Halfway houses for alcoholics: a review, analysis and comparisons with other halfway house facilities

Eight halfway houses for alcoholics were surveyed and compared to other halfway houses for alcoholics, and halfway houses for the non-alcoholic mentally ill, as described in previous studies. The halfway houses for alcoholics surveyed in the present report may be separated into two principal groups: (a) a self-supporting profit-oriented type with an autonomous owner-operator, and (b) a board-controlled and supported type usually receiving group or institutional support. Regardless of group membership, however, none of the halfway houses for alcoholics in the present study matched the high standards set by halfway houses for the non-alcoholic mentally ill as described in other reports. Recent events indicate that halfway houses will be responsible for an increasing portion of persons requiring a structured, supportive or sheltered environment. This paper examines the ability of halfway houses for alcoholics to provide adequate residential care services. Additionally, disparities between alcoholism and non-alcoholism halfway houses regarding staffing, professionalised orientation, and adjunct services are scrutinised. The effectiveness of halfway houses is analysed, and suggestions for future utilisation of alcoholic halfway houses are advanced.