Organizational “Time” in Alcoholism Halfway Houses: Implications for Stability and Survival

Abstract

Data on 23 halfway houses for alcoholics are analyzed to explore the relationships of years of program operation and average staff tenure (or average length of employment at the halfway house) with each other and with: (1) the sex-composition of the halfway house clientele; (2) the employment rate of halfway house clients; and (3) the average length of time clients remain in the halfway house. Results indicate that older halfway houses tend to restrict admissions to “males only”; that a more senior staff influences clients to remain in the facility for lengthier terms of residence; and that clients in houses with a larger proportion of males remain in the facility for shorter terms of residence. The discussion focuses on implications of the findings for organizational stability and survival and identifies directions for future research.