When you finally complete your medical detox as well as an inpatient or outpatient rehab program, you should move on to the next stage of healing. While going home may seem like a relief after spending so much time in treatment, it can be difficult for some people. This is especially the case if you live in a triggering environment or do not have a strong support system at home.
A halfway house is a terrific alternative to consider if you are committed to living a sober lifestyle but are not ready to move to live at home. Halfway houses offer assistance to those who are new to recovery and determined to live a life free of addiction.
What Purpose Do Halfway Houses Serve?
In some states, a halfway house is also known as a “sober living house”. It is a transitional housing facility for those in recovery from drugs or alcohol, those who just got out of jail, or those who are dealing with a mental health condition. Some people move to a halfway house after leaving a long-term addiction treatment clinic, prison, or a homeless situation. Others go to start their recovery journey in a sober living environment. Court orders have placed some people in halfway houses.
Because they are not equipped to cope with withdrawal symptoms or delirium tremens, several halfway houses require residents to pass a drug screening and/or breathalyzer test. Halfway houses are appropriate for those who have already finished medical detox and an inpatient or outpatient treatment program.
The length of stay at a halfway house varies, but most stay between three and twelve months. This offers you enough time to get back on your feet, find a stable career, and feel confident.
Who Is Eligible to Live in a Halfway House?
Most halfway houses have no restrictions on who can live there. Nevertheless, the majority of people who live in a sober living home have already completed a treatment program. This is primarily because halfway houses require you to remain sober while living there.
As a result, those who have already achieved some level of sobriety are more likely to succeed at a halfway home than the recovery beginners. However, fulfilling this requirement is not always a must. You can live at a halfway home if you are newly sober, have gone through detox, are willing to stay sober, and can commit to following the rules of the house.
Moreover, halfway houses serve as residences for prisoners in some cases. Many variables, including the nature of the prisoner’s underlying offense, determine a prisoner’s eligibility for residency in a halfway house. The decision is based on state law, the capacity of local jails and prisons, and the availability of halfway homes.
Halfway House Rules and Guidelines
The guidelines differ from one facility to another, but there are some that are standard in most halfway houses. When you move into a halfway house, you agree to these guidelines, and violations can result in fines, making amends, or even being asked to leave. Some popular halfway house rules and principles are as follows:
- You must maintain your sobriety. It is not allowed to use drugs or alcohol, and you will be subjected to random drug testing.
- You must help around the house by doing chores.
- There should be no fighting or violence directed at other neighbors.
- No stealing or destroying the property of another resident.
- You must respect the curfew.
- You must attend 12-step programs or other types of recovery meetings.
- If you do not already have a job, you may be asked to interview for one.
What to Expect at a Halfway House
In general, halfway houses are less structured and allow for more freedom than inpatient treatment programs. Nonetheless, they provide more structure and support than you get at home. You can work and/or go to school while living in a sober living home. Yet, you must still work on your recovery by attending 12-step meetings (or other recovery meetings).
The quality of sobriety you experience in early recovery may be unstable. This is true especially if you do not have a strong support network, shelter, food, or a job. All of those elements are required to develop solid sobriety, and halfway houses offer them right away.
Halfway houses offer a full staff prepared to assist you in rebuilding your life, both emotionally and physically. When someone first recovers from a severe addiction, they may have no source of income, no house, and no food. A halfway house provides all of these things.
However, in the early phases of a halfway house, you will most likely have your days to yourself, with the exception of therapy sessions and group meetings. You will be able to meet other people in the halfway house and build strong peer social connections that will support your recovery. Clients in halfway houses are among the most committed to sobriety. They take it seriously and will tell you about their experiences. Residents who have been there for a longer period of time can guide you through all of the phases of the halfway house.
The Next Step
Recovery is about remaining calm in the face of overwhelming odds. Initially, you will focus on group and individual counseling sessions in a halfway house. But later on, you will benefit from job services and social workers. They can assist you in applying for government assistance if you are with a disability, as well as resolving any financial concerns you may have. Then, they can even help you find work when you reach the point in the program where you have to work on the outside again.
It is much easier to relax when you know the folks you live with are sober and will not trigger thoughts of using. That is the distinguishing feature of the halfway house. It is a sober community of people who value quality sobriety over just sobriety. They work every day, just like you, to keep their serenity even as they confront challenges in their recovery, and they may share that valuable knowledge with you.
Does That Really Work?
Yes, it does work if you work at it, as they say in some programs. Your state of mind in the halfway house has a big impact on whether or not things work out. If you have co-existing mental health difficulties, be honest with your counselors so that they can help you with that aspect of your recovery as well.
If you have physical issues, make sure to tell the people in charge so that they can assist you to make your life better. A halfway house’s caring, empathetic staff will gladly help you in any way they can. Every single one of those employees is working for you. You can accomplish a lot if you work effectively with them.
How to Choose a Halfway House?
Sober living homes are not for everyone, but if you believe it would be good for you or a loved one, ask your doctor or therapist for a recommendation. If you attend 12-step or other recovery groups, you can also seek referrals from other members of your group. Still cannot figure it out? Do a simple Google search to check reviews and locate halfway houses in your area.
Conclusion
In short, rebuilding your life after addiction can be stressful and difficult, but halfway houses can make it much easier. Anyone with a restricted network of support or who does not have the financial resources to rebuild their lives from the ground up can benefit from entering a halfway house rather than the regular community. It is your responsibility to recover. A halfway house can assist in making it better and more lasting.
References:
- What is a Halfway House? | The Recovery Village
- How Does a Halfway House Work, and When Are They a Good Idea? – The Nextep