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

By providing separate homes, facilitators can provide gender-specific care to improve the chances of success. Sober living homes are typically located in secure, serene neighborhoods to provide a stable housing environment. By Julia Childs Heyl, MSWJulia Childs Heyl, MSW, is a clinical social worker and writer. As a writer, she focuses on mental health disparities and uses critical race theory as her preferred theoretical framework.

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Sober living homes are meant to be safe, supportive environments that emphasize the importance of building a community and camaraderie with others. Individuals typically enter an SLH after being discharged from a clinical treatment center before returning to their previous home and routine. They are environments free of substance abuse where individuals can receive support from peers who are also in recovery. There is no time limit on how long someone can live in a sober living house. While meeting attendance and household duties may be required, there isn’t regimented treatment programming present in the home. While Level 4 homes are included in “recovery residences” they wouldn’t typically be considered “sober living homes” since they fall into the category of inpatient treatment, rather than aftercare.

CREDENTIALED STAFF

Halfway houses are often reserved for those who have completed a residential treatment program and require additional support and supervision as they transition back into the community. Residents in halfway houses may be subject to more stringent rules, including mandatory curfews and drug testing. Residents are often required to take drug tests and demonstrate efforts toward long-term recovery. Recovering from addiction is hard, and having the right support can make a big difference.

• A reputable SLH or halfway house should be well-maintained and have enough space for all of its residents.
• Most of the actual treatment doesn’t happen on site, but certain life skills and support groups may be provided at the house.
• 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.
• Sober living homes in the U.S. aren’t covered by insurance and are often paid for out of pocket.
• These homes can offer an in-between option for individuals after they complete a treatment program and before they return to their homes and lives.
• So take this knowledge, and let it guide you towards making choices that support your journey to lasting sobriety.

Red Flag: Does Not Require Abstinence or Regular Drug Testing

• They give their residents the time to build social, financial, and life skills for independent living.
• Establishing a sober lifestyle is difficult during the early stages of recovery.
• Ethical behavior is vital when it comes to running an SLH or halfway house.
• They furnish you with the tools, support, and structure needed to build a solid foundation for your recovery journey.
• One such example is the Sober Living Network that was started in 1995 and currently represents 550 homes in Southern California.

But THC director Randy Shaw said at a February press conference that a majority of THC residents surveyed would like sober options. Lauren Hall, co-founding director of DISH, a SF-based PSH provider, recently told the Homelessness Oversight Commission that there aren’t enough case workers. “We are in dire need of sophisticated case management programs that understand the complexity of the folks that we’re serving,” Hall said. Two bills aim to change the city’s rules around drug use, part of a broader attitude shift in San Francisco toward crime and drugs. Last year, Mayor London Breed vowed to arrest dealers and users to combat open-air drug markets. In March, voters easily approved two Breed-backed measures to give police more power and require drug screening for welfare recipients.

This deliberate shift helps bridge the gap between the supportive environment of the home and the complexities of the outside world. You’ll learn to navigate challenges, manage stress, and make healthy choices—all without relying on substances. All sober houses have a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of drugs or alcohol.

• There still are curfews, a no-tolerance policy toward alcohol and drugs, and other rules in place to ensure that residents can thrive in a positive, encouraging environment.
• A Level I sober living home typically does not have any paid staff and relies on its residents to monitor behavior and enforce policies and procedures.
• That said, verify with your insurance provider whether your plan covers sober homes or not.

If a screening flags someone as a user, they can volunteer for treatment and perhaps sign up for Cash Not Drugs. Once signed up, the program would pay up to $100 for passing a weekly drug test. It would allow city funding for low-income “sober living” homes, which prohibit the use of drugs and alcohol on site. A reputable SLH or halfway house should be well-maintained and have enough space for all of its residents.

What Is A Sober Living Home?

In her clinical work, she specializes in treating people of color experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma through depth therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) trauma therapy. Finally, a transitional housing center with a sobriety requirement could be of great help if you’re struggling with housing insecurity, mainly due to addiction struggles. The indictment also accuses Jordan, Dawkins and Williams of fraudulently billing for peer support services. The facilities also often require residents to be drug tested to ensure they are complying with the rules. But as The Frisc has reported, staff shortages and an increase in high-need residents have strained the PSH system, leaving some officials to think about another level of housing and services.

• Both sober homes and halfway houses provide stable, drug- and alcohol-free housing as a transition from one phase of life to the next.
• If you or a loved one is due to finish treatment for drug or alcohol addiction and are worried about the temptations of daily life, staying in a sober living house may be the right choice for you.
• They also have the opportunity to pursue educational and vocational goals, such as completing a degree or obtaining a job.
• Residents who live in SLHs and halfway houses are entitled to both safety and privacy, which may be ensured by having clear safety and privacy rules.

As such, sober living houses serve as a space to transition into a life without addiction, developing tools and community while getting used to the demands of daily life. Sober living homes provide a safe and drug-free environment for individuals who are committed to maintaining their sobriety. With rules that encourage personal responsibility and a support system that fosters growth, these homes play a crucial role in the recovery process. Whether you’re newly sober or looking to strengthen your sober house commitment to sobriety, understanding the role of sober living homes is a vital step in your journey. Sober living refers to a supportive living environment for individuals recovering from addiction. It bridges the gap between inpatient rehab facilities and a return to normal life.