Many wonder what the difference is between sober living homes and a halfway house. There are many similarities between the two and finding out which one is most appropriate for your loved ones continued addiction recovery care is important. Residents in sober living homes often continue to be part of Intensive Outpatient Programs which follow up their inpatient rehab programs at Coastline Behavioral Health in Huntington Beach.
When sorting through the differences between the two types of residential homes, it is important to note that not all homes are one-size-fits-all. The most important distinction between a sober living and halfway house are the program prerequisites. Most don’t realize this but sober living homes do not require residents to have completed an inpatient or outpatient rehab program before moving in. This means that individuals who are seeking sobriety, but have not gone through extensive rehabilitation, can join other residents who have.
Another major difference between the two involves the length of stay. Sober living homes leave the length of stay up to the resident, allowing for long-term boarding. Halfway houses have set time frames that recovering addicts can stay, and as a result, turnover is often much higher. When individuals need continuing care for addiction after inpatient treatment, some government funding might be available for those looking into halfway homes. This often means that residents are not voluntarily submitting themselves to further care, and might be court ordered to remain in a specific home for a set period of time.
Sober living homes will require that residents comply with all rules set forth in the contract signed upon entry. These rules will include the specifics of any monthly financial obligations, as well as all rules of conduct while within the sober living home. Halfway house and sober living residents both should have access to round-the-clock staff and access to their support systems.
Halfway houses were first designed to offer those in jail with social or mental issues to receive proper care while they relearn skills that will enable them to rejoin society. There are many federally funded halfway houses throughout Southern California set up to deal with inmates released with drug addiction. Some halfway houses only accept those with a clean criminal history.
Each facility will have their own list of rules and regulations that all residents must adhere to in order to remain at the home. Taking responsibility for self-care and helping with house chores will always be required by both. This not only establishes respect for the home’s appearance, but requires that residents work well within a team and establish expectations that all can work to achieve. Living in a sober living or halfway house should never be an unpleasant situation. Some of the common rules for both sober living and halfway houses are the following: