Difference Between Sober House and Halfway House

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. Residents in sober-living homes commit to abstaining from substance use while participating in outpatient programming or after completing inpatient drug rehab. To have the best chance for effectively recovering from addiction or substance abuse and remaining sober long-term, individuals should look for drug-free, stable housing that will support their recovery. Those living in a sober living house are serious about their recovery. The goal is to transition to an independent lifestyle – free of substance abuse and addiction. Anyone who wants to stop drinking alcohol or using drugs should consider joining a sober living community.

By the 1970s, Oxford Houses became a successful model for a sober living house. These homes, rather than being run by one landlord, were communally run on a democratic basis. Instead of mandating 12-step meeting attendance, Oxford Houses’ only requirement was sobriety, though most residents were involved in 12-step programs.

What are standard sober house rules?

As a result, many people who go to halfway houses find that they are forced to leave long before they are ready. Rapid urbanization made it difficult for anyone, let alone people suffering from addiction, to find housing. The deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals left many people with addiction problems suddenly homeless. In Los Angeles, California, members of Alcoholics Anonymous began forming “twelfth step houses,” where residents could live together in a safe and supportive environment.

In addition, the government funds or owns some halfway houses in California. Instead, private individuals or treatment centers own sober living homes in the state. This type of sober living Selecting the Most Suitable Sober House for Addiction Recovery is more of a steps phase that follows the continuum of care at an addiction treatment center. Clinical services are provided in-house with a strong emphasis on life skills development.

How to Pay for Your Stay at a Sober Living House

These types of sober livings do tend to charge higher fees, however, they are often able to provide a very affordable alternative to what would otherwise constitute high-priced inpatient treatment. People do not typically enter sober living while they are going through a rehabilitation program. Although most sober living homes require ongoing support group participation or therapy for their residents, they are not the same as rehabilitation programs. Many individuals that have been living in prisons or jails for extended periods of time also don’t have anywhere to live. As a result, halfway houses provide such individuals that are newly released from prison or jail with safe places to live. They often operate at the minimally restrictive level, with far fewer rules or guidelines than other types of sober living homes.

While the level of support is less intensive (and less expensive) than that offered in residential treatment, it is more intensive than the relative autonomy found in freestanding SLHs. Some residents probably benefit from the mandate that they attend outpatient treatment during the day and comply with a curfew in the evening. For some individuals, the limited structure offered by freestanding SLHs could invite association with substance using friends and family and thus precipitate relapse. This could be particularly problematic in poor communities where residents have easy access to substances and people who use them. Thus, sober living homes provide their residents with the support and structure that they need to maintain their sobriety.

How to get into a sober living home?

In fact, it’s the mission of Live Free Recovery Services and structured sober living homes in New Hampshire to help men and women recover from chronic alcohol and drug addiction. There are several similarities between halfway houses and sober living homes. One of these similarities is the possibility for such housing facilities to host individuals that are new to recovery from substance addiction, regardless of whether those individuals are also former inmates or not. Sober living houses allow those in recovery to develop independence, to establish themselves, and to thrive in a sober environment. In treatment settings specifically, sober living homes will couple this independence with the benefit of 24/7 watchful and accessible care. This means you can meet with a counselor or clinician, whenever you need it most.

Transitional Housing programs are often designed to complement day treatment programs like Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient counseling. It is common for residents in Transitional Housing programs to be taken on scheduled community trips, participate in life-skills development workshops and holistic recovery presentations, and more. Sober Living homes are group homes designed for individuals recovering from alcoholism and addiction issues.

Halfway houses provide a transitional period in a regulated environment to increase the likelihood of life success. After completing a rehabilitation program, maintaining sobriety in the outside world can be a challenge. Sober living homes, also referred to as three-fourths houses, are designed to accommodate those dealing with this challenge. They provide a supportive, safe space where people can live free of addiction with others who share the same goal. The same way there are misconceptions about addiction, there are a lot of misconceptions about recovery housing programs.

It’s easy to confuse sober living houses with rehab centers or halfway houses, but there are some stark differences among them. Rehab centers offer intensive recovery programs that help residents overcome addictions by following strict rules and regulations. Halfway houses usually require that residents complete a formal rehab treatment program and they limit the amount of time residents can stay to 12 months. Most of the rent for the Options SLHs was paid by General Assistance or Social Security Income, so a variety of low income residents could be accommodated.

What is a Sober Living Home, and What Can it Mean for You?

Sober living houses can foster peer encouragement, camaraderie, character development, and accountability in residents. The outcomes of living in such an environment can include positive health, behavioral, and relationship changes. The most important thing I can do in my life is remain clean and sober to be a testament that recovery is possible. Going to a sober living house has been proven to support sobriety efforts, with results ranging from a decreased amount of relapses to long-term sobriety.