House & Chapter Literature & Guidelines » Oxford Houses of Virginia

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. A https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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.

How do neighbors feel about Oxford Houses?

He moved to a county-run halfway house in Silver Spring, MD, to recover but soon learned that the facility was about to close. The Oxford House Model provides a unique and successful system of operations that differs from traditional sober living homes and halfway houses. One can only be dismissed from an Oxford House because of drinking, using drugs, non-payment of rent, or disruptive behavior.

• Oxford House, Inc. will consider favorably a Charter application whether or not a loan is received from the State or some other outside source.
• The alcoholic or drug addict alone begins to compare himself to those members of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous who still have family and friends.
• 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.
• Third, an Oxford House must, in essence be a good member of the community by obeying the laws and paying its bills.
• 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.
• They called their experiment in group living and joint sobriety Oxford House.

Q. How difficult is it to find another house to rent?

• When we stopped drinking or using drugs, we began to realize just how dependent we had become.
• Yes, because alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness are handicapping conditions.
• The number of residents in a House may range from six to fifteen; there are houses for men, houses for women, and houses which accept women with children.
• Learn what makes Oxford House stand out as a unique model for recovery housing.

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. The average stay is about a year, but many residents stay three, four, or more years. It is obvious why Oxford House must strongly protect the sobriety of its other members by asking the drinking member or member using drugs to leave.

Q. How many residents have served jail time?

• 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.
• Electing members to staggered three-year terms of office assures continuity of the 12-member World Council.
• An Oxford House Chapter is an additional level of support for individual Oxford Houses.
• The average stay is about a year, but many members stay three, four, or more years.

House officers have term limits to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy. Every member has an equal vote regardless of how long they’ve been there. The Oxford House concept is a sound one, based on sound principles, and has demonstrated its worth with an established track record. We should spread the word about Oxford House, but be wary of individuals who place their own personalities before the principles that made Oxford House work. Oxford Houses are dedicated to recovery and group support; not individual gain. The members of an Oxford House assume full responsibility for the operation of the House.

It is inconsistent with the Oxford House system of democratic rule to have a professional manager of oxford house Oxford House. For example, the landlord and phone company may require a security deposit and, while furnishings are generally donated, members will often have to rent a truck in order to pick them up. There may also be a need to buy more “staples” such as flour, sugar, coffee, etc. when a House starts up.

Q. Don’t zoning laws limit where a group of unrelated individuals can rent a house?

Initially, the structure and supervision of such facilities were acceptable because physically and mentally, we were exhausted. Later, marijuana addiction some of us were to move into half-way houses which provided shelter, food, and supervision. As our recovery progressed, the supervision and dependency on a halfway 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 halfway houses was the realization that the duration of our stay must be limited because space must be made for others in need of help. 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.