02 Jul OXFORD HOUSES ATR

A study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found sober living home residents experienced improvements in arrest rates, alcohol and drug use rates, and employment rates. The authors found evidence that 12-step program attendance and social support systems were key components of recovery for residents. Sober living homes are maintained through fees, and residents can usually stay as long as they want. Unlike many halfway houses, sober homes are not monitored by state agencies. In its simplest form, an Oxford House is a shared residence oxford house sober living where people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction can live together and support each other in a drug and alcohol-free environment.

How do Oxford Houses operate, and what makes them unique in the sober living community?

The alcoholic or drug addict alone begins to compare himself to those members of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Halfway house Anonymous who still have family and friends. Loneliness and self-pity soon lead such individuals back to alcoholic drinking or drug use. With Oxford House there is no need for a recovering individual to live in an environment dominated by loneliness.

Why Do People Choose to Live in an Oxford House?

• Residents usually sign a contract or written agreement outlining all of the rules and regulations of living at the sober living home.
• The members of an Oxford House assume full responsibility for the operation of the House.
• The Oxford House model has garnered attention from local leaders as a cost-effective and supportive alternative to traditional shelters.
• Oxford Houses provide a peer-run, democratically organized living environment fostering independence and community-driven support.
• I just had to follow the rules, get along with everyone, and work on my recovery.

This not only helps those individuals to become more involved in AA or NA, and thereby reap greater individual benefits, but also helps to build strong bonds between local AA and NA groups and Oxford House. One can only be dismissed from an Oxford House because of drinking, using drugs, non-payment of rent, or disruptive behavior. Every opportunity should be given to a member who needs professional help to see that he obtains it. Oxford House should rely on democratically-chosen leaders, but the leaders must always be but trusted servants.

Q. What is the success rate for Oxford House residents?

Once more applications are received than there are beds available, the members of any Oxford House will begin to look around for another suitable house. 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.

Those who have benefited from an Oxford House have acquired enthusiasm for the Oxford House concept. In their enthusiasm, they have been anxious to share Oxford House with any recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who want to establish an Oxford House in their community. The charter of each Oxford House requires that an Oxford House meet certain minimum requirements of Oxford House, Inc. First of all, no Oxford House may permit individuals 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.

• But sober living homes can be beneficial for anyone in recovery who does not have a supportive, substance-free environment to go home to.
• They will return to their families; they may start new families; they may simply move into another living situation.
• During 2010, approximately 24,000 individuals lived in an Oxford House for some or part of the year.
• In both cases, financial assistance is in the form of a loan having a pay back schedule, not to exceed one year, defined up front.
• Sober living homes are realistic, cost-effective living environmentsr for people in recovery.

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. 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.

• It doesn’t matter if they’ve been living in the house for one day or for multiple years.
• Some homes are highly structured, with strict schedules and consistent eating and meeting times.
• The Oxford House Model is the unique, time-tested system of operations; an evidence-based practice shown to bring significant results currently unmatched in the recovery space.
• With Oxford House there is no need for a recovering individual to live in an environment dominated by loneliness.
• A study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found sober living home residents experienced improvements in arrest rates, alcohol and drug use rates, and employment rates.

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. 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. 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. If an applicant does not get voted into one house he or she should try another house in the area. The Oxford House website contains an application and information about How to Apply to live in an Oxford House. Nearly all members of Oxford House utilize the AA and/or NA program in order to obtain and keep a comfortable sobriety.

“We haven’t had to rely on external funding, and we’re paying back the initial loan, which is huge.” “This place is truly about accountability,” said Beau Mackey, president of House 7. “I was a little scared to come here at first. To go from prison to total freedom was overwhelming. But it’s been amazing. I’ve https://ecosoberhouse.com/ learned how to be responsible again, how to ‘adult’ as they say.” “Learning to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts peacefully has been crucial.”