The Oxford House Model provides community based, supportive, and sober living environment. In its simplest form, an Oxford House is a shared residence where people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction can live together and support each other in a drug and alcohol-free environment. There is no house manager or outside authority. Oxford House members share the house responsibilities. An Oxford House member can stay as long as they like, provided they stay drug and alcohol free, are not disruptive, and pay their share of house expenses.
Oxford House, Inc. Use our Vacancy Locator to find houses near you that have an opening. Alternatively, if you'd like to send your application to all houses near you that have an opening, you can Apply Online. Tip : Show sincerity about recovery, emphasize regular attendance at meetings, and explain how you will be able to pay your share of expenses. If a house votes to accept you, you can tell them whether or not you accept the invitation to move in.
If you are not selected, you should try another house that has an opening. It is not unusual that an individual who gets rejected at one house applies at another house with an opening and gets accepted. You will usually pay a nonrefundable fee, plus payment for your first two weeks, and you can move in. 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 average stay is about a year, but many members stay three, four, or more years. There is no pressure on anyone in good standing to leave. Oxford Houses are democratically self-run by the members who elect officers to serve for terms of six months. House officers have term limits to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy. Each member pays EES Equal Expense Share which includes the total amount of rent due for the month, utilities and basic staples for the house.
Every member pays the same amount. Each house adheres to the absolute requirement that any member who returns to using alcohol or drugs must be immediately expelled. The Oxford House Model is shared, studied, and growing because it works.
