What is Oxford House? A Guide & Comparison to Other Facilities

The World Council is made up of both alumni and residents of Oxford Houses who are elected by their peers. Electing members to staggered three-year terms of office assures continuity of the 12-member World Council. This assures integrity and correct application of the Oxford House system of operations as documented in the Oxford House Manual© and Oxford House Chapter Manual©. Oxford House, Inc. is a separate nonprofit organization that provides support and training to the network of houses to help expand the Oxford House Model.

Support System and Meetings

Oxford House Inc., is a non-profit, tax exempt, publicly supported corporation which acts as a umbrella organization for the national network of Oxford Houses. It provides quality control by organizing regional Houses into Chapters and by relying heavily upon the national network of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups. While Oxford House is not affiliated with AA or NA, its members realize that recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction can only be assured by the changing of their lifestyle through full participation in AA and NA. In most communities, the members of those organizations help Oxford Houses get started and report any charter compliance problems to the national office of Oxford House World Services with respect to a particular house.

Who Starts and Manages Oxford Houses?

• Plus, some of our treatment facilities—such as the Desert Hope Treatment Center in Las Vegas and Greenhouse Treatment Center near Dallas/Fort Worth—include sober living environments.
• A major part of the Oxford House philosophy is that dependency is best overcome through an acceptance of responsibility.
• Oxford Houses operates on a democratic model, where residents participate in decision-making processes, which fosters a sense of accountability and community.
• Engagement in support groups like AA significantly enhances sobriety rates; studies indicate that individuals who regularly attend AA meetings are more likely to maintain their recovery and avoid relapse.

Once that application is completed and received by Oxford House, Inc., a “Conditional Charter” will be granted to the house at no cost. Call the house https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/the-cycle-of-addiction-and-how-to-break-it/ you are interested in directly to find out about vacancies, or be put on a waiting list. Arrange for an interview with the current House members, who will vote on your acceptance. Rents vary according to the size and location of the House, ranging from $95 to $110 per week, which covers all household expenses except food. For example, the landlord and phone company may require a security deposit and, while furnishings are generally donated, members will often have to rent a truck in order to pick them up. There may also be a need to buy more “staples” such as flour, sugar, coffee, etc. when a House starts up.

Oxford House vs. Sober Living Homes

In this article, we explore the characteristics of each to help determine which is best for specific recovery needs and goals. Halfway houses are ideal for individuals who need structured support in early recovery, particularly those transitioning from treatment centers, incarceration, or facing challenging life circumstances. They typically include rules around curfews, sobriety, and sometimes employment, promoting responsibility Substance abuse and self-sufficiency.

The combination of a structured living environment, mutual support, accountability, and access to resources has proven effective in helping residents achieve lasting sobriety and stability. The foundational concept behind Oxford Houses is to promote long-term recovery by offering a stable and secure living situation. Oxford Houses typically operate by housing same-sex residents, ensuring that individuals reside with others who share similar experiences and recovery goals.

Q. Can both men and women live in the same Oxford House?

While Oxford House, Inc. has the sole authority to grant Oxford House charters, the World Council acts as an advisory council to the board. For more than twenty-five years, a DePaul University-based research team has been involved in studying Oxford Houses in order to better understand the role they play in substance abuse recovery. The national scope of Oxford House and its long history makes it the only recovery house system that has been the subject of so much independent research. The OHI field staff travel to Oxford Houses, Chapters, and Associations to provide technical assistance and training, assist with expansion, and network in the community. Oxford House, Inc. is a separate nonprofit organization that provides oxford house traditions technical assistance and training to the network of houses to help expand the Oxford House Model. Oxford Recovery Houses appear to provide an effective and inexpensive alternative for many individuals seeking recovery.

• 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.
• View and download the latest House and Chapter Manuals, along with other forms used to conduct weekly house meetings.
• The rent that is charged the members is determined by the members themselves in a democratic fashion.
• Oxford Houses function under a democratic structure, meaning residents actively participate in decision-making processes that affect the house and its members.
• While Oxford House, Inc. has the sole authority to grant Oxford House charters, the World Council acts as an advisory council to the board.

• If an applicant does not get voted into one house they should try another house in the area.
• Many individuals who have lived in an Oxford House find the experience to be invaluable to their recovery journey.
• Being community-based, the Oxford House Model has helped numerous individuals recover from addiction with nearly 3,000 houses in the United States and other countries.
• The loan must be repaid by the group within two years in 24 equal installments.
• You will usually pay a nonrefundable fee, plus payment for your first two weeks, and you can move in.
• On the ground floor, a double-height gallery space forms the heart of Copper Bottom.

The members follow house rules and are expected to contribute to maintaining a clean and safe living environment. Residents benefit from the shared experiences of others who understand the challenges of recovery, which fosters accountability and motivation. By the time many of us had stopped drinking, we had lost jobs; we had lost families, and some of us either had no place to live or no place to live which was not an invitation to start drinking again.