Halfway houses, often referred to as group homes or therapeutic communities, are locales where all activities and interactions may be viewed as having potentially healing, rehabilitative, and supportive properties and where all members may consciously or unconsciously contribute to therapy. Residents of these houses are halfway from institutionalization to independence. Halfway houses typically work to prepare individuals to move from institutionalized settings, where they are isolated from the community at large, to becoming able to function independently. It is also the goal of the halfway house to integrate or reintegrate former residents into independent living situations in their communities.