Legal Requirements for Starting a Halfway House in Georgia

A halfway house in Georgia is also known as a sober living house, shelter care house, or residential treatment center. It is a community-based institution that provides access to community resources. It offers transitional opportunities for individuals who are ready to return to society as productive, law-abiding, healthy members of the community after having been recovered from addiction. 

Halfway house is set up to give the victims a safe place to recover free from alcohol, drugs, and mental disturbances. The affected/addicts are provided with a facility that allows residents to work on their recovery program to be self-sufficient. They attend 12-step meetings, attend drug tests, and have curfews to keep them on the narrow and straight road to recovery. 

To avoid a relapse into crime, substance abuse, or homelessness, they are taught life skills and allowed to practice those skills while living in the halfway house. 

Halfway houses are of different categories, depending on the kind of people you would like to help. Those recently released from prison, those overcoming drug and alcohol addictions, those with mental disabilities, or giving the youth a roof over their heads. 

Halfway houses in Georgia shelter orphans, victims of child abuse, or runaways. The duration of time taken in halfway house varies, but most stays are between three to twelve months. It gives someone enough time to get back on their feet, to secure a reliable job, and feel ready for their sobriety. 

Violations have consequences which include making amends, fines, or even being expelled from the facility.

Opening a halfway home is a rewarding opportunity and provides much-needed services for residents. Some of the things to consider before you open a halfway house in Georgia include:

• Understanding the legal requirements.
• Hiring a lawyer.
• Organization plan. 
• Choosing a location.
• Offering counseling to support the addicts 

An organized plan for the halfway house would be of great help if you are look for assistance applying for a loan or funding, grants, tax exemptions, and government surplus. 

This shelter for victims of addiction is operated as a business and must meet its financial needs in providing the required services.

Some of the ways to cover the cost of a halfway house include:

• Insurance
• Scholarships and grants
• Personal savings
• Borrowing from family and friends
• Bank loans/credit cards
• Setting up a payment plan with the halfway house

How to Start a Halfway House

Choose the House Name

A business search is required on the SOS website. Check that the business name is accepted and not the same as the names of other business entities existing on file with the Georgia Secretary of State.

Open a Bank Account

Open a bank account with the name of the halfway house

Pick the Halfway House Location and Check Zoning Regulations

It is important to verify that the spot is zoned for that type of business by contacting the town’s zoning or planning department.

Insurance

Business insurance covers the business and personal assets from the fallout of unexpected disasters, like personal injury lawsuits and natural calamities.

Registering the Business Entity

• Sole proprietorship: To form a limited liability partnership that is mostly used byprofessionals, one must file a Limited Liability Partnership Election with the office of the clerk of the superior court.
• LLCs: One is required to file Articles of Organization. You will also need to appoint a registered agent for the service of process. While not required by law, you also should prepare an operating agreement for the basic rules about how LLC will operate, this agreement is not filed with the state.
• Corporations: To create a corporation in Georgia, you must file Articles of Incorporation with the Georgia SOS. 

Partnerships

Georgia partnerships income from the business is shared with the individual partners, who then submit tax on the amount shared to them on both federal and state tax returns

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

 LLCs are distributed through entities and are not required to submit income tax to either the federal government or the State of Georgia. Rather, income from the business in submissions are done through individual LLC members, who then pay federal and state taxes from the amounts given.

Corporations

An Investor must pay state taxes on their dividends from the corporation. An Investor-employee with a salary also must pay state income tax on their state tax return. Also, the corporation itself is subject to Georgia corporation taxes. 

Corporations must file an annual registration fee with the Georgia SOS.

Get Help Starting Your Halfway House Today

Opening a halfway house is a rewarding venture and provides much-needed services for the victims who disparately need it. What a fulfilling and priceless opportunity when you see a recovery of life and livelihood. This venture is driven by passion and community service to see people get back to their feet again. If you need help getting started in this process, contact professionals at Open Up a Halfway House to learn more about how you can start the process to help people in Georgia re-enter society.