Difference Between Sober Living and a Halfway House

During our in-depth onboarding process, we will show you how to set it up in order to successfully run your sober living house. Contact us today to see how we can help you open your own sober living house. By choosing to pursue a challenging transitional phase of recovery at a sober living home, you may minimize the likelihood of relapse derailing your recovery before it gets traction. Addiction is a chronic and relapsing brain disorder with relapse rates of between 40% and 60% similar to the relapse rates of other chronic health conditions. Boost your chances of sustained sobriety by reaching out to Gratitude Lodge for sober living in California.

Typically, residents entered these SLHs after establishing some period of sobriety while they resided in a nearby shelter and attended the outpatient program. A significant strength of the Options houses was that residents were able to maintain low alcohol and drug severity at 12-month follow up. Addiction recovery comes with many different treatment options, including where recovering addicts can stay while in recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction. However, it’s essential to understand the differences between these three types of programs to make the right choice for yourself or a loved one. We’re here 24/7 to help you get the care you need to live life on your terms, without drugs or alcohol. Talk to our recovery specialists today and learn about our integrated treatment programs.

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Sober living homes are alcohol and drug-free living environments that provide structured, transitional housing for men and women in recovery. The homes are often located in a suburban area or city and the geographic location is one of the factors that determines the cost of living. Many Oxford houses or less expensive sober houses can have a weekly rent as low as $150/week. Some houses may have an additional administrative fee or security deposit collected in addition to the weekly/monthly fee. Most houses that have full time staff start in the range of $3000; the cost of operation is very similar to senior living facilities.

The basic idea is that you shouldn’t try to get out of treatment as quickly as you can; you’re not going to see those positive outcomes if you don’t stay in treatment long enough for your specific needs. To keep residents safe, all successful sober homes have rules and regulations that you’re required to follow. While rules may vary, we’re going to discuss the general guidelines most homes require. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) originated in the 1930s and provided the steppingstones for sober housing by requiring strict sobriety, participation in the community, peer support, and a 12-step program.

What Are the Differences between Halfway Houses and Other Sober-Living Houses?

They first came into existence when a group of active participants in the Alcoholics Anonymous group created a “12-step” residence. 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.

After some period of time, usually several months, residents are required to move out whether or not they feel ready for independent living. A second issue is financing the houses, which often includes government funding. Finally, halfway houses require residents to have completed or be involved in some type of formal treatment.

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This is particularly concerning because our analysis of criminal justice offenders in SLHs showed alcohol and drug outcomes that were similar to residents who entered the houses voluntarily. There are several limitations to the study that are important to consider. First, we could not directly compare which type of SLH was most effective because there were demographic and other individual characteristics that differed between the two types of houses. Second, individuals self selected themselves into the houses and a priori characteristics of these individuals may have at least in part accounted for the longitudinal improvements. Although self selection can be viewed as a weakness of the research designs, it can also be conceived as a strength, especially for studying residential recovery programs. Our study design had characteristics that DeLeon, Inciardi and Martin (1995) suggested were critical to studies of residential recovery programs.

This often includes finding a stable living environment that is free of drugs or alcohol. Even the most highly motivated people can find it hard to remain sober if there are drugs or alcohol in their living space when they are newly sober. Although “program first” is often the best path to take, it is not a requirement in some homes. Some sober houses, including Vanderburgh House, will accept residents who are new to recovery provided they are willing to stay sober.

Common Alcohol Relapse Triggers

Join our sober living community or refer a client, family member, or friend. When residents do their research to choose a sober living home, six main factors will influence their decision to either enroll Selecting the Most Suitable Sober House for Addiction Recovery in a program or not. If you decide to open a co-ed sober living home, know that special rules and considerations will need to be made to ensure a welcoming and comfortable environment for all.

• Sober living homes offer more privacy and professional support than halfway houses.
• Each program will have a different policy when it comes to length of stay.
• Residents must adhere to drug screenings and house meetings are typical.

The Association for Addiction Professionals represents the professional interests of more than 100,000 addiction-focused health care professionals in the United States, Canada and abroad. The Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations evaluates quality of care provided by healthcare organizations. Footprints has the Gold Seal of Approval, which is the highest standard. Typically, as long as you follow the rules, you may live in the home for as long as you want.

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. The continuum of care when it comes to addiction treatment doesn’t just end when addiction treatment ends. There are still measures that people in recovery from substance addiction need to take to make sure that they can maintain their sobriety long-term.