House Rules in Sober Houses

Learning everything you can about different parts of the process can help you feel more prepared to prioritize your wellbeing and seek treatment. That’s why we’re here to give you some important information about one of your options. So, if you’ve ever wondered what a substance abuse halfway house was, or asked yourself, “How do sober living homes work? Healthy sober living homes, with good reputations, can help to spread the word about the benefits of rehab and to counteract any negative, misplaced, and stigmatized thinking about people in recovery. Something important to note is that sober living houses are not the same as halfway houses. While they are both residences designed to support folks in maintaining sobriety and transitioning back into society, there are some key differences.

• Local zoning laws regulate the use of land and the structures built on it.
• Massachusetts uses the terms “sober house” to refer to sober living homes, where “recovery residence” refers to what many would call a “half-way house”.
• Zero Tolerance for destruction of Brightside or other residents’ property.
• Halfway houses are similar to sober living homes, but halfway houses are generally more strict.

Unfortunately, relapse can occur anywhere, and relapses do occur in some sober living homes. In the legal community, a well-known aphorism is “tough cases make bad law.” However, heartbreaking tragedies can make for good legal changes. Alba Herrera, of New Jersey, would implicitly agree with the latter proposition. In February of 2014, her son overdosed on heroin in her home after he was evicted from a sober living home for relapsing. Alba did not know her son had been evicted due to a relapse because her adult son did not tell her and the rehab center did not notify her.

Similarities Between Sober Living and Halfway Houses

Regardless of where you are in your sobriety journey, Real Recovery can help. With a variety of treatment programs and compassionate staff, you’re sure to find the next step toward freedom. Residents of sober living facilities typically stay between 6 to 12 months. However, there is no limit to how long an individual Selecting the Most Suitable Sober House for Addiction Recovery can remain in sober living, provided they continue to follow all the rules. Since sober living houses are in residential neighborhoods, backyards may also be available and will be part of the shared communal space. Halfway houses are also government-funded and have fewer amenities than a sober living home.

These tasks might sound annoying at first, but most housemates eventually learn to take pride in maintaining their own living environments. After years of active addiction, many young men get used to living in messy, unorganized, or even unsanitary spaces. The joy of living in a clean, healthy, and guest-friendly environment is unparalleled, and the ability to create such an environment is one of the gifts of sobriety.

What are the Duties and Responsibilities of Halfway Houses?

By preventing residents from abusing drugs or alcohol in a sober living, the risk of relapse is significantly reduced. Like some other sober living homes, the Perry House reportedly enforces a 100 percent drug-free policy. This means that all drug testing of residents must result in a completely “clean” report.