What is a Halfway House & How Do They Work

If you are looking for a way to expand your investment opportunities, then you may be thinking about real estate. There are lots of real estate investment opportunities, and one frequently overlooked opportunity is that of the halfway house. If you are thinking about opening a halfway house, then you need to understand what they are and how they work. That way, you will place yourself in a good position to run a one properly. Then, you will also be able to maximize the amount of money that you can make through the establishment a halfway house, both through rental income as well as through capital appreciation.

What Is a Halfway House?

A halfway house is designated facility that people go when they are released from control facilities to reintegrate within society. Two common examples include prison, and drug or alcohol inpatient addiction treatment centers. One of the major problems that people will face when they are released from either prison or inpatient addiction facilities, is that they released right back into the same environment that led to their problems in the first place, oftentimes without the skills or support network necessary to do things differently. For those who are being released from prison, if they end up back on the streets, they are highly likely to return to a life of crime. For those who are being released from inpatient addiction facilities, they may re-enter the same environment that led to their struggles with addiction in the first place. This is where one is helpful.

In addition to providing a safe place for people to go, the purpose of a halfway house is also to help people remain sober, avoid a life of crime, and provide them with the necessary skills they need to become productive members of society once again. It is common for these establishments to focus on either helping those individuals being released from prison, or individuals being released from an inpatient addiction facility, rather than mix the two groups. These individuals commonly face different problems, so it makes sense that halfway houses tend to specialize in one or the other.

When it comes to running one, the individuals who live there agree to abide by a set of rules. This might include a curfew set in place during the week, there could be drug and alcohol testing required, and these individuals might be required to help maintain the house as well. The term “halfway house” is used because these individuals are not placed in the controlled environment of a prison or an inpatient rehab facility; however, they still may have their movements restricted in a certain way.

How Does a Halfway House Work?

The ultimate goal of a halfway house is to provide these individuals who are being released from prison or inpatient rehab facility with a safe place to live and reintegrate with society. Importantly, for those who run one, there are a few people who are not allowed to live in a halfway house. Some of the people who are not eligible for placement in a halfway house include sex offenders, individuals who might be deported in the near future, individuals requiring continuous psychiatric treatment, and those who refuse to participate in the programs provided by the establishment. Furthermore, individuals who are serving sentences of six months or less in a prison are unlikely to be required to transfer into a halfway house.

For those who are looking for investment opportunities, it is important to understand how halfway houses make money. First, these can enjoy the same capital appreciation benefits of other real estate investment opportunities. In addition, it is possible for people to make money through their halfway house via rental income. Often, individuals who run one set up partnerships with local inpatient rehab facilities or prisons, ensuring that they keep their occupancy rates high as individuals are released from prison or rehab.

Furthermore, it is also important for people who choose run one to understand that they may need certain business status or licensing certifications in order to legally operate a halfway house. Halfway houses may also be required to provide drug testing, alcohol testing, or even training for job opportunities. All of this could make one more attractive property, driving up the potential income that individuals to run a halfway house can make from rent.