There are certain groups of people in society who have been incarcerated and released. These people must get help as soon as the doors close on them from where they lived for months and even years. The purposes of a halfway house are to assist the person in relearning life skills and obtain getting a job. The person must adapt to learning all the new technologies in society, such as balancing a checkbook and filling our job applications online. Occupants must relearn how to live responsibly and not reenter back into drugs, alcoholism, or crime.
These incarcerated persons may have been recently released from the prison or jail system, a rehabilitation facility for drug abuse and alcohol abuse, troubled teens, the homeless, abused women, veterans, and young mothers. Hopefully, the once incarcerated person was truly rehabilitated and is devoted to the cause of easing back into society with the help of a halfway house. Halfway houses provide a gradual integration process back into society. This step back into the community must be a slow process. This process must be gradual because learning so many new things can be overwhelming if the person is introduced to society too quickly and all at once. A gradual process assures a higher rate of success for the person.
There are many rules and regulations that any halfway house must adhere to if they desire to offer society this essential service, help citizens recover, and realize individual success stories. Each state may have different rules and regulations, which are different from the legal requirements for starting a halfway house. In this case, we refer to the state of California.
Rules and Regulations Surrounding Starting a Halfway House
California’s law protects licensed halfway homes designed and set up to house six or fewer occupants. Halfway homes with six or fewer occupants are considered single-family dwellings. These homes must adhere to the same laws, rules, and regulations set forth for any private residence.
Halfway homes that accommodate six or fewer occupants must be separated by at least 300 feet from each other. Facilities that house more than six occupants have no spacing requirements, as seen in an alcohol rehabilitation facility or a senior living facility where the number of occupants is above six. Homes of this type must not sit any closer than 1000 feet from each other. Other licensed facilities may be required to obtain a permit.
California’s law says that areas of the city already zoned for hospitals and extended healthcare facilities are already legally zoned for a halfway house in the same zoning areas. The law also states that there will be no discrimination within the halfway house related to race, sex, lawful occupation, disability, income levels, types of financing, or different requirements between multifamily or single-family homes.
No California law requires a license for supportive housing and independent living facilities with community support services. California’s law says that there are no requirements for obtaining a required license, following written guidelines, or obtaining specific certifications if you want to open a rehabilitation sober living home.
With no written guidelines or certification requirements for these halfway homes, too many halfway houses will be less than a perfect environment for recovering citizens. Thus, the success rate of citizens entering society is low. These homes open the door for their occupants to relapse back into crime, drugs, or alcohol. These occupants have no guiding force to monitor and supervise their ability to reenter society.
In some situations where the house is not quality and the owner/manager is devoted to the cause, the halfway house can cause headaches for the community. Researchers found that the crime rate increased in these areas, and the occupants had very little to no supervision or guidance and were at a higher risk for failure to adapt successfully back into society. These occupants were at higher risk of reentering the prison system or recovering alcoholics and drug users restarting drugs and alcohol. The repeated need for the services of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility was at a higher risk.
Get Help to Start Your Halfway House Today
If you are seriously thinking of starting a halfway house, you must decide who the clients are that you most want to serve, such as, but not limited to,
- Recently released prisoners
- Recovering alcoholics
- Recovering drug users
- Troubled youth
- Young mothers and more
No matter if you reside in California or another state, we are here to help you have a successful halfway house for many years to come. A halfway house does take devotion to the occupants you serve and motivation for a successful transition for each occupant. Your primary goal is to usher each occupant back into society with a high rate of success.
Your secondary goal is to earn an adequate and passive income. You must take your income seriously as you have bills and staff, including yourself, to pay. There are ways to make a passive income using commercial or residential real estate opportunities, such as opening and operating a halfway house.
Opening a halfway home in California is our expertise. An investment of this sort offers a safe haven for recovering individuals from drugs and alcohol, young and troubled youth, young mothers, abused women, and more.
Pick the type of occupants you most want to help and let us know. We can help you make a successful business venture from the beginning to years into the future. Assisting people to transition back into society due to past mistakes is a rewarding and satisfying life while generating a real income for you and your family.
Access our guidebook for more information.
