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

If there are no vacancies, an individual may be referred to another house in the area. The standardized system for Oxford House has evolved since the first house opened in 1975 and has grown to over 2,865 houses and counting throughout the country. The Board of Directors maintains the sole right to Charter, and to revoke the Charter of, individual Oxford Houses and exercises authority over the policies and officers of Oxford House, Inc.

A halfway house is a place for people to live when they are preparing to re-enter society after living in a full-time facility. A halfway house is often for people recovering from addiction or people returning to society after time served in prison. Halfway houses are also helpful for people looking for stable housing after a mental health treatment program. They are called “halfway” houses because those living in this sort of environment are transitioning halfway between a full-care facility to permanent living in society.

Recovery residences: Which housing characteristics predict positive resident outcomes?

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. 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.

Oxford Houses flourish in metropolitan areas such as New York City and Washington D.C. And thrive in such diverse communities as Hawaii, Washington State, Canada and Australia; but they all abide by the basic criteria. Residents may first move into homes with high levels of support and then transition to homes with lower levels of support. A 2006 study published in the American https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Journal of Public Health found that most Oxford House residents stayed more than a year, but some residents stayed more than three years. Residents usually sign a contract or written agreement outlining all of the rules and regulations of living at the sober living home. Sober living homes are known for strictly enforcing rules, and violations usually result in eviction.

Sober Living Home & Oxford House Rules

Yes, each state has in place a revolving loan fund that can make loans to cover the first month’s rent and security deposit (up to $4000) to rent a house in a good neighborhood. The loan must be repaid by the group within two years in 24 equal installments. 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. 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.

Since then courts have found that the same protection applies with respect to fire safety standards and rates charged property owners for property insurance coverage. Q. What is the “ideal” number of individuals to make a self-run, self-supported recovery house work? Experience of Oxford House has shown that from 8 to 15 members works very well. A house with fewer than six individuals is difficult to maintain because of the small size of the group and the fact that any vacancy causes a greater disruption of the financial welfare of the house. A house must have six or more residents in order to be recognized or chartered by Oxford House. That would defeat the whole principle of establishing a system that teaches recovering individuals themselves to be responsible.

Q. How difficult is it to find another house to rent?

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. At South Jersey Recovery Residences Oxford homes in NJ, residents live under the management and guidance of House Managers, Our House Managers help maintain the safety and drug-free environment of the house. For example, house managers will regularly administer and monitor drug tests for residents. Therefore, the landlord and the founding members give form to substance by structuring the lease as a rental agreement between the landlord and the Oxford House as a group. Accordingly, the property must be leased by the group, not by the individuals.

Sober living homes are an effective resource for individuals who have completed treatment and are ready to begin their lives in recovery. They provide a balance of supervision and independence that allows people to transition back to work, school and daily life. Additionally, you should get to know the people you’ll be living with. Try to determine their optimism, willingness to offer support and motivation for remaining sober. That can be a good time to get to know future roommates and decide whether that particular house is best for you. An American Journal of Public Health study compared individuals who lived in a sober living home to those who only received outpatient treatment or attended self-help groups.

The authors found evidence that 12-step program attendance and social support systems were key components of recovery for residents. Recovery residences are less expensive than living at a rehabilitation facility or detox center because fewer services are offered. But many sober homes require residents to attend support group meetings or participate in 12-step programs or outpatient treatment, which may be an additional cost for residents to consider. Depending on the city, neighborhood and services offered, rent can range from $300 to $2,000 per month.

• The houses are designed to provide stable surroundings for those in early recovery, often located in quiet and pleasant neighborhoods.
• A variety of other studies have also found that sober living homes appear to be an effective component of the recovery process.
• There is no need to seek prior approval for leasing to an Oxford House, and Oxford House, Inc. will legally defend any claim of zoning violation made by localities still unfamiliar with the federal law.
• Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate.
• For those of us who had been in institutions or half-way houses, resentments against authority were common.

The example of Oxford House members going to AA or NA meetings on their own is contagious. When we stopped drinking, we began to realize that in order to stay stopped, our lives would need to change. 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.

The Oxford House Network:

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. As soon as Oxford House Inc., hears of such problems, it takes corrective action because the good name of Oxford House is an important factor in the recovery of thousands of individuals. In 1975, a tight budget in Montgomery County, Maryland led to a decision to close one of the four county-run halfway houses.

We are currently offering financial assistance to individuals wishing to move into one of the houses above. Studies indicate that living in sober homes after inpatient treatment increases recovery rates, financial strength and overall stability. Using this cost-effective way to improve the chances of recovery from addiction may be the best way to show the community that recovery works and that recovering addicts can become model citizens. Oxford House, Inc. acts as the coordinating body for providing charters for the opening of new Oxford Houses. It also acts as the coordinating body to help individual houses to organize mutually supportive chapters.