Other Houses often help that type of move as well as the brand new House. 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. (Since 1989, many new Oxford Houses have taken advantage of state revolving loan programs. Starting new Houses through the mutual assistance of existing Oxford Houses is a tradition because each House was started with the help of existing Houses and tends to pass on to others that which they received. 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.
The National Alliance for Recovery Residences is one of the largest associations of sober living homes in the United States. It developed four levels of support that can be used to characterize most sober living homes. 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.
Q. What is the «ideal» number of individuals to assure a well-run self-run, self-supported recovery house?
The average stay is about a year, but many residents stay three, four, or more years. In NARR homes, the goal is to protect the health of all residents, not to punish the resident experiencing relapse. In Oxford Houses, individuals who relapse cannot return until they complete a 28-day rehab program or complete treatment and demonstrate an ability to continually attend support group meetings. The ways that sober living houses work vary depending on the level of support provided.
- For information regarding availability and application into one of these homes, or how to apply for a loan and develop a new Oxford House, please use the Contact Information.
- It provides quality control by organizing regional Houses into Chapters and by relying heavily upon the national network of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups.
- And maybe they’ve got a reputation that people just don’t want to get over.
- All too often, an abrupt transition from a protected environment to an environment which places considerable glamour on the use of alcohol and drugs causes a return to alcoholic drinking or addictive drug use.
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. Following establishment, home loans are to be repaid within two years (at approximately $175.00 per month).
Why Do People Choose to Live in an Oxford House?
Yet, needing a roof over your head isn’t the only reason to consider an Oxford House. These homes offer individuals a safe and secure place to live where they can learn responsibility, gain recovery support, and learn to live a sober life. For many individuals who complete drug and alcohol treatment, returning home is the beginning of their relapse. And maybe they’ve got a reputation that people just don’t want to get over.
But sober living homes can be beneficial for anyone in recovery who does not have a supportive, substance-free environment to go home to. The services, rent, rules and living conditions at sober living homes vary what is an oxford house from place to place. Some homes are part of a behavioral health care system where residents live next to a rehab clinic, participate in outpatient therapy and have access to the clinic’s recreational activities.
