Sober Living vs Halfway House: What’s the Difference?

Sober living homes provide a combination of freedom and structure to help the person begin to adjust to life outside of rehab. They are set up specially to serve as transitional housing for people coming out of treatment. Recovery residences are less expensive than living at a rehabilitation facility or detox center because fewer services are offered. But many sober homes require residents to attend support group meetings or participate in 12-step programs or outpatient treatment, which may be an additional cost for residents to consider.

Before considering how to start a sober living home, it’s crucial to understand its primary purpose first. Sober living homes offer a safe and supportive environment for those recovering from alcohol or drug addictions. At a sober living home, residents benefit from a substance-free living environment where they can focus on healing and getting sober. Each sober living home involves general house rules and guidelines for residents to follow. In addition, drug testing requirements are also put into place to ensure everyone in the home remains sober. Additionally, research supports the idea that living in a sober home provides many benefits for people in recovery.

Common Challenges for New Sober Living Homes

They provide a balance of supervision and independence that allows people to transition back to work, school and daily life. Sober living homes don’t require accreditation, a state license or oversight from a behavioral health care provider. The lack of regulation has led to the creation of homes that lack access to support services or strict rules. Most residents at sober living homes have a private or semiprivate room.

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 what is a sober house help keep folks sober, and risking the loss of that when completing the program can be a threat to your recovery. If you or someone you know has recently quit drinking alcohol and is now sober—congratulations, quitting alcohol can be a long and difficult process.

Get to know other residents

In fact, multiple people who care about you could all chip-in to cover the costs. A SLH is essentially a drug- and alcohol- free residence for people attempting to abstain from substance use. Here’s a list of basic sober living rules that many homes enforce. Join the thousands of people that have called a treatment provider for rehab information.

• A sober living home typically costs the same as the average apartment.
• Halfway houses also require that all residents either be currently attending substance abuse treatment or have recently completed a program.
• The ways that sober living houses work vary depending on the level of support provided.

Oftentimes these areas are residential in nature, and you might face backlash from the community when you try to start a sober living home in their neighborhood. However, with regard to community backlash, the federal Fair Housing laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act are on your side and protect people who need to live in sober living homes. You do not need a license or certification to open a sober living home, but some states require voluntary certification processes to be met first. Maintaining sobriety can be a difficult process, however, a sober living house may provide you with the kind of structure and support you’ll need to maintain your sobriety. If you’re having a hard time adjusting to a sober life, reach out to a mental health professional who specializes in addiction and substance use. Something important to note is that sober living houses are not the same as halfway houses.

Sober Living Houses

If you or your loved one can’t follow these rules, then it’s likely that they won’t be allowed to stay at the sober living. Recovery and sober living homes can empower individuals to get the help they need, and the aftercare required to complete rehabilitation. Having a solid support system and a safe living environment allows residents to grow, and to get the accountability they need to sustain sobriety. Private owners usually own these homes, but charities and businesses may also own sober living houses. If you live in a recovery house, you may either have your own room or share one with a roommate.

Peer support is always necessary for recovery, but the first few weeks, months, and years of sobriety are often the most vulnerable. Finding a quality residence is made easier by accreditation agencies that ensure that their affiliated sober living homes meet appropriate standards. If you are not court-ordered or mandated to be in the residence, then you may leave the sober living home at any time. If you are paying to live at the residence and you leave before the contract ends, you may still be financially responsible for the length of time you agreed to stay. Another challenge for us is the enabler in the addict’s life—usually a parent or spouse—who inhibits the resident’s recovery. The most common traits I see in a typical resident are selfishness and a lack of maturity.

Sober Living Homes

But understanding how sober living homes work is a little bit tougher of a task for some of us. In the communal home, residents must pay their own way and may be required to take on more responsibility than they would in a rehab center. For example, members must often pay for rent and hold a steady job or attend school. They must also contribute to the community by helping with chores, taking responsibility for their actions, and respecting and obeying all house rules. Sober Living Homes (SLH) are a pivotal part of the recovery process and extremely important to the long-term recovery of those who have gone through treatment for addiction.

• The medical wing is equipped with a nurses’ station and rooms for drug screenings, medication management and psychiatric care.
• Former residents and treatment alumni may visit regularly to provide additional guidance and support.

Some sober-living facilities are only offered for as long as you are in the treatment program. For others, you can remain in a sober-living environment after treatment is completed. As sober houses are simply residences and not structured inpatient care, you are free to hold down a job and your pay could easily cover the costs. Most people find things via the internet these days, and it can be marvelously helpful. But, your research can’t directly answer your questions and you don’t have a background in sober living house.