AllHipHop's Greg Watkins gave the album a seven out of ten, saying, "While Halfway House takes a slight dip from the high standards set forth by the Mood [Muzik] series, it is still a respectable effort.

These delays seemingly stem from Budden's refusal to put out an inferior product, which is what makes him so good, but that kind of perfectionism can be paralyzing.

"[7] TC of The Smoking Section gave the album a 3.5 out of five, saying, "Much to Budden's credit, Halfway House serves as one his more focused offerings, allowing more room for song structure opposed to the long-winded diatribes he's made his forte.

Still with yet another album completed stuffed with mood music, and one named Padded Room looming on the horizon, the prognosis for the removal of the straitjacket that allows him to be Joe Budden while simultaneously restraining his artistic growth, is still to be determined.

"[9] Punknews.org reviewer, Anchors, gave the album five stars out of five, saying "That never-quit attitude has been Budden's trademark for years, and it makes him somewhat of an anomaly in 2008.