What to Ask Before Choosing a Halfway House: A Checklist for Families

A halfway house placement isn't just about finding a bed. Referral paths, eligibility rules, and available services differ from program to program - even when the listings sound identical. Some programs specify exactly who can refer someone (a particular department or supervision agency), while others emphasize certain services like life-skills programming or structured case management. Ask the right questions now. Otherwise, you might learn too late that a program won't accept your referral source or doesn't provide the supports your loved one actually needs.

Eligibility and Referral

• ✓ Who is allowed to refer someone to your program (probation/parole, a state department, courts, treatment providers, self-referral, family referral)?
• ✓ Do you only accept referrals from specific agencies or offices? If yes, which ones?
• ✓ What eligibility requirements have to be met before you’ll review an application?
• ✓ Are there age limits (for example, adults only)?
• ✓ Are there charge, conviction, or supervision-status restrictions that would make someone ineligible?
• ✓ Do you require a certain release type (parole, probation, community corrections, re-entry placement) to qualify?
• ✓ What paperwork has to come from the referring agency, and what paperwork can the family provide?
• ✓ What’s the intake timeline after a referral is submitted, and what can delay acceptance?
• ✓ If someone is denied, will you explain why and allow a re-application later?

Sometimes referral rules are stated plainly in a program listing - something like "referrals accepted from" a named department or supervision agency, plus basic eligibility language. Treat that as a starting point, not the full picture. When you call, ask them to confirm exactly which referral sources they accept and what "eligible" really means in practice. Don't rely on a short directory description.

Services and Quality

• ✓ Do you provide life-skills or reentry-focused classes? If yes, what topics are covered and how often do they meet?
• ✓ What does case management include (goal planning, referrals, progress check-ins), and how often will your resident meet with a case manager?
• ✓ Do you do medical screening at intake, and what happens if someone needs follow-up care?
• ✓ What behavioral health supports are available (screening, referrals, coordination with outside providers)?
• ✓ Is the program accredited or certified? If yes, by whom, and is the accreditation current?
• ✓ What does “structured programming” look like day to day (required groups, check-ins, expectations)?
• ✓ How do you measure progress and decide when someone is ready to step down or complete the program?
• ✓ What happens if a resident struggles - are there graduated responses or is discharge immediate?

Service lists in program descriptions show what a provider wants you to know - life-skills training, screening, case management, accreditation. But those features aren't uniform, and the same label can mean very different levels of support. If your loved one needs steady structure, help coordinating care, or a program with formal standards, confirm what's actually offered. Ask how often it happens and who provides it - not just whether it appears as a bullet point.

Verify and Documentation

• ✓ Ask for the program rules and resident handbook in writing (or a printed copy) so you can read the exact expectations.
• ✓ Request a copy of intake requirements and the application/referral checklist so you know what must be submitted.
• ✓ If the program says it’s accredited or certified, ask for documentation that shows the accreditation and that it’s current.
• ✓ Compare what you’re told on the phone to what’s stated in public directory listings.
• ✓ Look for consistency across sources (listing details, written policies, and what the referring agency says).
• ✓ If you’re reading reviews, use them as prompts for follow-up questions - not as proof by themselves.

The fastest way to prevent confusion is to get key details in writing and keep them together - rules, intake paperwork, accreditation materials. Then cross-check: does the written policy match the directory listing? Does it line up with what the referring agency expects to submit? If something doesn't match, ask the program to clarify which document controls and whether the listing is outdated.