Halfway houses provide residential support for people leaving institutions or undergoing rehabilitation. They offer a structured environment with counseling and skills training, and staff members to help residents integrate into society. Residents may voluntarily enter or be required to stay as part of a treatment program.
A halfway house is a residential facility that provides support for people as they learn to integrate into society. Homestays are made available to people leaving institutions such as prisons and psychiatric hospitals. They can also be used for drug treatment programs, fugitive intervention programs, preparing people with disabilities to enter the community after rehabilitation, and housing for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The halfway house offers people a structured environment that bridges the gap between an institution and the outside world.
Intermediate houses can be private homes that have been converted or purpose-built structures to provide residential support services. Residents have rooms, which are sometimes shared with other residents, along with a bathroom and kitchen. The house usually has a large living and recreation area which is used for socializing, as well as group counseling sessions. Sometimes the surrounding community resists setting up a halfway house due to fears about property values or crime, although a well-managed facility shouldn’t pose a threat to the community.
Hours in a halfway house can vary. Some settings have very strictly structured days, with residents attending meetings, receiving therapy and having access to counseling and skills training. Others have a more unstructured environment where downtime is encouraged so that residents have the opportunity to start creating their own schedules and exploring the surrounding community.
Halfway houses are staffed with counselors and other support staff who help residents. Some staff members may live in the facility to provide ongoing support, while others may travel to the drop-in house to be available during the day. The halfway house can also provide varying levels of support for members. Residents can ‘graduate’ from more secure and structured areas of the facility to areas that facilitate independence. Eventually, the residents will be deemed ready to enter society and may be released from the halfway house.
People may voluntarily enter a halfway house because they don’t feel ready for the outside world. In other cases, a stay may be required as part of trial terms or a treatment programme. People tend to receive the greatest benefits when they voluntarily live in a foster home and are willing to participate in programs designed to help the residents. People who are not yet ready for this treatment approach may experience relapse, which is a relapse or return to unhealthy or addictive habits. A psychologist or psychiatrist may be required to conduct an assessment before a resident is allowed to enter such a facility, in order to confirm that the person is ready and will not be a danger to other people in the halfway house.
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