
First of all, no Oxford House may permit individuals Sober living home to remain as members if those individuals are drinking or using drugs. Second, an Oxford House must follow the democratic principles in running the house. Third, an Oxford House must, in essence be a good member of the community by obeying the laws and paying its bills. During the last days of our drinking or using drugs, most of us ceased to function as responsible individuals.

Cortisol: Definition, Functions, Release, and Role in Addiction

Oxford House’s uniquely peer-supportive model has a long record of requiring its houses to meet high-quality standards. These houses provide a structured, alcohol- and drug-free environment for individuals in recovery, emphasizing peer support and shared responsibility among residents. Oxford Houses operates on a democratic model, where residents participate in decision-making processes, which fosters a sense of accountability and community.
Manuals & Forms
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 oxford sober living to their families; they may start new families; they may simply move into another living situation. The concept and the standardized, democratic, self-supported Oxford House system of operations itself are far more persuasive than any individual.
Oxford House Recovery Homes
Oxford House, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that employs both office and field staff.
- Oxford House must always have as its Primary goal the provision of housing and rehabilitative support for the alcoholic who wants to stop drinking and stay stopped and the drug addict who wants to stop using drugs and stay stopped.
- Today Oxford House has more than 20,000 residents at more than 3,500 homes across 47 states and several foreign countries.
- Those who have benefited from an Oxford House have acquired enthusiasm for the Oxford House concept.
- Yes, because alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness are handicapping conditions.
Many individuals when leaving treatment relapse within the first year of recovery. This is because they fall into the same stressors of not being able to find employment, struggles with maintaining their home, or meeting up with old acquaintances who re-expose them to substances. Without assistance and guidance during this transitional phase, individuals become overwhelmed and often relapse but with the help of a professional caring team we can help make this transition less stressful.

Interviews are usually held in person, but can also be done over the phone. A long-running study by Chicago’s DePaul University shows that people completing one year of residency maintain a sobriety rate as high as 80 percent. Each house adheres to the absolute requirement that any member who returns to using alcohol or drugs must be immediately expelled. The average stay is about a year, but many members stay three, four, or more years. Call the contact person for each house you’re interested in to set up an interview.
- Recovery Residence Levels define the range of recovery housing, providing alcohol and substance-free environments with a social model recovery approach.
- Three or more Oxford Houses within a 100 mile radius comprise an Oxford House Chapter.
- Neither can an Oxford House function if some do not pay their fair share of the costs.
- Because being successful in recovery can be difficult to begin with, the Oxford homes do not operate in a co-ed format.
- 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.

An Oxford House Chapter is an additional level of support for individual Oxford Houses. Chapters are important links in making the democratic system of organization underlying Oxford House™ work. The Chapter is the place where all the members of the Oxford House family of individual houses help each other to stay on track and to remain effective. The Chapter is also the place where individuals expand their network of sober friends as Chapters host all kinds of social events that bring their community together.
- There are six house officers in each Oxford House, elected by the members to support the operations of the house.
- Once that’s received by the house, you’ll be interviewed by the house members.
- Oxford House, Inc. litigated the issue and in 1995 the United States Supreme Court considered the issue in City of Edmonds, WA v. Oxford House, Inc. et.
- Applicants must complete this membership application and be interviewed by the house they are looking to live at.
- Oxford House’s uniquely peer-supportive model has a long record of requiring its houses to meet high-quality standards.
Parallel to this concept lies the organizational structure of Oxford House, Inc. This publicly supported, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation is the umbrella organization which provides the network connecting all Oxford Houses and allocates resources to duplicate the Oxford House concept where needs arise. Democratically-run, self-supportive housing for alcoholics and addicts who have stopped using and want to stay stopped. Nice houses in nice neighborhoods where you can live for the rest of your life if you don’t drink or use and pay your weekly share of household expenses.