Sober Living Homes and Halfway Houses How do they work?

Individuals should strongly consider living in a sober living home after just completing an inpatient treatment facility, or if there any concerns about maintaining sobriety. Living in transitional housing such as a sober living home does not guarantee a successful recovery. However, the more faithfully you adhere to the guidelines and rules of a sober https://www.excel-medical.com/5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-living-house/ living home, the greater your chances of avoiding a relapse. Also known as recovery housing or transitional living, these homes offer a safe space for recovering addicts looking to reintegrate into society. However, to be certified as a sober living home they must operate under specific rules and guidelines that help support resident sobriety.

Some sober houses, including Vanderburgh House, will accept residents who are new to recovery provided they are willing to stay sober. However, sober house applicants should have already completed any detox program required to cure physical addiction so they are not acutely ill and unable to work while living in the house. Sober living homes and halfway houses are both types of residential environments designed to support those in recovery from addiction. While there are similarities between these two types of community, there are also important differences to consider. SLHs have their origins in the state of California and most continue to be located there (Polcin & Henderson, 2008).

What is a Sober Living Home?

In many cases, sober living homes connected to a treatment facility will be equipped with support staff and alumni who have walked in similar shoes. These people know what it is like to experience substance addiction, complete a rehab program, and to live sober after treatment. Sober living is an option after the intensive treatment provided in inpatient care. It can help with adjusting to living sober outside of rehab and ease the transition back to your normal life.

• We host nightly “family” dinners, weekly meetings, and regular outings to create an environment that promotes cohesive unity.
• Relative to the other housing programs, this model was inexpensive and the houses were conveniently located near the outpatient facility.
• At Gratitude Lodge,we work with most insurance plans to cover the costs of treatment.
• The environment is designed to gather a group of people who are all working on recovery from addiction, who can support each other through the transition from treatment back into full independence.
• Sober houses are homes for those in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.

We encourage everyone to reinforce positive lifestyle changes through adventure, support, and peer feedback. Those searching for the right sober living home should look for facilities with reputable staff, and a safe and productive living environment and culture. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) originated in the 1930s and provided the steppingstones for sober housing by requiring strict sobriety, participation in the community, peer support, and a 12-step program. However, AA did little to address housing needs for its participants as they worked through the program.

How Does Sober Living Work?

These organizations created 12-step houses that offered an alcohol or drug-free living space while also encouraging attendance at AA meetings. By Julia Childs Heyl, MSW

Julia Childs Heyl, MSW, is a clinical social worker and writer. As a writer, she focuses on mental health disparities and uses critical race theory as her preferred theoretical framework.

Because a sober house has rules and regulations, residents can develop a sense of responsibility and accountability to themselves and their roommates. On the road to stability, residents of a sober house will also learn how to manage money, new coping skills, how to find work, and how to secure education options. Lastly, self-efficacy is a benefit of sober living that many people who are actively drinking or using do not have. This integral belief allows you to have the confidence of having the necessary resources and knowledge to function successfully without the need of drugs and alcohol. It also means you are a productive member of society who has a unique and important place in the world, a feeling that is often lost amongst the destruction of addiction. When a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, a lot of other obligations are tossed out the window.