Sober Living or Halfway House? Whats the Difference?

Three-quarter houses can be an excellent option for individuals who have completed a rehabilitation program and are looking for a safe and supportive environment to continue their recovery. They offer a level of autonomy that can be beneficial for individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to their sobriety and are ready for more independence. Another reason you may decide to move into a sober living home is as an alternative to going to residential treatment. Many people in sober living homes attend intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) or receive other outpatient addiction services. Addiction treatment facilities (rehabs) offer programs that address all aspects of addiction. The goal of rehab is to help a person understand the underlying reasons for their substance use and develop the skills to maintain sobriety.

• With sober living homes, there’s no guessing game about what type of facility you’re walking into or what spectrum of individuals the facility caters to.
• In addition to sober living, following treatment, most people find it beneficial to continue seeing a therapist and/or counselor in addition to attending support group meetings.
• They may require regular or random sobriety testing such as breathalyzers and drug screening as it is a community requirement that residents remain sober.

This is ideal for anyone is committed to sobriety and in need of structure, discipline, and loving support. A halfway house also called a “sober living house” in sober house some states, is a transitional housing facility for drug and alcohol addicts. People are placed in halfway houses as a result of court orders in some situations.

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Sober living is organized like a private residence with privileges to privacy and space. Research published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs discussed how sober living spaces mimic comfortable homes because “the fees from residents sustain certain privileges”. The luxury level of sober living spaces varies across the country, depending on the cost of the rent.

Sober living homes and halfway houses share several commonalities, starting with purpose. Both sober houses and halfway houses provide housing and support for people working on their sobriety who no longer need inpatient treatment. The diversity makes it possible to offer many people the appropriate help to transition from patient treatment to a healthy lifestyle. Sober living residences have strict rules and a zero-tolerance policy for substance possession and abuse.

Sober Living Homes in Los Angeles, CA

This bracket of residential care is the most costly, however, it is also the only category that qualifies for insurance assistance. Acknowledges the problems he and Patrick faced at the halfway house they lived together at. He mentions that Patrick successfully used those experiences to transform Real Recovery Sober Living into a safe space for those seeking recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders. That was with the help of a sober living community, not a halfway house. You may prefer to live in an environment with others working toward their recovery in an atmosphere that provides accountability.

• He went through the basic elementary steps, completing an in-patient program for his early-stage sobriety.
• Both types of housing are generally single-gender or are only for women with children.
• Addiction is a complex issue, and recovery is a continuous commitment.
• Think of sober living as your support net as you practice new skills, gain new insight and shape your new life in recovery with other people who are possibly facing the same challenges.
• Thus, it’s usually a requirement within sober living homes for residents to abstain from alcohol or drugs while living there.
• The brotherhood between house members empowers everyone to walk through tribulations with much-needed support, and to meet our high standards.

In the late 1940s, some AA members decided to fill this pressing need by acquiring low-cost housing that required strict sobriety and encouraged residents to attend AA meetings. These became the first sober houses in California – some of which are still operating today. Many people develop meaningful and fulfilling relationships with their roommates. Residents in this phase learn to adjust to their new environment and live with strangers. The focus is to keep the person from drugs and alcohol while they adjust, so house rules typically set early curfews for people in this stage.