(Since 1989, many new Oxford Houses have taken advantage of state revolving loan programs. Starting new Houses through the mutual assistance of existing Oxford Houses is a tradition because each House was started with the help of existing Houses and tends to pass on to others that which they received. Once more applications are received than there are beds available, the members of any Oxford House will begin to look around for another suitable house. When they find such a house they will bring it up with the other existing Houses and if there is a consensus they will attempt to find the start up money and members to fill the new house. Often several members of an existing House will move into the new House to provide a core group of new members who already know how an Oxford House works. A major part of the Oxford House philosophy is that dependency is best overcome through an acceptance of responsibility.
What is Oxford House?
More than 80 percent of Oxford House residents remain clean and sober for the long term even though many of them come from backgrounds that have included lengthy alcohol and drug use, periods of homelessness, and incarceration. Our network of houses is only as strong as the community support we receive and the involvement of current and former members. In this respect, they are similar to a college fraternity, sorority, or a small New England town. Officers have fixed terms of office to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy.
All they need to do is to find a house to rent in the name of the Group, and apply to Oxford House, Inc., for a charter. Oxford Houses are democratically self-run by the residents who elect officers to serve for terms of six months. In this respect, they are similar to a college fraternity or sorority. However, if a majority of residents believe that any member has had a recurrence of use of alcohol or other illicit drugs, that person is immediately expelled. An Oxford House Chapter is an additional level of support for individual Oxford Houses. Chapters are important links in making the https://mymodaam.com/mag/our-homes-mash-certified-sober-house/ democratic system of organization underlying Oxford House™ work.
What is the Model?
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous provided a framework for us to change physically, mentally, and spiritually. The degree to which we were able to successfully change our lives had a direct relationship to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Many of us soon learned, however, that living alone or living among our old drinking companions made it more difficult to practice the principles necessary for continued sobriety.
Treatment Focus
- Personal hygiene products and food are the responsibility of each member.
- Each Oxford House operates democratically, pays its own bills, and expels any member who returns to drinking alcohol or using drugs.
- With passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, expansion of Oxford Houses exploded.
- Oxford Houses of Texas, established in 1990, is a state-wide network of addiction recovery homes chartered by Oxford House, Inc., the 501c3 umbrella corporation.
- Each house is self-run and self-supported following a standardized system of democratic operation.
The application is then considered by the membership of the House and if 80% of the members approve, the applicant is accepted and moves in. If an applicant does not get voted into one house they should try another house in the area. Once accepted, an Oxford House member can stay as long as they like, provided they stay drug and alcohol free, are not disruptive, and pay their share of house expenses. In its simplest form, an Oxford House is a shared residence where people in recovery from substance use disorder can live together and support each other in a drug and alcohol-free environment. Since Oxford Houses are self-supported, they are the most cost-effective way to deal with recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction and co-occurring mental illness. It provides quality control by organizing regional Houses into Chapters and by relying heavily upon the national network of mutual aid organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups.
Many individuals in society are able to abide by the strict letter of any rule, regulation , or law. Alcoholics and drug addicts seem to have a tendency to test and retest the validity of any real, potential, or imagined restriction on their behavior. The average length of jail time is about one year, with a range of few days to oxford house sober living more than ten years. This is understandable since as many as 80% of the current jail/prison population are alcoholics and drug addicts. Oxford Houses seem to stop the recycling in and out of jail or treatment facilities. Yes, because alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness are handicapping conditions.
However, the members of Oxford House have found only by being active in AA and/or NA have they found comfortable, long-term sobriety — for themselves and the Oxford House in which they live. Misguided leaders can create dependency and usurp self-responsibility. Oxford House should rely on democratically-chosen leaders, but the leaders must always be but trusted servants.
- Yes, the prospective residents of the House can find a suitable house, rent it, put up the security deposit and pay the first month’s rent themselves.
- The average stay is about a year, but many members stay three, four, or more years.
- Once that application is completed and received by Oxford House, Inc., a “Conditional Charter” will be granted to the house at no cost.
- Each member has an equal voice in the group and each has an opportunity to relearn responsibility and to accept decisions once they are made.
Some operate for several years and then, because of expiration of a lease, dissatisfaction with alcoholism treatment the facilities, or simply the finding of a better location, the members of a particular House will move into a new location. Other Houses often help that type of move as well as the brand new House. In both cases, financial assistance is in the form of a loan having a pay back schedule, not to exceed one year, defined up front.
Call the contact person for each house you’re interested in to set up an interview. Use our Vacancy Locator to find houses near you that have an opening. Oxford House, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that employs both office and field staff.
Promoting Active Participation in a Close-Knit Community
While no one is ever asked to leave an Oxford House without cause, some individuals will simply outgrow living in an Oxford House. They will return to their families; they may start new families; they may simply move into another living situation. Failure to adhere to any of these three requirements would bring the entire Oxford House concept into question. Therefore, it is important that each Oxford House meet these minimum responsibilities in order for its charter to be continued. All Oxford Houses have been careful to avoid undo dependence on government or other outside funds. With passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, expansion of Oxford Houses exploded.
A recovering individual can live in an Oxford House for as long as he or she does not drink alcohol, does not use illicit drugs, and pays an equal share of the house expenses. The average stay is a little over a year, but many residents stay three, four, or more years. Yes, there are Oxford Houses in Canada, Australia and Ghana with active interest in England, Bulgaria and other countries.
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