Sober homes, or halfway houses, are an essential connection to the community. Once you leave recovery, you can transition to one of these homes where you can continue your journey towards sobriety. When you’re not ready to return to your life, but you don’t need to be in a rehab center, then a halfway house is the answer. They can help you to get your life back on track.
A Safe Place To Heal
Halfway homes give you a controlled environment that encourages sobriety. While living here, you can continue your recovery meetings and counseling as well as look for a job. The goal is to prepare you for life on the outside. The peer support and services they offer are more affordable than those of inpatient care. Some think of these places as a bridge between inpatient treatment and the real world.
One benefit is that halfway houses are usually less regulated; they allow you to have more freedom than you would if you were in a residential rehab program. However, they offer more structure and assistance than most receive by going home. You can put your efforts into finding a job or returning to school. The emphasis is placed on the fact that you must continue your meetings. Remember, sobriety is a journey and not a destination that you arrive. You will continually have to alter your friends and lifestyle to avoid slipping back into old habits.
Many conditions respond well to living in a halfway home. Those who have been addicted to heroin, alcohol, methamphetamines, and cocaine typically find that these environments help to continue their journey towards sobriety. Keep in mind these homes are run like a tight ship, and they make sure that their facilities are drug and alcohol-free. They conduct random drug screenings, and anyone who is not following the rules will be reported to their probation officer and asked to leave.
Halfway House Activities
Most halfway houses are hooked with many resources to help you get back to a normal life. Some counselors and people can help you to prepare for an interview. It’s often the case that many people who have drug or alcohol dependencies have never had a job to support themselves. Getting a job is an important part of providing a stable income to support yourself or your family. They can help you schedule, practice, and do any pre-employment drug screenings that the employer may require.
Adjusting to sobriety seems like an easy task; however, many find that it’s the most difficult part of their journey. Facing the outside world can be an overwhelming feat when there are so many new things to uncover and discover. Many people have self-medicated for so many years that they are unsure of how to acclimate back into society. A sober house is meant to help with these monumental tasks. They assist with the following:
Mend Fences
One of the most critical parts of recovering is that you must make amends to the people that have been hurt by your actions. If you stole money, took from the family’s resources, told lies, or have done other things to breach the trust, then it may be hard for them to look at you the same.
Inpatient programs don’t allow many liberties, and the burdens of home life can be too much for some. However, a sober house has rules, but they are based on getting you where you need to be to transition back to freedom.
Help With Permanent Housing
If you are like many people, they come to a halfway home because they have no place to go. They’ve burnt all their bridges, and they are left homeless. Some are terrified to return to their previous residence because they fear that it might be a hindrance in their recovery process. The transition process is easy when you have the support of the workers at a halfway house. They can help you find a permanent housing situation in a place that you feel comfortable.
A halfway house expects you to abide by their curfew, complete assigned chores to maintain the home, attend recovery or 12-step meetings, and take random drug tests. You are free to come and go from the sober home if you are not court-ordered. Keep in mind that they may make you pay a deposit and sign a rental agreement to stay there, and you will forfeit your deposit if you leave early. If you need help finding a treatment center, halfway home, or you have questions about recovery, call us today at (440) 253-9915.
