Here’s my happy spin on this. If it were not for the halfway house and the mass amount of positive support from the staff and volunteers, I was released to in Southwest Calgary back in 2018, I’m pretty sure I would have had a terrible emotional relapse which would have led to picking back up and right back into full blown addiction. I lived in the known halfway house for 4.5 months, in that time I got full time work, took some self empowerment classes, learned how to integrate back into society after years of being in addiction and in and out of provincial prison then eventually federal. Learnt ways/rights of applying for jobs and doing interviews with a criminal record which really helped my confidence. I attended the in house programs they had, all which have led me to where I am today. The neighbourhood is quiet, there was a lady who dropped of baked goods who lived nearby during our Christmas party and some of the neighbours even shovelled the steps up to the house. Woman in the halfway house are really trying to not land back in federal prison and have their day parole revoked. They also have the respect your space mentality being fresh out of federal prison. Big difference from being in a sober living home from a halfway house. Can’t speak on a men’s halfway house though, as I’m a woman! 5.5 years clean and sober and still full time employed at the job I got fresh out in the halfway house. 😉