Leaving rehab is an exciting step, but it can also be a jarring experience. When you are recovering from addiction and entering the real world, you might still want to be in a controlled environment where you can get support as you transition.
Transitional living homes can be a good option to make that move easier and give you a better chance of success in sobriety.
What is a Transitional Living Home?
A transitional living home, also known as a sober living home or a halfway house, is a group home for people recovering from addictions. They provide safe and sober housing for people who are looking to overcome their addiction—usually substance abuse.
One of the main pillars of this system is that everyone living there has made a commitment to sober living and forms a support network for others in the home.
How Do They Work?
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Structure and guidelines are a must for people leaving a rehabilitation facility. Not everyone has an easy time regulating themselves right away after they get clean and sober.
How Much Do They Cost?
The cost can vary a great deal, from just a few hundred dollars a month to market housing rates. Some homes will accept insurance. Check your insurance coverage to see if your plan will cover any of the cost.
A lot of transitional living homes are subsidized through different sources of funding and grants, making them a good low-cost housing option. This takes some pressure off of people coming out of rehab who are unable to work, or off of the families of minors dealing with an addiction.
A sober living home or halfway house will allow its residents more freedoms than a rehabilitation facility. It is usually run by one or more staff members who manage the household. The focus is on incrementally increasing independence of its residents.
What is Daily Life Like in a Transitional Living Home?
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Each home is different, but the conditions usually are that everyone living there must be drug and alcohol free at all times, and must submit to random drug testing at any time.
Some homes focus on building life skills, and will require that people attend job interviews or go to school. Some of the rules for your teen would be the same as at home, like having a set curfew and chores to complete. They might be expected to attend recovery meetings and outside visitors could be limited.
People usually stay in transitional living homes anywhere from three months to a year. You are not obligated to stay for the set period of time, but some homes ask you to pay upfront. Just like breaking a lease, if you leave earlier than planned, you run the risk of losing your deposit.
Each home is different, so be sure to do your research to ensure that you make the right choice. The right fit could make an ideal place for your teen to adjust to being sober and to form habits to help them be functional, happy and drug and alcohol free.
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