Sober Living vs Halfway House: What’s the Difference?

Around February 2022, Hustito called home scared, thirsty and unsure of his whereabouts, she said. His family believed he may have been kicked out of his sober living home, leaving him with no place to stay. By the time his father drove the four and a half hours to Phoenix, Hustito had figured out he was in Maricopa, a bedroom community more than 30 miles south of the city.

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Jeffrey Hustito decided to seek treatment in Phoenix based on a recommendation from friends at Zuni Pueblo. In the fall of 2021, he entered a program paid for by Medicaid that offered a room at a sober living home, his father said. Hustito believed treatment would provide a stepping stone to steady employment, maybe as a welder or a cook. The fraud flourished Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In for years under the state’s American Indian Health Program, a Medicaid insurance option for tribal citizens that allowed providers to set their own reimbursement rates. This fee-for-service model, established as a result of federal requirements, aimed to ensure coverage for Native Americans living in areas not typically served by insurance companies.

How Effective Are Sober Living Homes?

Community engagement plays a significant role in this environment, significantly enhancing individuals’ recovery trajectories. Non-profit organizations and charities sometimes offer crucial funding for these facilities; however, eligibility typically requires homes to possess 501(c)(3) status. Understanding the financial obligations and exploring all potential funding sources are essential steps for individuals considering sober living as part of their recovery journey. There is a continuum of care in substance abuse treatment that includes sober living. Anyone who is being discharged successfully from an inpatient rehab setting should consider transitioning to a sober living home. A Level I sober living home typically does not have any paid staff and relies on its residents to monitor behavior and enforce policies and procedures.

His family said they sent him money for the game, only for him to learn he was being disciplined and wouldn’t attend the game after all. A medical examiner would later note that in his final weeks, Hustito made multiple emergency room visits. One trip to Banner Desert Medical Center was on Dec. 9, a day after he turned 43. Authorities said he drank a half bottle of rum and smoked fentanyl at his sober living home. He said he took his son home, only for him to go back to Phoenix a month later and enter a new treatment program. Among the victims was Jeffrey Hustito, a 43-year-old uncle, brother and son from Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico.

What is the definition and purpose of sober living homes?

The monthly cost can vary widely, depending on the features of the sober living home and its location. Sober living homes in urban areas are likely more costly than those in smaller, rural communities, and homes offering luxurious amenities will also be more expensive. However, outpatient rehab that you may attend during your time in a sober living home may be covered by insurance. Some insurance policies may limit your care providers or may want you to contribute to the cost.

How Much Do Sober Living Homes Cost?

• Another key difference between sober living homes and halfway houses is the level of support and services offered.
• Unlike formal rehab centers, sober living houses do not typically offer intensive therapy or detox services.
• Additionally, the structured environment helps individuals develop healthy habits, manage responsibilities, and restore damaged relationships due to substance use.
• The services, rent, rules and living conditions at sober living homes vary from place to place.

Yes, many sober living homes cater to distinct demographics, focusing on gender, age, or specific recovery needs. For instance, https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ certain homes may design programs for young adults or women, thereby fostering a comfortable environment that resonates with those populations. This demographic focus helps enhance the community experience, building stronger social networks and peer support systems vital for recovery.

Some sober-living facilities are only offered for as long as you are in the treatment program. For others, you can remain in a sober-living environment after treatment is completed. Our mission is to foster long-term sobriety by creating a supportive environment where house members participate in each other’s recovery. We encourage everyone to reinforce positive lifestyle changes through adventure, support, and peer feedback.

Enter your phone number below to receive a free and confidential call from a treatment provider. You can enjoy healthy meals in the evening, followed by group therapy sessions. Nighttime is often reserved for free time when you can call loved ones, read books, or watch television.

• A study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found sober living home residents experienced improvements in arrest rates, alcohol and drug use rates, and employment rates.
• The most important rule in any sober living house is that no drugs or alcohol are allowed.
• Choosing a location that resonates with your lifestyle preferences and recovery needs is vital in fostering a positive, long-lasting commitment to sobriety.
• Part of living in recovery is “showing up for life,” meaning doing things for yourself that make you a successful, contributing member of society.

A sober living facility can range in price from $250 a month up to $100,000.00 depending on the facility and its features. Facilities that run in the high double or even triple digits often have services such as professional cooks, personal life trainers, and fitness courses. These facilities are usually meant for those in executive level positions that need to remain anonymous among their peers. Sober living homes are an effective resource for individuals who have completed treatment and are ready to begin their lives in recovery. They provide a balance of supervision and independence that allows people to transition back to work, school and daily life.

Anders Hustito said his son gave the impression that the different sober living homes he stayed in were run by the same family, though he did not say who they were. AHCCCS did not appear to grasp the scope and complexity of the fraud scheme for another year, despite red flags and the spike in payments to treatment programs, Adams said. The Arizona Republic last year also reported that a medical director at the agency became concerned in 2021 about unsafe behavioral health settings. Reva Stewart, a community advocate who started a nonprofit to help victims and their families, estimates the crisis led to hundreds of deaths, extending beyond those that occurred in sober living facilities. She said many people recruited into programs were reported missing and some lost access to treatment or became homeless when the state’s crackdown led to the abrupt closure of facilities that housed people.

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The number of residents depends on the size of the home or licensed beds in a facility. In most sober-living environments, bedrooms are shared, but some do provide individual rooms. Typically, there are rules about shared living spaces and individual room maintenance and chores, visitor hours, meal times, curfews and Twelve Step meeting requirements.

All of a sober house’s residents are expected to pursue better health and a substance-free life. If you’re asking, what is a sober living house, know that it’s more than just a place to stay—it’s a supportive community dedicated to your growth, stability, and long-term sobriety. Sober living houses emphasize the importance of engaging with AA meetings and developing a support network. By establishing connections within the AA community, residents gain access to a broad spectrum of experiences and wisdom that can guide them through challenges in their sobriety. Whether through AA meetings in California, Florida, or Texas, the availability of a widespread network of meetings ensures that individuals can find support no matter where they are. These meetings and the relationships formed there provide a lifeline, reducing feelings of isolation and reinforcing commitment to sobriety.