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. This was the purpose of the first Oxford House established in 1975, and this purpose is served, day by day, house after house, in each of over 1,200 houses in the United States today. At any given time there are about 2,000 Oxford House residents who have served in the military. During the course of a year more than 4,000 veterans will live in an Oxford House. Some houses are all veterans but primarily veterans are integrated into the normal Oxford House population.

Who Starts and Manages Oxford Houses?

All Oxford Houses have been careful to avoid undo dependence on government or other outside funds. Every Oxford House member attributes his sobriety to Alcoholics Anonymous and/or Narcotics Anonymous. Each Oxford House member, as an individual, considers himself a member of AA and/or NA. Experience has shown that Oxford Houses work for both men and women, but not in the same house.

The Oxford House Organization

The members of an Oxford House assume full responsibility for the operation of the House. The House is theirs and in no way is it part of any other organization. The rent that is charged the members is determined by the members themselves in a democratic fashion. The rules which govern the house are for the most part also made by those who live in a particular Oxford House Such autonomy is essential for the Oxford House system to work. 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.

Q. Are there Oxford Houses set up for special populations?

In this respect, they are similar to a college fraternity, sorority, or a small New England town. Officers have fixed terms of office to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy. An Oxford house provides recovering addicts a safe, substance-free oxford house sober living place to live. The concept and the standardized, democratic, self-supported Oxford House system of operations itself are far more persuasive than any individual. Be honest and straight-forward when sharing the Oxford House concept with others.

Those democratic principles will also enable the members of a particular Oxford House to take pride in their new found responsibility. Yes, by simply writing or calling Oxford House to ask for a Charter application. Once that application is completed and received by Oxford House, Inc., a “Conditional Charter” will be granted to the house at no cost. Having houses in good neighborhoods with a safe environment for recovery to flourish may be the single most important reason for the Oxford House success. Each house represents a remarkably effective and low-cost method of preventing relapse and encouraging emotional growth.

• The opportunity for a house to democratically function requires periodic meetings within the house — at least once a week.
• Oxford House, Inc. will consider favorably a Charter application whether or not a loan is received from the State.
• Yes, because alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness are handicapping conditions.

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 to their families; they may start new families; they may simply move into another living situation. The situation should be avoided whereby certain individuals will begin to equate their persuasive qualities with the Oxford House concept.

As our recovery progressed, the supervision and dependency on a half-way house created dissatisfaction. The dissatisfaction was in part the realization that we were shirking responsibility for our own lives and in part a resentment of authority. The third factor affecting us both in the rehabilitation facilities and the half-way houses was the realization that the duration of our stay must be limited because space must be made for others in need of help. It provides quality control by organizing regional Houses into Chapters and by relying heavily upon the national network of mutual aid organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups. While Oxford House is not affiliated with AA or NA, its members realize that recovery Substance Use Disorder can only be assured by the changing  of their lifestyle through full participation in AA and NA.

• Once that’s received by the house, you’ll be interviewed by the house members.
• The first Oxford House was started in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1975.
• The application is then considered by the membership of the House and if there is a vacancy and if 80% of the members approve, the applicant is accepted and moves in.
• 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 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, Inc. will consider favorably a Charter application whether or not a loan is received from the State. Q. Is there any financial aid available to start a new Oxford House? 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. 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. Any recovering alcoholic or drug addict can apply to get into any Oxford House by filling out an application and being interviewed by the existing members of the House.