The article highlights the success of these houses, where recovering individuals work together, abide by simple rules, and maintain a drug-free environment. The expansion of Oxford House, despite initial skepticism, led to Congress passing a law to support the model nationally, with state funds allocated for similar initiatives. The article explores the challenges and debates surrounding the concept, emphasizing the transformative impact it has had on residents’ lives. An Oxford House is a peer-supported recovery home for individuals in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. These homes offer a structured and substance-free environment that helps those in recovery focus on personal growth and accountability.
A History of the Oxford House Organization
For those of us who had been in institutions or half-way houses, resentments against authority were common. While Oxford House, Inc. has the sole authority to grant Oxford House charters, the World Council acts as an advisory council to the board. It is a central Oxford House condition that everyone living in the home has to pay rent. These facilities are self-supported and it is the job of the residents to keep up with the bills. That means not only does rent need to be paid, but also utility bills and other household expenses. The residents are responsible for creating a supportive environment for one another, maintaining the household, paying the bills, and more.
What is the Model?
Each house is self-run and self-supported following a standardized system of democratic operation. Each group obtains a charter from Oxford House, Inc., the umbrella organization for the national network of individual Oxford Houses. At the Oxford House World Convention held annually, Oxford Houses throughout the country vote for representatives to the World Council. The World Council is comprised of 12 members, 9 of which presently live in an Oxford House, 3 who are alumni. In carrying out its mission the Council always keeps a focus on expansion of the network of individual Oxford Houses, to provide all recovering alcoholics and drug addictions the opportunity to develop comfortable sobriety without relapse. One of the whats an oxford house greatest threats to the sobriety of a recovering alcoholic or drug addict is loneliness.
Role Modeling
Most sober living environment options come with some type of time limit on how long a resident can stay before they need to move on. As long as an individual is obeying the house rules and meeting their obligations, they are welcome to stay indefinitely. Oxford House is a network of peer-run recovery homes for people committed to sobriety. Just a group of individuals who share rent, responsibilities, and the daily work of staying sober. Yes, there are Oxford Houses in Canada, Australia and Ghana with active interest in England, Bulgaria and other countries. Alcoholism and drug addiction are international problems and Oxford Houses can provide recovering individuals the opportunity to become comfortable enough in sobriety to avoid relapse.
Q. Are there Oxford Houses set up for special populations?
Different levels cater to varying needs, providing tailored support to individuals in recovery, allowing participants to explore multiple recovery pathways through diverse peer models. For more information about NARR, check out our article titled The National Alliance for Recovery Residences, which offers more insight into its system of standards and policies. In a different study, Jason and Ferrari also examined abstinence-specific social support and successful abstention from substance use in a national sample of more than 900 Oxford House residents. Sober living homes emphasize the importance of building a supportive community.
- Relapse policies are strict in most transitional housing environments, particularly in sober living homes and halfway houses.
- They can provide gentle reminders, encouragement, and constructive feedback when needed.
- Being accountable to other Oxford House residents is a critical part of this whole experience.
- We maintain a toll free hotline reporting towns and phone numbers of Oxford Houses with vacancies.
- For those in New Jersey, Valley Spring Recovery Center offers assistance in finding sober living homes suited to individual recovery needs.
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. The opportunity for a house to democratically function requires periodic meetings within the house — at least once a week. Such meetings should be used to resolve any operational or personality problems facing the house. By running Oxford House on a democratic basis, members of Oxford House become able to accept the authority of the group because the group is a peer group. 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.
Choosing a Sober Living Home
The other house members will be counting on you to be reliable and sober. If you still need regular psychological services and other types of care, waiting on looking into an Oxford House is probably the right choice. 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. The average length of jail time is about one year, with a range of few days to 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.
Valley Spring Recovery Center offers comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment services. Contact our admissions team, available 24/7, to start your journey towards recovery. Oxford Houses have successfully expanded to form a network of over 2000 homes across the United States and internationally, thriving in diverse communities such as New York City, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Canada, and Australia. Each house operates under a set of traditions that prioritize democratic governance, financial independence, and the collective welfare of all members, ensuring no member is expelled without cause related to relapse or disruptive behavior. Contact us today to schedule an initial assessment or to learn more about our services. Whether you are seeking intensive outpatient care or simply Drug rehabilitation need guidance on your drug addiction journey, we are here to help.
- This line of research could be expanded to other levels or target groups, such as men and women with substance abuse returning from foreign wars in Iraqi and Afghanistan.
- In 2007, the Oxford House organization received about $1.6 million in grants from state and local governments to pay outreach workers to develop and maintain networks of individual Oxford Houses in nine States and the District of Columbia.
- Recovering substance abusers living in these types of settings may develop a strong sense of bonding with similar others who share common abstinence goals.
- These environments help individuals rebuild their lives, gain independence, and transition smoothly back into society with a stronger foundation for continued recovery.
- Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous provided a framework for us to change physically, mentally, and spiritually.
- Oxford House members share the house responsibilities and pitch in to do the chores.
- Ideally several of the bedrooms are large enough for two twin beds so that newcomers, in particular, are able to have a roommate.
- Oxford House residents are often considered good neighbors, and when neighbors get to know these residents, they often feel very positive about these homes.
- Staying overnight is rarely permitted, especially in more structured environments like halfway houses.
Nevertheless, American Indians were no more likely to report more severe substance use, psychological problems, criminal histories, or lower incomes than other groups. In addition, American Indians were more likely to report being on parole or probation and being referred for aftercare by the legal system. Moreover, American Indians reported greater disharmony within their recovery residences than Caucasians, but there were no significant ethnic differences in length of stay in Oxford House. Q. What if there is not an Oxford House in the area or there are no vacancies in any Oxford House in the region? 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.
All new Oxford Houses establish their own specific rules for certain aspects of the living arrangement, but the model remains mostly the same from one to the next. There is some structure in place when you live in an Oxford House, yet residents do enjoy quite a bit of flexibility. It’s common for residents to regularly attend AA meetings or NA meetings, although those meetings aren’t necessarily a requirement to live in the home. There is no hierarchy within the ranks of the officers – everyone has an equal say in how Oxford House recovery homes are run. To explore addiction treatment options at a facility staffed by experienced, qualified professionals, turn to Purpose Healing Center today for help. These homes are protected under the Fair Housing Act, and many end up being the best-kept homes on the block.