Vanderburgh Sober Living Start a Sober House National Sober House Directory Tools & Resources

State & City Info

State and city pages provide detailed information about sober living homes in each location. Select a state below to explore available cities.

Insights: Halfway Houses Near Me: How to Find One Through Parole, Court or Self-Referral

View all Insights
image for Halfway Houses Near Me: How to Find One Through Parole, Court or Self-Referral

By Sober House Directory · Published October 26, 2026 · Last updated October 26, 2026

How you find a halfway house depends on who is sending you. If you are leaving federal prison, the Bureau of Prisons places you. If you are on state parole or probation, your officer or the parole agency makes the referral. If a court orders you into recovery housing, the court or your treatment team sets it up. If no one is sending you, you choose a sober living home yourself, and you can start today on your state's page in this directory, such as sober homes in Florida or sober homes in Washington.

This guide walks through all three routes and how to search by state.

What counts as a halfway house

"Halfway house" means different things to different people. The federal Bureau of Prisons uses it for its Residential Reentry Centers, and says the terms "halfway house" and "RRC" are interchangeable. Pennsylvania licenses halfway houses that "can offer treatment" in a home-like setting. People also use "halfway house" when they mean a sober living home, which is housing you choose and pay for yourself. Knowing which one you need tells you where to look. For a side-by-side comparison, read how a halfway house differs from sober living.

Route 1: Parole, probation or release from prison

Federal prison

A federal halfway house placement starts with prison staff, not an application from you. The Bureau of Prisons says the unit team makes an RRC referral recommendation about 17 to 19 months before release. If the warden approves, the referral goes to a regional reentry office and then to the contractor that runs the halfway house, which decides whether to accept you. Placements can last up to 12 months. Residents who work pay a subsistence fee of 25% of their gross income.

Space is tight. As of May 1, 2025, the Bureau of Prisons had contracts with 155 RRCs housing about 8,500 people, and the Government Accountability Office concluded in February 2026 that the bureau "does not have enough RRC capacity to meet the current demand." If you or a family member is nearing release, ask the unit team about the RRC referral early. The Bureau of Prisons explains the process on its reentry center page.

State parole and probation

States run their own transitional housing for people on parole, and placement usually goes through the supervising officer or parole agency. Three examples:

  • California. The state's Transitional Housing Program takes referrals from a parolee's agent of record. Stays last up to 180 days, with up to 185 more days based on need.
  • Texas. A parole division unit in Huntsville places people into contracted Residential Reentry Centers, which Texas calls halfway houses, generally when they have no other place to live.
  • Ohio. State law lets the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction or the Adult Parole Authority require or allow a parolee to live in a licensed halfway house.

If you are on parole or probation, ask your officer what housing they can refer you to and which addresses they will approve. Some sober homes accept residents on parole or probation. Always get the address approved before you move.

Route 2: Court referral

Treatment courts can help participants find housing. The national best practice standards for adult treatment courts, published by All Rise, say participants who are stable but lack safe housing "may be referred to a recovery residence that focuses on maintaining abstinence," and that residents "contribute within their means to the functioning and leadership of the facility."

If a judge or your treatment court team tells you to live in recovery housing, ask:

  • Is there a list of approved homes?
  • Does the home need to be certified?
  • Will the court or a program pay any of the rent, and for how long?

Our guide to court-ordered sober living covers who pays and which homes qualify.

Route 3: Self-referral

Reentry halfway houses run for prisons and parole are reached through those agencies, not by applying yourself. What you can do is choose a sober living home, which works much like a halfway house without the court or prison system attached. You apply, interview and pay rent, usually weekly.

Ways to find one:

  • Search your state below. Each state page lists the sober homes in the directory, which you can filter by gender and certification.
  • Check your state's certified list. Many states and their NARR affiliates keep a list of certified recovery residences. The NARR national directory points you to your state affiliate.
  • Call for help. The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is a free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service. You can also dial 211 for local housing help.
  • Look at Oxford Houses. Oxford Houses are self-run sober homes with no staff; you apply to the house directly. See Oxford House vacancies.

Search halfway houses and sober homes by state

In Pennsylvania, where the state licenses both halfway houses and recovery houses, you can also use the state's licensed housing locator.

What does a halfway house cost?

A federal RRC charges working residents 25% of their gross income. State programs set their own fees, and court placements vary. Sober living homes charge rent; most state recovery housing affiliates report an average of $500 to $1,000 a month, according to SAMHSA. See how much sober living costs, and if you need a low-cost option, read about three-quarter houses, a term most common in New York City.

Next step

If you are being placed, ask your case manager, officer or court team today which homes they will approve. If you are choosing for yourself, call three homes in your state this week. To apply to a sober home with a house mentor, apply to Vanderburgh Sober Living.

Research & Sources

Sober House Directory
Search
Foundation
Support

The Sober House Directory is a resource funded by Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. © 2026 Vanderburgh IP, LLC. All rights reserved.

Developed by Tessera Byte