A Halfway House (sometimes called Sober Living houses) helps individuals adjust to living in their community, following treatment for substance abuse.
Halfway houses help residents before fully integrating into society again by offering structure, sobriety, accountability, and support. They play an important role in the recovery process between rehab or outpatient programs and living independently in the community.
What Is a Halfway House?
A halfway house is an environment for transitional living. Designed to support those who are reintegrating into society after treatment, they are an intermediate step between highly structured settings and full independence.
SAMHSA’s working definition of “recovery” from mental disorders and substance use disorders is “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential [1]”. SAMHSA outlined four dimensions that support a life in recovery:
- Health
- Home
- Purpose
- Community
There are different levels of halfway (recovery) houses, from totally peer-run to treatment providers. Depending on the type of halfway house, they are typically staffed by trained case managers, recovery coaches, and/or peers.
Recovery housing of all types generally apply the principles of the social model for recovery. Based in mutual self-help traditions, such as AA, they emphasize experiential knowledge, non-hierarchical relationships between helpers and those being helped, and active community involvement of the clients in the house community and the community at large.
Living in structured sober recovery housing has been linked with a greater likelihood of satisfactory discharge and longer stays in outpatient treatment [2].
They offer these main services:
- Skills training for independence with supervision
- Peer support
- Life skills training
- Access to community resources
Halfway houses offer a safe, sober, and supportive environment that eases the transition back to daily life. They help residents with developing:
- Personal responsibility and accountability
- Life skills
- Social skills
- Coping skills
- Strategies for preventing relapse
- Social and emotional support from others
Most programs include:
- Structured routines and curfews
- Mandatory participation in group meetings or therapy
- Requirements for employment
- Regular drug or alcohol screening
How Halfway Houses Support Recovery
They help reduce the risk of relapse by providing:
- Judgement-free accountability and encouragement through peer support and group living arrangements
- Life skills training for financial management, job readiness, and education
- If needed, access to healthcare, case management, and mental health services
- Encourage responsibility and accountability through structure with curfews, substance bans, and regular check-ins
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Halfway House?
A good candidate is motivated, accountable, and has a clear need for structured support during the vulnerable transition from treatment to full independence. They see the halfway house not as a restriction, but as an opportunity to build a strong foundation for a lasting sober life.
Typical success factors for a candidate include:
- Completed a Primary Treatment Program
The individual should have a period of stable sobriety (e.g., 30-90 days) and a basic recovery toolkit (e.g., understanding of triggers, a relapse prevention plan, experience with 12-step or other recovery meetings).
- Needs a Structured Transition
Needs a “soft landing” or a “bridge” to practice their new sober life skills in a real-world setting, but with guardrails.
- Lacks a Stable, Sober Living Environment at Home
This is one of the most common reasons. Otherwise, a candidate may be returning to a home environment that is unsupportive, triggering, unsafe, and unstable.
- Demonstrates a Commitment to Their Recovery
A good candidate is willing to actively participate in their recovery. This means they are open to adhering to house rules, attending recovery support meetings, seeking and maintaining employment or volunteering, and contributing financially to the house and through chores.
- Needs Peer Accountability and Support
A strong candidate understands the value of living with others who are on the same path. They are willing to both give and receive support, build a new sober social network, and be held accountable by their peers and house managers.
- Requires Assistance with Reintegration
Beyond sobriety, the individual needs help rebuilding practical life skills, such as:
- Finding and keeping a job
- Managing finances and paying rent on time
- Developing healthy routines (sleep, hygiene, nutrition)
- Accessing community resources (continuing therapy, medical care, legal aid)
Halfway houses are not suitable for:
- Someone actively using substances
- Someone with untreated, severe co-occurring disorders
- Someone unwilling to follow rules
- Someone who views it merely as housing
- Someone with certain legal restrictions
Frequently Asked Questions about Transitional Support
What is a halfway house for?
They are transitional living environments where individuals in recovery adjust to living in their community and gain skills for independence.
What can live in a halfway house?
Someone who is motivated, accountable, and has a clear need for structured support during the transition from substance abuse treatment to full independence.
How long is the typical stay?
This is not usually predetermined. It’s a collaborative process between the resident, their sponsor (if they have one), and the house managers.Short-Term (30-90 days): Often the minimum stay. Average stay is (3-6 months). Long-Term (6-12 months or longer).
Can you work while at the house?
Yes, absolutely, and this is encouraged as it’s a key part of recovery and independent living.
Can I bring my phone?
The policy on phones and other electronics varies significantly from one halfway house to another, but there is almost always a strict policy in place. It is never as simple as “yes” or “no.”
Can I have visitors?
Generally yes, you can have visitors, but like the phone policy, it comes with strict rules, procedures, and almost always a phased approach. The primary goal is always to protect your recovery and the safety of the sober living environment.
Transitional Housing Support at Northbound Treatment Services
While Northbound doesn’t offer halfway houses, we offer a referral to several sober living and halfway houses in California. We help with “step down” from our residential and intensive outpatient programs. Our recovery and aftercare programs help prepare the move to transitional, halfway housing to best help you in your long-term recovery.
When it’s Time to Seek Help, Point Your Compass Northbound
For more than 30 years, Northbound Treatment Services in California has been at the forefront of providing lifesaving, compassionate residential care and specialized services to help people from all walks of life feel better, discover themselves, and live free from addiction.
We have facilities located throughout California to help guide you on your recovery journey. Reach out to our admissions team now and contact us!
Sources
[1] SAMHSA. 2011. SAMHSA announces a working definition of “recovery” from mental disorders and substance use disorders. SAMHSA.org.
[2] Mericle, A. et al. (2022). The role of recovery housing during outpatient substance use treatment. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 133, 108638
Author
-
Amanda has been working in the behavioral healthcare field since 2011. During her career, she worked her way through various positions in behavioral healthcare and finally earned a position as a program director over 10 years ago. Amanda initially graduated with her license in vocational nursing and an associate degree with completed certifications in substance use and abuse. Amanda has continued on in her education, and she obtained her bachelor’s degree in the science of nursing obtaining a BSN, and her RN licensure. With a primary background in nursing and medical care, and a proven track record in leadership positions in Behavioral Healthcare, Amanda is the perfect person to manage the daily medical and clinical services of a healthcare treatment facility.
As the Executive Director of Northbound, she utilizes her personal recovery experience coupled with her professional experience to oversee the clinical, medical, and the overall operational function of the organization. She believes that above all else the quality of client care should be the top priority for all the employees at Northbound. She pushes clients to find passion in recovery and to gain meaningful and impactful messages in the group programming to provide lasting recovery. Amanda has a 17-year-old son. She has a passion for fitness and enjoys Rock Climbing and backpacking in her free time. Her passion for the outdoors plays a major role in her content creation in the daily programming for the schedule at Northbound.
