Halfway Houses vs. Sober Living Homes

The world of recovery is cloaked in dense terminology that can make looking for post-treatment programming confusing. Searching online isn’t always much help; articles that use the phrases “halfway houses” and “sober living” interchangeably add to the problem.

Halfway houses and sober living homes fall under the larger umbrella of recovery housing. While both facilities offer support for the newly substance-free, the two are distinguishable by fundamental differences. Let’s compare these high-accountability residences.

What Is a Halfway House?

Halfway houses are named for their historic purpose. They served as the halfway mark between incarceration and freedom. Back in the early 1900s, when a person received parole for good behavior, the court often ordered them to stay in one of these homes. There, the parolee would find gainful employment while living apart from harmful influences.

Originally, halfway houses were privately owned and operated. While some remain independent today, most fall under the purview of the state or federal government. The halfway house model fell from popularity for a while in the 1930s, but it has regained ground and become a staple of the modern American correctional ecosystem. The Federal Bureau of Prisons calls these homes “residential reentry centers.”

Modern halfway houses serve a broader population. They can bridge the gap between incarceration, mental health institutionalization, or rehabilitation and the “real world.” While the majority of halfway house residents are still affiliated with the prison system, an increasing percentage live there voluntarily.

Halfway houses address substance misuse in the following ways:


• Regular drug testing
• Check-ins with a certified recovery specialist, case manager, or probation officer (if applicable)
• Electronic monitoring (if applicable)
• Substance misuse education
• Community support meetings
• Formal treatment and release plans

How To Get Into a Halfway House

If you wish to live in a halfway house for alcohol misuse or AUD recovery, the first step is to speak with a professional. They will administer a few assessments to determine eligibility.  You have to meet certain criteria to be eligible; generally, you must have a clinical diagnosis of substance use disorder, be over the age of 18, and agree to regular drug testing. Mental illness doesn’t disqualify you, but you must be mentally healthy enough to engage with the program.

Halfway House Misconceptions

Unfortunately, many people view halfway houses in a negative light. They associate them with criminal activity and drug use. In reality, these facilities are safe and provide a valuable public service. The strict rules of these homes — curfews, chores, and mandatory meetings — make them valuable additions to any community. Who’s more likely to commit a crime — an average citizen with ample opportunity and no oversight or someone under the direct supervision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons?

Another common mistake people make is confusing halfway houses with sober living homes. While both offer residents the opportunity to transition back into society, key differences exist between them.

What Is a Sober Living House?

After attending an inpatient rehab program, many of us find that a month of treatment is not enough. We worry about relapsing: what if we’re triggered by the people and places we associate with drinking? That’s where sober living homes come in.

Sober living serves as the “last stop” on the road to recovery. Leaving the safety of treatment for a temptation-packed daily life is a huge step! Through a combination of accountability and education, this supportive housing solution helps us prepare for tough real-world scenarios after treatment. 

At these facilities, peers collaborate to advance our sobriety. These people, along with our house manager, will be available to answer common questions like the following:

• “How do I ask my parents not to keep alcohol in the house?”
• “What do I do if my spouse drinks?”
• “Where can I find a support system after sober living concludes?”
• “When will I be ready to date in recovery?”
• “Should I decline a happy hour invite from my coworkers?”

When we enroll in a sober living program, we receive round-the-clock supervision and support. Peer advocates run the houses and remain available to us for the duration of our stay. These folks have years of sobriety under their belts. They keep the facilities in tip-top shape and answer any questions we may have in the early stages of recovery. 

Sober living homes may also offer specialized programming to advance our sobriety. If our home is affiliated with a family of programs, we may also gain access to supportive services like individual counseling, career coaching, and family therapy.

What Are the Requirements To Get Into a Sober Living Home?

Nearly all sober living residents have recently completed inpatient drug and alcohol programs. Many people choose to stay in these homes while pursuing step-down levels of care like outpatient treatment or partial hospitalization (PHP).

If we haven’t gone to rehab, there’s no need to worry. Most programs will admit us if we’re drug- and alcohol-free, as long as we’re serious about staying that way. If our substance use is well and truly under control, we’ll qualify for this form of high-accountability housing.

Halfway House vs. Sober Living Home

Let’s sum up the similarities and differences between these two forms of recovery housing.

Similarities

As we’ve said, both types of facilities offer resources to the newly sober. They’re great options for that turbulent time after treatment. The ultimate benefit of halfway houses and sober living homes? The support we receive.

Living in one of these facilities gives us access to a combination of structured programming and on-site resources. Additionally, we’re surrounded by other folks in the exact same situation, all navigating early recovery together and encouraging one another every step of the way.

In addition to a supporting community, halfway houses and sober living facilities both offer the following:


• Relapse prevention programming. These facilities have seen it all before; rest assured that there are plans in place for in-the-moment interventions for coping with cravings and avoiding relapse.
• Structure, accountability, and discipline. For those of us in recovery, routine is key!
• Career coaching services. Vocational training and résumé-building assistance can help us regain our financial independence.
• Life skills training. Lessons on cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and other crucial day-to-day tasks allow us to nurture every area of our independence.
• An emphasis on community. Social support helps us vent our frustrations and rise above temptation.

Differences

These types of facilities differ in four main ways.

1. Purpose. Halfway houses help people reintegrate into society, usually after incarceration or other life-altering circumstances. Sober living homes are specifically designed for those in early recovery from substance use disorders.
2. Population. In some states, halfway houses are reserved for people with pre-release, parole or work-study release statuses. When weighing the decision of sober living vs. halfway house, take a look at your state’s policies.  
3. Staff. Halfway houses are overseen by professionals such as social workers, behavioral health professionals, or clinicians who may offer on-site services throughout the day. Sober living facilities are usually monitored by peer recovery specialists who live on the premises. In most cases, sober living participants can access professional services as needed, and this process is easier for those enrolled in treatment centers offering the complete continuum of care.
4. Funding. Halfway houses receive government funding through state or federal grants, while sober living homes are backed by privately owned treatment centers.

Which Is Right for Me?

When weighing the decision of sober living vs. halfway houses, you should ask yourself these questions:

• What is my primary goal: reintegrating into society or recovering from addiction?
• What are my state’s guidelines for halfway houses? Do I qualify?
• How strict of an environment do I need, realistically?
• How long do I want to stay in a program?
• Will my insurance provider cover this recovery service?

Generally speaking, because sober living homes are tailored to those in drug and alcohol recovery, you will probably prefer to enroll in these programs. They also include substance-specific education as well as  resources either on site or nearby. 

Additionally, the number of federally approved halfway houses has declined in recent years. This means fewer beds for those unaffiliated with the correctional system. 

For these reasons, sober living homes tend to be the best fit for most people in early recovery.

Financial Concerns

Cost is an obstacle for some people. So, your first step should be to talk with your insurance provider about your needs. Due to its peer-based approach, most insurers do not consider sober living to be “treatment.” However, every policy is different, and it’s worth checking before you count yourself out.  

Even if your insurer won’t cover this form of care, you should contact various treatment centers to ask about scholarship opportunities, sliding scale payments, and cash pay options. These three alternatives may alleviate the financial burden associated with peer support programs.


Accountability Facility: Making the Decision

Both halfway houses and sober living homes offer people in recovery a soft place to land. At these facilities, we begin learning useful skills, forging new bonds, and rebuilding our life. Whichever housing solution we choose, we’ll be ready to handle triggers and cravings as they come — all thanks to the support of our peers in recovery.  

Putting down the bottle only is half the battle. To permanently break the cycle of alcohol use, we need accountability. If you’re on the fence about a halfway house or sober living program, Reframe can help.

Reframe packs the support of a sober living facility into an easy-to-use phone app. We give you the resources you need to stay sober, from in-depth courses to a craving-beating toolkit. Our neuroscience-based alcohol reduction program keeps you on track. Millions of Reframers have downloaded the app, and our data shows that they’ve eliminated over 102 million drinks per year. If you’re ready to meet your best self, visit the App Store or Google Play today and start your free 7-day trial.