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Published: 12/2/2021

For anyone struggling with an addiction, completing a treatment program can be a significant milestone in the right direction. However, between 40% and 60% of people who complete recovery programs relapse. According to research, relapses are most likely to happen within the first 90 days of abstinence.

Still, staying at a halfway house is a wise decision to avoid temptation and make the most of the recovery period.

Additionally, approximately two-thirds of the 650,000 ex-offenders released every year end up being rearrested. This means that they would also benefit greatly from being in a halfway house.

So how do you find a reputable and reliable halfway house in Indiana? This guide covers comprehensive information on what to look for in a halfway house. Keep reading to find out the signs of a good half house and what benefits your loved one stands to gain.

What Are Halfway Houses?

Halfway houses, also known as sober homes or transitional living homes, provide a sober environment for people with Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

After completing an inpatient or outpatient rehab program, it's advisable for people to get after-care services. It's essential for them to be in an environment that does not promote relapsing, and halfway houses provide that ideal environment.

Case in point: halfway houses or residences that house various individuals with various mental and emotional disabilities. A halfway house is where these people live for a given period of time until they are sure they can get back into society. This is where they learn and relearn how to take care of themselves without relying on the rehab center.

They learn how to transition back into society and learn the skills they need to stay clean and sober from here on. They learn how to become productive members of society once again by transitioning from professional treatment to a normal way of life.

Once you place your loved one in a halfway house, they'll either be placed in a group or left individually before being moved to larger living sections with more people.

Professional and reputable halfway houses have strict rules that prevent substance abuse and maintain internal programs that help these individuals stay sober. This makes it imperative for you to find the best halfway house in Indiana.

Here are some benefits of halfway houses.

Learning Accountability

One of the most significant benefits of a halfway house is that your loved one will learn accountability. Most halfway houses have strict rules that provide guidelines as well as responsible living. This means that your loved one is unlikely to revolt because they will have to adhere to the rules stipulated.

Many people who initially move into halfway homes feel like the authorities are simply out to get them. They feel like the rules of the halfway house just make their lives worse. However, by learning to follow these rules and take care of themselves, they learn accountability and adaptability, lowering their chances of relapsing once they join society.

They Get to Live in an Environment of Recovery

Another significant benefit of a halfway house is that it helps someone focus on recovering. Most halfway houses require meeting attendance, which encourages an environment of recovery for all individuals living there. When a halfway house implements strict regiments of recovery, it becomes the difference between success and relapse.

The halfway house will mandate the positive steps to ensure that no one is slacking off during recovery.

Besides, living in a community with people who are actively working on themselves also fosters motivation for recovery. This makes a halfway house one of the best transitional places for individuals who just came out of rehabilitation facilities.

Making Amazing Friends

A lot of people who come from rehabilitation facilities no longer have friends they can relate to. However, once they get into a halfway house, they find a thriving community of individuals with similar issues. Having a network of support is one of the most essential parts of the recovery process.

Having people one can relate to and look up to goes a long way into recovering fully and eliminating the chances of relapsing. A lot of people who go to halfway houses form friendships that last a lifetime. They celebrate two victories and sobriety together.

They also look for ways to eliminate the chances of relapsing and set goals that they can meet together. It also teaches them how to be friends with other people and relearn their social skills before transitioning back into society again.

It Prepares Them for Employment

Regardless of your loved ones' age or gender, they may find trouble finding or maintaining employment. They may have been fired from their job due to their addiction, and they may even have dropped out of school for the same reason.

By living in a halfway house, they'll get an opportunity to sober up and have the ability to go back to school and get a new job.

They may even start volunteering in order to transition back to dealing with employment as they look for work.

Enrolling in a halfway house will give them an opportunity to set new career goals for themselves. They'll start healthy habits that will ensure they keep their job.

You may find that some halfway houses in Indiana are contingent on having a job. Even if it's a simple job in a retail outlet or a burger joint. As long as they have a job, it'll be easier for them to transition and go back to a regular lifestyle.

They'll learn how to be a reliable employee and how to be a productive member of society. This is essentially what recovery is all about. Let's take a look at how to find the best halfway house in Indiana.

How to Find the Best Halfway House in Indiana

There are many halfway houses in Indiana, but this does not necessarily mean that any one of them will do. There's a wide array of factors you need to consider before you choose the right one for your loved one. Keep reading to find out what these factors are the signs of the best halfway house in Indiana.

1. Location and Rental Costs of the Halfway House

When choosing a halfway house in Indiana, the first thing you have to consider is how far it is from home. When searching for a halfway house in Indiana on the internet, filter the results by location. The ideal halfway house should not be too far away from family members and friends that can offer your loved ones support every once in a while.

A lot of people don't know this, but recovery can be a lonely experience if a person is abandoned in a facility. Your loved one will appreciate being close to family members and people who care for them.

Additionally, if they're working, attending school, or have IOP programs, it's essential for you to find a house close to those locations.

Furthermore, you want the halfway house to be in a nice neighborhood. A place where your loved one can avoid peer pressure or the influence of going back to their old ways. Apart from location, you need to consider your budget and the cost of rent for the halfway house.

You'll find that most halfway houses in Indiana charge rent on a weekly or monthly basis, but the costs vary greatly from house to house. Moreover, if your loved one just left a rehabilitation facility, you may not be in a good position to afford an expensive house. In this case, you could look for one with flexible payment options.

2. Check the Admission Requirements

Once you narrow down the location, the next most important thing to consider is the admission requirements. Most halfway houses in Indiana need residents to provide proof that they have completed some kind of addiction treatment program. It could be an IOP, a PHP, or a detox program.

However, you may also find that some halfway houses only need a clean drug screening before enrollment. Before you determine whether a halfway house is the right one for your loved one, consider if they qualify to actually be there. If the house doesn't have any requirements and doesn't have a screening process, then it's a major red flag so keep looking.

3. Structure and Rules

A great sober living environment should feature strict house rules that are observed on a consistent basis and enforced without fail. One of the most significant rules of any halfway house is that the residents should not, under any circumstances, use substances, whether on or off house grounds.

In a professional halfway home, residents found using substances are subjected to immediate eviction and not allowed to return in the future.

Having rules and structure is one of the most important aspects because it prevents the residents from relapsing. Rules should be in place not only for accountability but to keep residents sober and ensure their safety at all times.

Another common house rule you'll find in most halfway houses in Indiana is that all residents must participate in house meetings. They will also be encouraged to remain active in the 12 step program and other support groups that encourage full recovery. You see, halfway houses are not designed for people to just bide their airtime.

While your loved one will be living there, they'll be expected to work on their programs and take complete control of their independence. They will be expected to practice the life and coping skills they learned during the treatment.

Furthermore, they'll also actively focus on making amends with people they harmed during their addiction.

The primary purpose of sober houses or halfway houses is to give newly recovering addicts a place to adjust their lives.

Having feedback and support from others will help them gain the confidence they need to rejoin society. They'll also have the mental capacity to better adjust to the pressure of stresses of everyday life once they leave the halfway house.

4. Some Rules and Regulations to Look For

Different halfway houses in Indiana will have rules and regulations. That said, some of the rules will be similar and will serve as the foundation and function of a professional sober home. Some of these rules include mandatory random drug testing, limitations on outside visitors, mandatory house meetings, and nightly curfews.

Some of the halfway houses may also have cleanliness expectations, safety, and privacy guidelines, noise, as well as show assignments.

5. Check Their Licensing and Regulations

Licensing and accreditation for most halfway houses is an essential aspect to look at. Halfway houses in Indiana get certifications from third parties only. This means that you have to conduct thorough research to find a reputable and professional halfway house.

There are a lot of people out there who open and operate unscrupulous halfway houses just to make some quick money. Such houses will have little to no accountability are the chances of recovery will be significantly minimized. Find a halfway house that is properly licensed to operate in Indiana.

Go the extra mile and find a house staffed by individuals who have been active in their own recovery. Find a house with round-the-clock supervision to ensure that the safety and security of your loved one is met.

6. Length Allowed to Stay

Some Indiana halfway homes allow residents to live there for as long as they want, as long as they abide by the rules and regulations then stay sober. However, other homes will have strict limitations regarding how long a resident can stay.

For instance, you may find a halfway house that only allows residents to stay for three to six months, after which they are required to find another residence. This is one of the most critical factors you should consider. A lot of people require long-term care and support after rehabilitation.

You may realize that your loved one may need a lengthier recovery program. If so, find a halfway house that allows room for negotiations on the length of time they're allowed to stay.

How to Choose a Halfway House: Finding the Best Halfway House in Indiana

Are you looking for a halfway house in Indiana? These are some of the most critical factors you should look for so you can choose the right one. The best halfway house in Indiana will have all the qualities listed above.

If you have a loved one you want to enroll in a halfway house, fill out our online application for consideration.