What is a halfway house?

Halfway houses provide temporary living quarters for formerly institutionalized people. People living in halfway houses often come from rehabilitation centers, prison, homeless living situations, or are ordered to go for a certain time period by the court system.

Halfway houses are not prepared to handle withdrawal symptoms from drugs or alcohol, so residents often have to pass drug and alcohol tests to live there. These living quarters serve both men and women and encourage residents to participate in either the Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous programs. People living in halfway houses can usually stay up to two years as long as they stay clean and sober.