Halfway Houses Near Me

People who have been through recovery from different types of addiction may need help transitioning back into an everyday routine, and this is where halfway homes come in. Life throws a variety of positive and negative situations at us, and we must make decisions as to how we are going to handle them.  Millions of people a year find those decisions overwhelming that they turn to drugs and alcohol to help them cope with the stress. For example, those who feel that they can’t possibly get everything done, between work and home, may turn to stimulants to increase their energy and motivation. When someone’s life is taken over by the fact that they don’t feel they can be productive in society without the assistance of their chosen drug, they may need intervention. Once they go through the immensely difficult task of becoming sober, the thought of going back to the life that led them down this path can be crushing. Halfway homes help previous users who have recently finished a treatment program to ease themselves into their new normal with the support of those who understand and support their current circumstances.

What are halfway houses?

After having been through a drug or alcohol treatment program, no one is thrown back into the hectic reality of life without everything and everyone they need to survive it sober. There are a variety of residential options, inpatient and outpatient, depending on what is better for the person recovering. Aftercare is one of the most important steps in the treatment and recovery process and addresses not only providing the social support they need, but also housing that might be necessary.

Halfway homes are state or federally funded and provide not only housing for recovering addicts, but also offer individual and group therapy, psychiatric services, and help with the management of medication regimens. Residents are given the freedom to come and go as they please to perform activities such as work and 12-step meetings. They are generally less expensive, resulting in the fact that they can be overcrowded and dorm-like.

What is the difference between a halfway house and a recovery house?

There are minor, but important, differences between halfway houses and recovery houses. Which one is chosen can be implemental in each person’s chances of successful sobriety. Recovery houses are also known as sober living homes, three-quarter houses, or transitional houses. Halfway homes are state or federally funded, while recovery houses are privately owned and operated. Medicaid pays for halfway homes, and those who stay at a recovery house pay a weekly rate to live there. Recovery houses don’t help with medication management or offer treatments of any kind but do expect their residents to participate in outside support groups. They also expect their residents to obtain employment with the idea that it would be a normal activity with which they must eventually learn to cope. With recovery homes being privately funded, it allows them to target specific areas — including holistic-based, veterans, teens, faith-based, and any a variety of other category.

What types of halfway houses for addiction recovery are there?

When someone chooses a halfway home in which they will receive peer support, there are levels from which they can choose to suit their personal situation. There is a stigma attached to recovery homes regardless of the professionalism under which they are run. Even recovering addicts perceive themselves differently and must rebuild their own thought process and self-esteem. Understanding how homes are operated can help in the decision of which is best.

1. Level 1 – Peer Run Recovery Residence (halfway houses)
   1. This level is for previous addicts who have stabilized and are able to self-regulate.
   2. Each resident is self-monitored and accountable to each other
   3. Self-help (12-step) meetings are either required or recommended
   4. No staff but there is a facilitator available is help is needed for a solution that cannot be resolved in-house
   5. Cost here is low and length of stay is anywhere from 90 days to years.
2. Level 2 – Monitored Recovery Residence
   1. Another cost-effective option with an open-ended stay.
   2. Has a house manager of some type that enforces regulations but is focused on peer support.
   3. May offer group support sessions
3. Level 3 – Supervised Recovery Residence
   1. This is where the stereotypical approach is used with a structured rehabilitation
   2. Usually offers life skills training so that residents can move on the jobs, improved physical help, and be able to self-regulate eventually
   3. Bring outside aftercare services in.
4. Level 4 – Service Provider Recovery Residence
   1. Usually attached to a licensed service provider and overseen by a qualified team with the goal of preparing them for the next level
   2. In-house programs with a high level of structure with an average stay of several weeks to several months.
   3. Perfect for those needing structure and life skills training
   4. This is the only level for which managed care, like Medicaid, may reimburse

Recovery is one of the most difficult journeys on which an addict will embark, and going straight back to the overwhelming life that led down that path may not be beneficial keeping them on the straight and narrow. When this is the case, they can rely on the dedicated services of a halfway house. Living with people who are in a similar situation and are just trying to regain control of their lives can help previous users deal with the stress of reinserting themselves into the relationships and situations that they left behind for a time. Preventing relapses is key in the recovery process so that they can maintain the sobriety that they worked so hard to attain. Living with others who are trying to find their way back from a dark place can help them learn how to handle various situations by watching how their peers do so. Going from a constantly monitored situation of Level 4 to one that results in excess time in a Level 1 can lead to too much time on one’s hands and a bored that can be difficult for those with impulse control issues. Halfway homes are the perfect solution for those who want to find a way to transition from intense structure to the immersion in a life where their decisions have unhealthy consequences. Those who look for continued success will find the help and support necessary for sobriety at a halfway home.