The Unfair Stigma of Halfway Houses

The mention of a halfway house has created a certain stigma in the eyes of those who live close to the home. Some communities feel that while halfway homes serve a critical purpose for the community, they never want to live close to one of these homes. If you are in the market for becoming a successful entrepreneur and are looking for a venture that gives back to your community, a halfway house may be just the venture you are looking for, for a rewarding and lucrative business. Time spent in a halfway house decreases the clients' risk for relapse because they live in a semi-independent environment until they are less likely to relapse.

You need to look for some things if this is your first sober living investment and understand what your investment is all about. A successful halfway house is all about giving back to the community and less about making money. Although you also need to consider the income from your halfway house because you need to pay staff and the bills associated with your investment. The primary purpose for opening a facility is a deep devotion to helping people with second chances successfully transitioning back into the main-stream community.

The first thing you need to look for is an ideal property for your halfway house with one to three acres of land attached to the facility. This site must be acceptable by most of those living in closeness to your home in the community. Once you find your ideal property, you must have your top choices inspected by a licensed building inspector. You never want to purchase a property only to find that there are more renovations required than you have the money to do.

There are different types of groups of people who desperately need the services of a halfway house to transition back into their community, such as:

• Inmates recently released from prison or jail.

• Men and women recently released from substance abuse facilities upon completion of their rehab program.

• Recovering alcoholics

• Recovering drug abusers

• Women going through pregnancy

• Abused women

• The mentally ill

• Runaway teenagers and youths from troubled homes

It all depends on which group of people you feel more devoted to and whom your halfway home will serve. Your finances dictate how much you can spend on this property. Ideally, you need to make about $100,000 annually to look for the ideal property, including one to three acres in addition to a facility. You must decide if you want to lease or buy the property. In most instances, cities, counties, and townships require property ownership before they are willing to sanction a halfway house in a residential setting. Halfway homes have earned a less than perfect picture. 

The stigma surrounding the words halfway house was created by those who ran less than ideal sites, saw little success due to mismanagement, and never contributed fully to the community. However, this is not going to be your situation. We can help you succeed and become a pillar of your community. It is vital to develop a good relationship with those living in closeness to your home. Find out if the majority of residents are acceptable to live in proximity to your halfway house.

The following issues are other things that you must look for if you are devoted to opening a halfway house.

• A reputable business attorney

• Draw up individualized policy and procedure manuals

• Obtain licensing and permits

• Know your zoning laws

• Be aware that you may have to fight to have some restrictions lifted.

• Make sure you have the funds to make necessary renovations.

• Know how many clients you can serve at a time.

• If your facility is a not-for-profit home, search for members of your community and business leaders willing to donate to your cause and or give you volunteer help with repairs, renovations, and furnishings on an ongoing basis.

• Search for the best possible price on the insurance that covers liability, protection of personal assets, your home, property, other buildings on-site, and your property. 

• Ensure all staff you hire are trained, devoted to your cause, and cleared strict background checks.

• Draw up manuals stating the rules and regulations of your home and make sure each client understands their responsibility to live without relapse, as a relapse means they must leave and find other housing. 

• Hire a trusted accountant and emphasize accurate records keeping

• Look for counselors to initiate therapy sessions.

• Establish strict schedules and hold clients to adhering to these schedules such as appointed chores, location of jobs, attending house meetings and therapy sessions

• Provide activity events and fundraisers if running a not-for-profit home

• Encourage each client to seek higher education or specific job training.

• Work with law enforcement officers and invite them into the house to get to know your clients.

• Install alarm systems and security cameras in and around the house. Systems such as these protect clients, property owners, and visitors. Insurance companies may lower your insurance premiums with these in place.

Open up A Halfway House and Help Your Community

We are in the business of helping entrepreneurs like yourself to start a halfway house venture. This industry provides you with rewarding benefits and adequate income. Give us a call today to discover what we can do for you and access our website for more in-depth information. We have been in business for many years and have the specific experience you need to get started with your halfway house.