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. During 2010, approximately 24,000 individuals lived in an Oxford House for some or part of the year. Of that number 4,332 relapsed [19%] and were expelled, while 7,668 moved out clean and sober.
Q. Don’t zoning laws limit where a group of unrelated individuals can rent a house?
As of March 2022, there are 287 houses in North Carolina, with locations statewide. With an average of 8 beds per house, there are more than 2,200 available beds across the state. Individuals typically enter an Oxford House after completing a treatment program or reentering from a correctional setting. Call the house you are interested in directly to find out about vacancies, or be put on a waiting list.
- Oxford House is the largest network of sober living houses anywhere, with houses in all major areas of Florida.
- Officers have fixed terms of office to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy.
- Peer mentors have overcome a drug addiction and can relate to people who face similar struggles.
- 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.
- 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.
Q. How many residents have served jail time?
Oxford Houses are considered single family residences for purposes of zoning. This has always been true in practice, and since March 12, 1989, the effective date of the 1988 Amendments to the Federal Fair Housing Act, it has been true as a matter of law. Those Amendments make it unlawful for any jurisdiction to discriminate against congregate living for the oxford house sober living disabled. 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. Oxford House, Inc. plays an important part in making certain that individual groups behave responsibly through the use of the “Charter” mechanism.
How do I get into an Oxford House?
Since Oxford Houses are self-supported, they are the most cost-effective way to deal with recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction and co-occurring mental illness. 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. To provide people in recovery from addictions, a supportive program and safe home to achieve a productive, rewarding, clean sober life. That would defeat the whole principle of establishing a system that teaches recovering individuals themselves to be responsible. However, it does the next best thing by utilizing and enforcing its Charter concept. The facility will be staffed with two 24-hour house managers and three peer mentors will be assigned to work with residents.
All Oxford Houses in Kansas are linked together by chapter to ensure mutual support. 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. Depaul University has a team of researchers that have been studying the Oxford House model for more than a decade.
Each House represents a remarkably effective and low cost method of preventing relapse. 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 2000 houses in the United States today. A full recovery also means developing a “recovery identity” with new friends and a new social network to replace their past identity. At any given time there are about 2,000 Oxford House residents who have served in the military.
Q. Are there Oxford Houses set up for special populations?
- Experience of Oxford House has shown that from 8 to 15 members works very well.
- Established in 1975, these homes aim to provide a safe and supportive environment where residents can work together to maintain their sobriety and transition back into the community.
- 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.
- It is no more difficult than for an ordinary family to find a house to rent.
Residents are encouraged to share their experiences, learn from one another, and help each other stay accountable. In addition to the support from fellow residents, many Oxford House members also participate in external recovery programs and support groups, further strengthening their commitment to sober living. We were founded jointly by Vanderburgh House, an operator of sober houses in Massachusetts, and Vanderburgh Communities, an organization supporting sober living and recovery home operators.
OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF
- There is no official minimum time limit for acceptance, but generally an individual comes into an Oxford House following a 14 to 28 day rehabilitation program, or at least a detoxification period.
- By entering into the rental agreement as a group, instead of as individuals, the House is bound to the rental agreement throughout the term of the lease, regardless of any changes to the House’s membership.
- 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.
- This allows an individual to focus on establishing a new set of personal values that center around sobriety.
- Most homes house between eight and 15 members, with most staying about a year.
