In today’s society, there are so many types of Transitional Houses popping up in our communities. So just what do we mean when someone says that they live in a transitional house?
The truth about transitional housing. What do people mean when they say they live in a transitional house? They really could be referring to a lot of different types of housing. Transitional houses can include the following models:
- Halfway House
- Sober Living
- Senior Housing
- Group Home
- Independent Living
- Student Housing
- Nomad Living
- Co-Living for young professionals
How Long Does One Live at some type of model of transitional housing?
Basically, all types of transitional housing are defined as temporary places to live while someone transitions back into society sometimes with or without programs, services, or another type of assistance. There really is no set time for someone to stay in a shared living house. Generally, a transitional house allows someone to live there anywhere from 30 days to 180 days. Yet there is no set limit for how long one can stay at a transitional house.
It depends on the audience an owner or organization wants to target and help. A big national organization like Volunteers of America will want to house their clients who are all Veterans. A treatment center that helps people get sober will like to send its clients to sober living after finishing their recovery program.
Why Do People Live in Transitional Housing?
When you hear someone say “halfway house” you might think about someone who has just been released from prison or jail. Yet the halfway house is only a temporary place for them to live and get ready to transition back into society in a healthy manner. A sober living is also a temporary place for someone who is newly sober and recovering from drugs or alcohol. Every type of transitional housing has beneficial reasons for people to stay at them for a limited amount of time. Often people will want to live here as they are at a point in their lives where they want to make a change or have no other housing option available to them.
When we say transition “back into society” we can be referring to a whole lot of things. The list may include getting one’s own apartment, moving back in with their family, and starting a new life without drugs or alcohol. Even becoming physically independent of living on their own may be a term for using transitional housing.
Who can live in a Transitional house?
There are so many types of transitional housing. Sometimes this housing will aid individuals and families experiencing homelessness to transition into stable housing. It is believed that 70% of Americans will have housing crisis issues during their lifetime. Transitional Houses can be beneficial for all types of people. If you think about it when you are growing up you shared a place with your family, then you go to college and share a dorm with other students, then you get married and share a home with your own family. Living together with others is a natural part of our society.
In different times of people’s lives, they may find themselves needing to live with others. The type of transitional housing is a plethora. Communities need to provide different types of housing for individuals in need. The community relies upon real estate owners and organizations to establish housing for those in need.
How long does one live in a transitional house?
Most transitional houses allow residents to stay for a limited time. There is no straight out exact amount of time that someone can stay at a transitional house. Just think of this type of housing as a stepping stone in someone’s life. IMAGE So many people need transitional housing whether it’s the last house on the block for them, a safe place to stay, or an affordable housing option. Many times when one’s life is unstable one will need some type of stable housing to get back onto their foot.
Transitional housing operators can also have arrangements for a variety of programs and services. However, once you start providing services you most likely will need some type of licensing with the city, county, or state.
What are some benefits of transitional housing?
Transitional Housing has so many benefits for both owners and residents. Owners can double their rental income by renting out the rooms individually versus renting out the entire house to one person/family. Residents can save money and create an environment where it is useful, helpful, and fun to live with others. It is almost an extension of students living in dormitories. Now as adults people can live together although they are not related by blood. Other benefits include saving money, having accountability while living with others, and access to resources for government benefits or employment. Many times the government, organization, or non-profit agency will pay for the resident’s housing while residing in the transitional house.
Who lives in a transitional housing situation?
All types of people live in a shared housing environment often called “transitional housing”. For the most part, this type of shared housing model is an affordable, helpful, and very needed part of every community. It can also have programs to help individuals navigate and overcome the impacts of addiction, abuse, human trafficking, and lack of access to education. When you hear people stating they live in a sober living, halfway house, independent living, co-living, or pod living, they basically are living in a different type of transitional housing. Usually, one lives in these types of houses for a short time or because they have found themselves in a temporary situation. Usually, someone is facing a hard time in their life because of addiction, loss of employment, mental illness, economic reasons, and the list could go on to the reasons why one is living in a transitional home. Sometimes they are there by choice and other times they have no other place to live.
Transitional Houses can be a crazy good return for real estate investors, landlords, and group home operators. They are recession-proof, pandemic proof and regular cash cows. Everyone needs housing and most people will need affordable housing at some time in their life. There will never be enough affordable housing to end your community’s homelessness. This is one reason why it is highly suggested to make a real estate investment that not only the owner makes money but at the same time helps his/her community.
Related Reading What is a Halfway House?