The goals of completing treatment may include transitioning from inpatient rehab to a halfway house or sober living facility. In some cases, moving in with family is not an option. There may be substances within the residence that could be enticing to a newly sober person.
Recovery halfway houses and sober living homes are similar stepping stones to independent sober living. Yet they may have different standards and rules. It is crucial to understand the differences to choose what transitional housing will best meet individual needs and wants.
Defining Recovery Halfway Houses
Halfway houses are a stepping stone from inpatient rehab and living independently. Additionally, residents in recovery halfway houses might also come from a correctional facility where they were serving time for a drug-related crime. Halfway houses are a protective shield from the pressures and triggers society holds for the newly sober person. It should be noted that there are rules and requirements to adhere to as a resident to continue residency.
Drug tests are required to monitor sobriety. Mental health, medical and recovery, or educational services are often available. There are chores, rent to pay, and meeting requirements to maintain. Most residents must work or enter occupational education programs, and volunteering is encouraged.
Are Halfway Houses and Sober Living Homes the Same?
Recovery halfway houses are transitional housing units similar to sober houses, requiring substance-free living. The similarity lies in the residents who are newly sober but not quite ready to live independently.
In the halfway house, there may be a limit on residency and qualifications for entry. People who have detoxed and completed an inpatient program are most likely to be successful in a halfway house. On the other hand, sober living homes provide a safe, structured, and sober environment for people newly sober who want to live a recovery-based lifestyle.
First, all residents must have sobriety; additional support services are readily available. It is ideal for people just completing inpatient rehab, with many sober living opportunities associated with the treatment center the resident came from. Finally, individual therapy and further healthy living education are encouragements for all residents.
Expectations of residents in a sober living home include:
- Participation in daily household chores, keeping personal space and belongings organized, neat and clean
- Participation in a 12-step program
- Work part or full-time, or go to school and volunteer regularly
- Maintain total sobriety
- Be respectful to all housemates
- Participate in random drug tests
Benefits of Recovery Halfway House
The benefits of recovery halfway houses after an inpatient treatment program or release from a correctional facility are significant. A higher level of freedom is allowable as long as the resident maintains curfew requirements.
Residents can choose the type of work that suits them and the educational goals that are of personal interest. Living with other residents with similar lifestyle goals and challenges allows them to share the experiences that positively affect them. Guidance and structure remain, but the residents can make significant life decisions for a healthy future.
Rules, Responsibilities, and Duties
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that in 2020, there were approximately 17,943 recovery halfway houses in the US. Clear standards for recovery housing must be in writing so that residents know every rule, expectation, and responsibility.
These environments promote a positive, inclusive, and equitable atmosphere, so when residents are ready to be independent in their new sober lifestyle, they are ready. All residents must participate in performing specific household duties and maintaining personal responsibilities while obeying all the rules.
Specific rules can vary in each recovery house, but a general idea of expectations is as follows:
- To remain sober and submit to random drug testing.
- Be respectful of other residents, their space and property, and the common area
- Attend 12-step meetings on a regular schedule.
- Contribute to the house, including chore schedules, and attend house meetings
- Avoid fighting with other residents.
- Keep the curfew.
- Pay rent and choose to work, attend school or occupational program, and consider volunteering in the community.
Recovery Halfway House Goals
When the time comes to leave the inpatient treatment for a substance use disorder, transitioning to a recovery halfway house is the completion of a significant goal. Following inpatient treatment, residents learn how important it is to set goals and plan to achieve them while residing in the recovery halfway house.
Utilizing new tools, such as living in the present moment, avoiding triggers, and continuing to work for personal growth, are integral to achieving new goals. Above all, transitioning to the realization that life is about making goals, attaining them, and setting new goals is healthy and contributes to longevity in sobriety.
Typical goals to make while residing in the halfway house include:
- Maintain continual sobriety while sustaining excellent physical and mental health.
- Determine the parameters for independent living after leaving the halfway house and how to get the ideal living situation.
- Commit to achieving educational goals by working towards occupational opportunities in a desirable field.
- Find an occupational opportunity that is long-term, fulfilling, and enjoyable while supportive of lifestyle needs.
- Work toward building relationships, personal growth, and giving back to the community.
Are They Co-Ed?
There are all types of recovery halfway houses with different residential rulings. Some are co-ed, others gender-specific; in some cases, even expectant mothers are acceptable residents.
Various agencies have their requirements and standards to run these transitional living options, which can address the needs of diverse populations. Leaving inpatient treatment or correctional facility, guidance for a suitable living arrangement is often essential.
Funding for Recovery Halfway Housing
An essential parameter to consider is the cost of living in a halfway house. Prices are variable, beginning as low as $100 and upwards to $2000 a month.
Geographics are responsible for much of the variation, but amenities are another factor in the price differences. Insurance coverage is sometimes available, with scholarships, grants, and bank loans as other payment options.
Weigh Options for Transitioning to a Recovery Halfway Housing in Tennessee
Building the foundation for a new life is a huge commitment that requires weighing the pros and cons of the ideal transition home after treatment. Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee can reveal the benefits of sober living options so that all future decisions revolve around a well-rounded understanding. It is essential to list personal needs and future goals to discover the best option.
Contact Freeman Recovery Center to receive all pertinent information to make the right decision.
