To become sober, you have to distance yourself from toxic social circles which can challenge your social life. You may feel lonely, uncomfortable or stressed while making the transition. Halfway Houses make sure that doesn’t happen. Sober houses or halfway houses are alcohol and drug-free transitional facilities that help those who have just completed treatment.
The purpose of a halfway house is to help people re-adjust to society, allowing them to recover with people who have been on journeys similar to theirs. An inclusive and supportive environment is provided to the residents to help rebuild their life free from the addictive substances.
What Is a Halfway House Like?
While living in a halfway house, you get to participate in activities with other residents that help create a sense of community. You’ll find a complete house set up – every member of the house has to participate in the daily chores to keep the house running. You might be tasked with cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. depending on what you can do! Fun activities like board games, card games, and other competitions are also held here. You learn how you can live in the future, without giving in to addictive substances.
Pros and Cons of Halfway House
At a halfway house, you will find people who are on the same journey on yours. You will find yourself supported, accepted, and groomed for a better and brighter future here. Each resident is given individual attention and personalized goals. You can stay till you feel like you can restart and adapt your healthy lifestyle. Sober living homes have a network of trained professionals to help with your career choices.
The minor downside, however, is that you won’t be living with your loved ones. You won’t have a “normal” social, personal or social life. You’ll have to give up some luxuries that you were used to. As much difficult it is, it is for your own betterment. You learn to draw energy and motivation from yourself.
Who Pays For A Halfway House?
Different sober living homes have varying costs, usually depending on the type of accommodation provided as well as the facilities. Often, though, the cost of living at a sober house is the same as the rent of an apartment in the area.
The good news is that you aren’t required to sign any contracts or leases. Sometimes halfway houses are covered by insurance while other times, your addiction center pays for that. Since it is understood that you don’t have a job at that time, halfway houses are affordable.
Halfway House Visiting Rules
Halfway house visiting rules vary. At some sober homes, specific areas are reserved in the facility, while in others, no visitor has permission to enter the building.The visits are monitored to avoid exchange of any harmful material.
The visitation hours differ too, but typically, these hours are 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, and longer hours on the weekend and special occasions. Halfway houses have rules regarding what can be brought inside the facility during visits. Understandably, no weapons, alcohol, or drugs are allowed, and it is common for most sober houses to be unisex. Hence, visitors from the opposite sex are often not permitted in these facilities.
Halfway House Curfew
Halfway houses provide you a controlled freedom which includes curfews. Typically, you aren’t allowed to leave the premises after 9 pm, even on the weekends. You must sleep at the sober home some nights a week. The outside world can be overwhelming and might even seduce you to drug or alcohol usage.
Sober house rules are imposed to ensure that you keep on working towards your betterment. Curfew exceptions are granted for necessary travelling needs, but only after the appropriate papers are signed.
Drug Testing At Sober Living Houses
Part of the intervention techniques applied at sober living house is random drug testing. It’s very easy to fall down the rabbit hole. Therefore, halfway houses ensure that residents are 100% drug and alcohol-free during their stay at the house. Each sober living home varies in the frequency of conducting drug tests. But at some point, the residents are subjected to regular and random drug tests. It ensures that the residents are genuinely making progress and keeps track of their sobriety.
Drug testing is necessary for the recovery process of the residents as it keeps them accountable for their actions and helps chart the progress. Overall progress and morale of the entire sober living house are also affected by these results, which motivates the individuals to remain sober too.
Halfway House Violations
As sober houses are intended to help with the recovery process, there are house rules designed to ensure that the residents remain safe as they learn to build a sober lifestyle. Different sober homes have different house rules and violating them is unacceptable.
Some of the common violations are drugs and/or alcohol use, missing your drug tests, not paying your bills, not participating in community activities without reason and not following the curfew. Failing to follow these house rules often results in penalties or worse, getting kicked out of the house.
If you are exiting a treatment program, going to a transitional house is the optimal step in the recovery process. Alcohol temptation can be too much in the early days of recovery. These transition living homes can be imperative in helping you find a sound footing for the life outside a treatment center.
