Transitional housing
Moving from a very structured program to having no structure or accountability seemed to be a recipe for relapse. Many clients found it a challenge to go out on their own immediately, without a period of transition. When we began to build at Locust Street, we saw an opportunity to use a section of the building as self-contained efficiency apartments, which provided a bridge from the very structured environment of the halfway house program to completely independent living. These bridge apartments we more successful and in demand than we imagined. When we moved from the Antietam Street house to Locust Street, we created additional transitional housing at Antietam Street. Between the two facilities, we have been able to provide bridge apartments to 30 women and children in the last three years.
The women who come to W House bring both personal and financial wreckage, and often need longer times in treatment to achieve financial and emotional stability. Women in these bridge apartments transition from living in a highly structured environment, to living more independently with accountability, to complete independence. Women in our transitional housing are required to continue weekly individual counseling, random urinalysis and breathalyzer tests, and continued commitment to the aftercare goals that are outlined when they are discharged from the halfway house program.
Isolation, loneliness, and financial stress often contribute to relapse once a woman graduates to independent living. Transitional housing helps to alleviate these risks and increases the chances that women will be successful and enjoy healthy, productive lives. The Antietam Street transitional house allows women to live together, sharing living expenses in a communal, sober environment. The women who are mothers can be joined by their children and live together at Antietam Street in a family house atmosphere. We are very happy that we have been able to offer women and their children counseling, support, and healing during their extended time with us.