The Limen House consists of 2 halfway houses; there is one for men and one for women. Their residential therapeutic treatment program is designed for recovering alcoholics and addicts. Their clients have a safe place to stay as they work toward their full recovery from alcoholism and drug dependency.

The Limen House in Delaware began in the fall of 1968 as a halfway house for men who were alcoholics and addicts to recover from their illness. Limen is a Latin term that means threshold, meaning beginning or entering which fit beautifully with this facility because Limen House was for men who were looking for a new beginning. St Andrews Church in Wilmington had worked with alcoholics through AA and the St. Andrews social service program and that’s where the idea for a halfway house came from at that time.

It wasn’t easy but after working together with officials from the Alcoholic Commission, the Department of Mental Health, the Mental Health Association, Alcoholics Anonymous, and other agencies in the community they were able to facilitate rehabilitation of alcoholics. Because of how well their community accepted the concept of a halfway house they were able to open a Limen House for women which opened in August of 1973. Other halfway houses in Delaware and other states have modeled their halfway homes after the Limen House.

The Limen House is a non-profit organization; they are supported through private funds and contributions. These funds come from individuals, industries, foundations, service clubs and also churches. The philosophy of the Limen House is to be able to provide a temporary home for individuals that have no place to live. This wonderful organization celebrated their 40 year anniversary in 2009. The Limen House is responsible for helping addicts and alcoholics go back into society as productive and fully functioning members of society.

Clients at the Limen House learn how to take responsibility for their own choices. During their recovery process, the client is educated about their disease, a recovery program is developed for the client, and their self-esteem is improved. Each client’s treatment is uniquely developed for them personally in order to meet their individual needs. Residents of the Limen House program typically stay for a year.

Limen House’s Program for Recovery

1. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous 12 Step Programs
2. 12 Step Study Groups
3. Lectures on Relapse Prevention
4. Peer Support Groups
5. Other Recovery Related Activities

There Holistic Framework

1. Housing
2. Food
3. Individual and Group Counseling
4. Life Skills Training
5. Educational Opportunities
6. Financial Literacy Training
7. Access to Job Training and Placement
8. Access to Medical Insurance
9. Parenting Classes
10. Peer Support and Help in Securing a Safe Living Environment After Their Treatment

Learning Tools That Help Residents

1. Maintain Abstinence
2. Manage Their Money
3. Cope With Stress and Anger in Their Lives
4. Develop and Implement a Self-Care Plan
5. Develop a Sober Support Network
6. Obtain Employment That is Supportive of Their Recovery
7. Maintain a Savings Account with a Positive Balance at Time of Discharge and Secure Safe Housing.

Because the Limen House cares about their residents and offers them support in their structured environment they are able to help people recover from their disease of addiction. They are committed to their clients and their staff is compassionate about what they do for them. They believe in miracles at the Limen House because they see them happen each and every day!