Basic Guide to Halfway House in California

Earlier, an institution was started for people serving their last term of a prison sentence. These people were mostly ex-addicts of drugs and alcohol. The court ordered them to spend a few months in the institution to learn the necessary skills to go back to society and live sober. 

Today, such places are called halfway houses. They are also called sober facilities or treatment centers. A person need not be a criminal who is sentenced to prison to stay in a house. You could be a recovering addict and want some time away from society. You can come to a house and learn to live a sober life, gain confidence and a vision for the future, and then go back to society. 

Eligibility 

As mentioned earlier, you need not have a court order to stay in a house. Today’s houses accommodate almost anybody who is willing to live sober and have the desire to change their life for the better. 

It is better to have undergone a detox or rehab program before coming here because you will be required to stay sober 24×7. This can almost be impossible for an addict. It can also be dangerous because you will have serious withdrawal symptoms. 

That’s why you must undergo detox therapy and then come here. 

The best candidates for the house are those with a certain level of sobriety. As the term “halfway” suggests that you are already halfway there on the path of sobriety. The house helps you in the rest of your journey so that you can re-integrate into society as a confident and completely sober person ready to live a normal and productive life. 

Rules 

Every person coming to stay in the house has to follow certain rules. The basic rules of a halfway house are the same; however, each house may have a few additional rules or a change in routine. 

Here are the basic rules:

• You must stay sober 24×7.
• You must undergo a breathalyzer test or drug screening, which is usually conducted randomly. 
• You need to comply with the timings of meals, sleep and wake timings, and night curfew. 
• You cannot indulge in fights with other inmates and other violent and unethical behavior. 
• You cannot damage the property or steal other inmates’ things, or indulge in any kind of destructive activity. 
• You must attend all meetings, therapy sessions, and other such activities in the house. 
• You must do the chores assigned to you in the house. 

Some houses mandate the inmates find a job while they stay in the house. 

Stay duration 

Mostly, people come to a sober facility for 2-6 months. Some may live upto a year. For those who have undergone recovery programs and are determined to change their life, this much time is enough to restore their confidence and start building their life soberly. 

If you are a newly recovered addict and want a place to reinforce your sobriety, join a halfway house in California. Staying in the house can prove to be a golden opportunity for you to regain confidence, strengthen your sobriety, and get a vision for the future.