What Is a Halfway House & What to Expect

Since data remains sparse and oversight is unreliable, we have retrieved the bulk of information about conditions in halfway houses from the media and advocates. The voices of those who have spent time in halfway houses, and those who have worked in them, are key to understanding the reality of these facilities and the rampant problems that plague them. Federal RRC residents3 are generally subject to two stages of confinement within the facility that lead to a final period of home confinement. First, they are restricted to the facility with the exception of work, religious activities, approved recreation, program requirements, or emergencies. A team of staff at the RRC determines whether an individual is “appropriate“4 to move to the second, less restrictive component of RRC residency.

• The Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, is a testament to the city’s industrial past, and now recognized as a stunning venue for concerts and events.
• Some residents stay longer to reinforce sobriety, secure stable employment, and transition to independent living.
• Depending on how emotionally strong the person is when they enter drug rehab or how supportive their home environment is, people can stay at a halfway house for anywhere between a few weeks and a year.
• That’s where expert guidance from Pacific Breeze Recovery can make all the difference.
• This is because, unlike government-funded housing, sober living home residents pay specific fees to stay there.
• The term “sober living house” typically refers to facilities for non-offenders who voluntarily seek help.

Addiction Treatment

• This includes those who have completed inpatient rehabilitation and are ready to take the next step toward independent living.
• Valley Spring Recovery Center offers comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment services.
• Halfway houses serve as a bridge between intensive treatment programs or correctional facilities and independent living, offering accountability, peer support, and access to counseling or employment resources.

People who are addicted to drugs will know that no one, no matter how understanding and empathetic, can understand them as well as other recovering addicts and mental health professionals can. Depending on how emotionally strong the person is when they enter drug rehab or how supportive their home environment is, people can stay at a halfway house for anywhere between a few weeks and a year. According to research published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, halfway houses and sober homes are highly effective in the ongoing treatment of substance use disorder. While halfway houses assist recovering addicts, former correctional facility inmates may come to live at a halfway house after finishing halfway house a prison sentence to help them with their reentry into regular society. Halfway houses have a maximum limit of 12 months for residency, and for someone looking to establish a long-term sober living environment, a halfway house may not be ideal.

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The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. For the most part, people go to halfway houses because it is a mandatory condition of their release from prison.

The Role of Alternatives in Reentry Strategies

• Both aim to support sober living after treatment, but sober living homes typically allow residents to stay longer and choose their own level of recovery involvement.
• Residents must pay a subsistence fee, usually up to 25% of their gross income (with a cap set by the Bureau of Prisons), to help offset the cost of their stay.
• A sober living house is a space where you can take a breath, reset your priorities and move forward with more clarity.
• Federal RRC residents3 are generally subject to two stages of confinement within the facility that lead to a final period of home confinement.

These facilities help residents develop coping strategies while adjusting to community life. Imagine spending years on a small, isolated island where every minute of your day is controlled. Your meals, your schedule, your interactions—everything is dictated by strict rules.

Center for Teens, Young Adults and Families

Studies by the National Institute of Justice suggest that structured reentry programs, including halfway houses, increase employment rates and reduce drug relapse among former offenders. While halfway houses are less restrictive than prisons, they still enforce rules and monitor residents. Some residents are allowed to leave for work or treatment but must return by curfew. Violating the rules can result in removal from the program and a return to incarceration. The common challenges faced by halfway houses in the US are funding shortages, societal stigma, staff shortages, and balancing safety with rehabilitation.

Whether you need help finding a job, want to return to school, or learn new skills, there are often job placement assistance, educational programs, and life skills training available. They can also connect you with healthcare services to keep your physical and mental health on track. These resources provide the tools you need to build a successful and fulfilling life post-recovery. Terms like “halfway house” and “sober living home” are often used interchangeably, but these two types of residences have key differences that can significantly impact someone’s recovery journey.

For some, a halfway house offers the structured environment needed to bridge the gap between inpatient care and full independence. For others, a more personalized aftercare approach—like those offered at Pacific Breeze Recovery in Huntington Beach—can provide a smoother and clinically supported path forward. A halfway house is a supervised, transitional facility—also known as a Residential Reentry Center (RRC)—that helps inmates reintegrate into society. It provides structure, support, and access to essential resources such as employment assistance, counseling, and life skills training. Federal halfway houses enforce strict drug and alcohol testing policies to maintain a safe and supportive environment.

The difference between halfway houses and sober living homes is the structure, rules, and purpose. Halfway houses are government-funded, time-limited, and include mandatory treatment or supervision for individuals transitioning from rehab or incarceration. Sober Living homes are privately operated, self-funded, and provide a more flexible, peer-driven environment for individuals seeking long-term recovery support without strict program timelines.

What Are The Rules of a Halfway House?

At that time, residential beds in the community for individuals exiting prison were, on average, about $12,000 annually. By 1950, those programs were further adapted to serve specialized populations, such as criminally involved drug and alcohol abusers. In the early 1960s, the mentally ill became residents as the state hospitals were deinstitutionalized by the federal government.