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

Always talk to people in the local recovery community if you are transitioning housing to find out if a sober living home is a safe place for you to be. The price difference between a good sober living home and a flop house is nothing compared to your life. However, there is usually more flexibility in terms of curfew and the level of participation in group activities. Three-quarter houses are designed to provide a more independent living experience for individuals in recovery who are further along in their journey. This can be essential for those who are considering long-term options and feel that they would benefit from community support and accountability for a longer period.

  • This can be essential for those who are considering long-term options and feel that they would benefit from community support and accountability for a longer period.
  • Initially, they were meant to house and rehabilitate juveniles who had committed crimes.
  • An Oxford House can accommodate six to 15 people, with the average number of residents being eight.
  • They will stay there for three to nine months after they get out of treatment.
  • While in an IOP house or OP sober living home, there are often more rules than a halfway house since it is affiliated with a treatment center.

Residents in sober houses have complete autonomy while being held accountable by peers and/or supervisory personnel. Clinical supervision may be available in some long-term sober living homes, but not all of them. The same way there are misconceptions about addiction, there are a lot of misconceptions about recovery housing programs.

Sober Living is Possible While You’re Away at College

They’re not licensed by an official body, nor do they provide licensed professional services onsite. Many people benefit from residing in a sober living house after completing treatment, but you don’t have to make this decision alone. Unfortunately, relapse can occur anywhere, and relapses do occur in some sober living homes. While the activities in a sober living home will vary with the facility, residents typically start their day with assigned chores and breakfast. People with obligations outside the house, like court appearances, rehab sessions, or community service, also do the same. Sober living aims to help an addict in recovery reintegrate themselves back into society with a clearer head on their shoulders.

Both institutions exist in the transitional phase of a person’s life but there are some very important distinctions between the two. The following are some histories, explanations, and distinctions for both halfway houses and sober living homes. People often confuse the two because both are facilities used to help people ease from use disorder inpatient treatment to fully independent living.

Who Should Consider Joining a Sober Living House?

The freedom of recovery is worth the small compromises that come with living in a sober house for a few months. It’s like living in a college dorm – without all the alcohol-induced vomiting and all-night cram sessions. You gain very valuable friendships in sober living and spend some nights up till dawn just laughing. Only when he coincidentally bumped into Patrick sober house at an AA meeting did John C. Sober living homes rarely offer professional services within the home.5 Instead, most residents will stay in a sober living home while attending IOP or outpatient treatment. Most halfway houses operate under state supervision, so residents have a corrections officer or social worker they must report to on a regular schedule.

halfway house vs sober house

If a treatment center owns a sober living home, the treatment center may hire staff in the home, but this is rarely a clinical staff member. Instead, this staff monitors compliance with rules and may transport residents to treatment, work, or the grocery store. Sober living homes are also not state-sponsored.4 You may qualify for a scholarship or grant funding for a sober living home provided by nonprofit organizations. Some specific sober living homes have scholarships and grants available. However, most individuals living in a sober living home pay out of pocket and are employed while living in the home to support the cost of the rent. Design for Change is a full-service addiction recovery center in Lancaster, California that offers tiered levels of treatment for drug addiction and alcoholism.

What should you expect in a sober living home?

But ultimately, each person is responsible for their recovery and stabilization. Also, residents can stay for as long as they want, provided they maintain house rules. Residents return home before the house curfew (which varies with home) and assist in making dinner. Most sober living homes also hold house meetings or group sessions. House meetings aim to resolve interpersonal disputes, change residents’ responsibilities, and welcome new residents.

halfway house vs sober house