For those seeking a structured, supervised environment, a halfway house may offer the best foundation for a stable recovery. Oxford Houses, however, are ideal for those ready to manage their sobriety with greater autonomy.STR Behavioral Health offers guidance and support if you or a loved one are exploring sober living options. Reach out to our admissions team to learn more about our comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment services, and let us help you find the right path to lasting recovery. While both halfway houses and Oxford Houses provide structured environments, Oxford House emphasizes more on individual accountability and the importance of peer support. Furthermore, halfway houses usually have a predetermined length of stay, whereas Oxford House allows residents to stay as long as they need to maintain their sobriety, as long as they continue following the house rules.
Great! Let’s look at the broader Oxford House network.
In Oxford House, each member equally shares the responsibility for the running of the House and upholding the Oxford House tradition. All aspects of Oxford House operations, from the acquisition of the house to the acceptance or dismissal of members, is carried out under democratic procedures. Each member has one vote and majority rule applies except that 80% of the members must agree in accepting new persons for membership. They called their experiment in group living and joint sobriety Oxford House. It was the first step in a nationwide movement, now almost 50 years old, that has been credited with helping thousands of people overcome addiction and lead productive lives.
Democratically self-run
- There may also be a need to buy more “staples” such as flour, sugar, coffee, etc. when a House starts up.
- Silver Pines and Steps to Recovery have provided addiction recovery programs in Pennsylvania for over a decade with detox, residential, outpatient, and sober living services.
- Some sober living homes have exercise equipment, fitness areas, recreational space, pools and cookout areas.
- During early recovery for alcoholism and drug addiction, some members had to leave an institution in order to make room for an alcoholic or drug addict just beginning the recovery process.
An Oxford House is a self-sustaining, democratically run recovery home that offers an environment free from drugs and alcohol. These houses foster peer-supported communal living, self-governance, and self-help, allowing residents to support each other in their efforts to abstain from alcohol and substance use. Being community-based, the Oxford House Model has helped numerous individuals recover from addiction with nearly 3,000 houses in the United States and other countries. At the Oxford House World Convention held annually, Oxford Houses throughout the country vote for representatives to the World Council.
How Much Does an Oxford House Cost?
Sometimes, home is not the best place to be, especially for those in recovery. 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. The combination of a structured living alcoholism symptoms environment, mutual support, accountability, and access to resources has proven effective in helping residents achieve lasting sobriety and stability. Oxford Houses function under a democratic structure, meaning residents actively participate in decision-making processes that affect the house and its members.
The situation should be avoided whereby certain individuals will begin to equate their persuasive qualities with the Oxford House concept. Individuals living in each of the Oxford Houses have also been responsible for starting many new groups of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous having meetings near an Oxford House. 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. 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.
We were not only dependent upon alcohol and/or drugs, but were also dependent on many others for continuing our alcoholic and/or drug addicted ways. When we stopped drinking or using drugs, we began to realize just how dependent we had become. For those of us who had been in institutions or half-way houses, resentments against authority were common. Rent and the various utilities paid by residents vary by location, but the cost of living in an Oxford House is usually no more than what it would cost to live elsewhere.
If an applicant does not get voted into one house they should try another house in the area. 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 oxford house as members if those individuals are drinking or using drugs.
Key Differences in Support and Structure
Oxford House facilities are the best examples of Level I sober living homes. The houses are run by residents and emphasize peer support as an essential component of recovery. Yes, the Oxford House community is built on the foundation of peer support. 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. In fact, Oxford House creates an environment whereby each member can more fully realize the benefits available from active AA or NA membership.
