A recovery residence refers to a supportive, shared living environment founded on peer support and connection to community services that promote a person’s active participation in their own recovery. Recovery residences are free from alcohol and other substances and are a common pathway used to transition back into the community following residential treatment. 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. Oxford House was founded not only to put a roof over our head, but also to create a home where the disease of alcoholism was understood and the need for the alcoholic to stay away from the first drink was emphasized. The bond that holds the group together is the desire to stop drinking and stay stopped.
Men and Women
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. Oxford House Placement Services is a non-profit referral agency founded to help recovering individuals find placements in Oxford Houses in their locality. We maintain a toll free hotline reporting towns and phone numbers of Oxford Houses with vacancies. © 2026 💜 Vanderburgh Sober Living ™ is a cooperative network of independently operated sober living homes organized by The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)3 Charitable Foundation. The VSL and Vanderburgh House ™ brands are used with permission by VSL Chartered Operators. Reach out to our counseling and recovery center today and let our understanding team be of great assistance.
Recovery-Based Housing
- Yes, there are Oxford Houses in Canada, Australia and Ghana with active interest in England, Bulgaria and other countries.
- Oxford House gave me the opportunity to practice the principles and action.
- Oxford House is the largest network of sober living houses anywhere, with houses in all major areas of Florida.
- One of the greatest threats to the sobriety of a recovering alcoholic or drug addict is loneliness.
- A recovering individual can live in an Oxford House for as long as he or she does not drink alcohol, does not use drugs, and pays an equal share of the house expenses.
- All Oxford Houses have been careful to avoid undo dependence on government or other outside funds.
Yes, because alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness are handicapping conditions. 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. 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.
What Is the Ideal Number of Members for an Oxford House?
Experience of Oxford House has shown that from 8 to 15 members works very well. Oxford House will not charter a house with fewer than six individuals because experience has shown that it takes at least six individuals to form an effective group. 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.
No Oxford House can tolerate the use of alcohol or drugs by one of its members because that threatens the sobriety of all of the members. Neither can an Oxford House function if some do not pay their fair share of the costs. Level III (Type S, Supervised) residences offer weekly https://vana.articus.eu/?p=185954 structured programming, including recovery support services and life skills development, with trained or credentialed staff, often graduates of recovery programs. They are designed for individuals needing more intense support and are required to be licensed in some states. The Rocky Mountain state is Home to a vast network of Oxford Houses of which provide an empowering peer-ran atmosphere that supports healthy lifestyle practices and comradery for those seeking long-term recovery. Colorado is a rapidly growing state through replication and expansion of the number of Oxford Houses by demand.
- An Oxford House member can stay as long as they like, provided they stay drug and alcohol free and pay their share of house expenses.
- Through chapters individual houses are able to share their experience, strength and hope with each other to assure compliance with the Oxford House concept and its respected standardized system of operations.
- 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.
- Repayment from those start-up loans assures the continuation of the revolving fund to enable other new houses to get started — just as repayment of loans to chapters permits the same resources to be used again and again.
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Oxford House is a nationally recognized network of peer-run, self-supporting sober living homes for individuals recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. These democratically operated residences provide safe, affordable housing where residents support one another in maintaining sobriety without the use of professional staff or formal treatment programs. 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. Such environments significantly enhance recovery outcomes by providing a stable living situation and promoting healthy resident relationships. Recovery housing is specifically designed to support individuals with oxford house traditions substance use issues to initiate and sustain long-term recovery.
Addictive Inhalation and Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Study
A smaller group facilitates closer interpersonal relationships, encouraging members to share personal experiences and challenges more openly, which is vital for effective recovery. The advantages of Oxford Houses include a strong sense of community, accountability, and mutual support, which are invaluable during addiction recovery. Sharing experiences and coping strategies creates a robust network that significantly enhances recovery outcomes. 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 Alcohol Use Disorder homelessness, and incarceration.
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Mr. Molloy and the other residents devised the basic rules of self-government that have shaped Oxford House ever since. Second, every resident would contribute equally to the expenses and household duties. You can stay as long as you like, provided you don’t use drugs and alcohol, are not disruptive, and pay your share of house expenses. The Oxford House Model provides community based, supportive, and sober living environment. Oxford House has as its primary goal the provision of housing and rehabilitative support for the alcoholic and drug addict who wants to stop drinking or using drugs and stay stopped.
A major part of the Oxford House philosophy is that dependency is best overcome through an acceptance of responsibility. In Oxford House, each member equally shares the responsibility for the running of the House and upholding the Oxford House tradition. All aspects of Oxford House operations, from the acquisition of the house to the acceptance or dismissal of members, is carried out under democratic procedures. Each member has one vote and majority rule applies except that 80% of the members must agree in accepting new persons for membership.
An underlying principle of Oxford House is that each individual member has the ability to be responsible for himself. Living within an Oxford House provides both the opportunity and motivation for all residents to regularly attend AA and/or NA meetings. The example of Oxford House members going to AA or NA meetings on their own is contagious. 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.
