets national standards that affiliate agencies can use to certify recovery residences and that individuals can use to find a sober living home with a high standard of care. AAC’s sober living facilities require patients to be enrolled in an outpatient program, which is typically covered by insurance. Laura Clarke of The Recovery Village describes how people transition back to work while staying in a sober living home or halfway house. They offer a middle step for people who are committed to being sober but aren’t ready to live independently.
Inmate discipline & appeal procedures at an RRC
Life skills training equips residents with important skills such as financial management, job readiness, and healthy communication, promoting long-term success in independent living. The largest CEC (now GEO) halfway house in Colorado was similarly subject to criticism when reporters found evidence of rampant drug use and gang violence, indicating the failure of the facility to provide a supportive reentry community. Subsequent audits identified a number of major staffing issues, including high turnover rates and misconduct. This pattern of inadequate staffing extends to CEC halfway houses Drug rehabilitation in California, where a former facility director cited inadequate training and earnings barely above minimum wage. The clinical director of the California facility, responsible for resident health, did not possess a medical degree, or even a college degree. State-licensed halfway houses can be referred to by a variety of terms, like Transitional Centers, Reentry Centers, Community Recovery Centers, etc.
Directory – Residential Reentry Centers
- Journalists have revealed how, when individuals are required to have a halfway house lined up in order to be released on parole, they can encounter lengthy waitlists due to inadequate bed space, forcing them to remain in prison.
- This was accompanied by a strong faith in the scientific expert and a belief in rehabilitation of “sick” offenders rather than the punishment of “rational” actors.
- Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center.
- A halfway house is a type of prison or institute intended to teach (or reteach) the necessary skills for people to re-integrate into society and better support and care for themselves.
17.5% of adults with a mental illness also have a substance use disorder, emphasizing the need for integrated treatment according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Support groups and structured peer environments promote accountability, emotional stability, and relapse prevention, helping individuals build resilience in recovery. Halfway houses manage security and safety for residents through strict supervision, drug testing, and house rules that reinforce accountability. Staff members monitor residents, conduct regular substance screenings, and enforce curfews to maintain a substance-free environment.
Evidence Based
Halfway houses provide support to those who are new to recovery and are committed to a life without their addiction. If a person comes from a correctional facility, they can be court-mandated to live in a halfway house for a predetermined amount of time. Because of this, halfway houses can be used by the homeless or people coming out of incarceration. Now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is even more important that the public focus on the jail-like conditions of halfway houses which put vulnerable populations at risk. As of August 18, federal Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs) had 122 active cases, and 9 deaths, of coronavirus among halfway house residents nationwide. However, recent investigative reports suggest that the real numbers are even higher, as the BOP continues to underreport cases in RRCs and state-level data is nearly non-existent.
- As they became further integrated with the formal correctional system, eventually becoming the primary prerelease opportunities for inmates, these programs were often characterized as “halfway out of prison” programs.
- Some halfway houses are meant solely for reintegration of persons who have been recently released from prison or jail; some are meant for people with chronic mental health disorders; others are for people with substance abuse issues, generally called sober living houses.
- Testing frequency varies but includes random, scheduled, or suspicion-based screenings.
- Other types of halfway houses, however, are supported through various means, including government grants and corporate funding; those that are run as non-profit entities may be supported by donations or foundation grants.
For Loved Ones: How to Support a Loved One’s Mental Health
Search by location to compare costs and services, from government-funded options offering free or low-cost residency to private facilities with comprehensive support programs, helping you find transitional housing that fits your budget and recovery needs. The cost of halfway houses ranges from $500 to $2,500 per month, depending on location, amenities, and services provided. Government-funded halfway houses offer lower costs or free residency for eligible individuals, while private facilities charge higher fees due to additional services like counseling, job assistance, and medical care. The cost structure varies based on residence duration, house policies, and individual financial resources. Halfway houses support mental health during addiction recovery by providing therapy, support groups, and structured routines that help individuals manage co-occurring disorders. Many facilities offer individual counseling, group therapy, and access to psychiatric care to address underlying mental health conditions that contribute to addiction.
Inmate transportation to an RRC
Many halfway houses also make attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or other 12-step meetings mandatory. This removes temptation and helps people in recovery see that it is possible to enjoy life without these substances. Some halfway houses also require residents to work or seek gainful employment during their stay. These woeful inadequacies are indicative of a larger systemic failure of halfway house oversight that often results in deeply problematic conditions for residents. Too often, audits what is a halfway house are only conducted after journalists report on the ways specific halfway houses are failing residents, rather than government correctional agencies doing proper oversight on their own. Federal RRC residents3 are generally subject to two stages of confinement within the facility that lead to a final period of home confinement.
Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
- While going home may seem like a relief after so much time in treatment, for some people, the thought is overwhelming—especially if you’re in a triggering environment or don’t have a strong support system at home.
- In federal RRCs, staff are expected to supervise and monitor individuals in their facilities, maintaining close data-sharing relationships with law enforcement.
- It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
- Structured schedules ensure that residents engage in daily responsibilities, counseling sessions, and employment or educational pursuits, helping them regain independence in a supportive environment.
American Addiction Centers (AAC) offers sober living arrangements nationwide at Resolutions – Recovery Residences. In Canada, halfway houses are often called Community-Based Residential Facilities.8 The Correctional Service of Canada definition of a halfway house is similar to the general American definition of one. Sober living homes vary in cost from inexpensive ($100-$300/month) to expensive (over $2,000/month), but many are in the range of $400 to $800 per month depending on where you live. You should expect to spend around the same amount of money you’d spend on rent for a modest apartment. People who have detoxed and spent some time sober are most likely to succeed in this environment. These calls are offered at no cost to you and with no obligation to enter into treatment.
The typical rules and regulations of halfway houses establish guidelines to promote sobriety, accountability, and reintegration into society. These regulations help maintain a structured, substance-free environment where residents focus on their recovery and personal growth. Staff members, including house managers, caseworkers, and recovery specialists, oversee daily operations, enforce rules, and provide support. Residents follow structured daily schedules that include curfews, mandatory therapy sessions, job search requirements, and house meetings. This structured environment helps individuals build independence while maintaining accountability. Eligibility for halfway house residency includes individuals completing inpatient rehab, those in early recovery, people under court-mandated supervision, and individuals seeking additional support before living independently.
