House & Chapter Literature & Guidelines » Oxford Houses of Virginia

Each Oxford House is an ordinary single-family house with two bathrooms and four or more bedrooms. Ideally several of the bedrooms are large enough for two twin beds so that newcomers, in particular, are able to have a roommate. This discourages isolation and helps the newcomer to learn or relearn socialization oxford house traditions to get the full benefit of recovering individuals helping each other to become comfortable enough in sobriety to avoid relapse. While both halfway houses and Oxford Houses provide structured environments, Oxford House emphasizes more on individual accountability and the importance of peer support.

Q. Are there Oxford Houses set up for special populations?

Residents appreciate the peer-supported communal living, self-governance, and self-help aspects of the Oxford House model. These factors allow them to support each other in their efforts to abstain from alcohol and substance use. There is no reason to believe that society as a whole had the responsibility to provide long-term housing within a protected environment for the alcoholic and drug addict. However, there is every reason to believe that recovering alcoholics and drug addicts can do for themselves that which society as a whole has no responsibility to do for them.

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

• After you get a judgment, you must give the Court Clerk a warrant of eviction.
• This structure encourages personal growth, responsibility, and accountability, ultimately promoting a strong support network and a sense of community.
• Modest rooms and living facilities can become luxurious suites when viewed from an environment of alcoholics working together for comfortable sobriety.
• It is inconsistent with the Oxford House system of democratic rule to have a professional manager of Oxford House.

If the tenant owns a manufactured home in a mobile home park, the tenant will get more notice before having to move. The tenant can ask the court to stop the eviction by making an Order to Show Cause. As noted in the conclusion, Oxford House stands out as a valuable resource to those in recovery, promoting responsibility, interpersonal relationships, and self-reliance through its unique approach. By fostering a supportive, sober community, it has made a difference in thousands of lives. Some operate for several years and then, because of expiration of a lease, dissatisfaction with the facilities, or simply the finding of a better location, the members of a particular House will move into a new location.

Oxford House Recovery Homes

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.

They will return to their families; they may start new families; they may simply move into another living situation. It is inconsistent with the Oxford House system of democratic rule to have a professional manager of Oxford House. A 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.

An Oxford house provides recovering addicts a safe, substance-free place to live. The concept and the standardized, democratic, self-supported Oxford House system of operations itself are far more persuasive than any individual. Be honest and straight-forward when https://ecosoberhouse.com/ sharing the Oxford House concept with others. 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.

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. Oxford House is a unique type of recovery facility that offers a supportive environment focused on peer-based recovery. This section will compare Oxford House facilities with other common types of recovery facilities, such as halfway houses and sober living homes. During the last days of our drinking or using drugs, most of us ceased to function as responsible individuals. 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.

• 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.
• This has always been true in practice and since March 12, 1989, the effective date of the 1988 Amendments to the Federal Fair Housing Act, it has been a matter of law.
• The best sales pitch for spreading the word about Oxford House is simply the establishment of a sound Oxford House and a straightforward discussion of what it is, how it works and why it is needed.
• Neither can an Oxford House function if some do not pay their fair share of the costs.
• The tenant may also make a Motion to ask the court to dismiss the case or to give the tenant a judgment.

Support System and Meetings

By comparison to other facilities, Oxford House is unique in its approach by offering structure and accountability without the supervision of professional staff. Oxford House Inc., is a non-profit, tax exempt, publicly supported corporation which acts as a umbrella organization for the national network of Oxford Houses. 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. While Oxford House is not affiliated with AA or NA, its members realize that recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction can only be assured by the changing of their lifestyle through full participation in AA and NA. In most communities, the members of those organizations help Oxford Houses get started and report any charter compliance problems to the national office of Oxford House World Services with respect to a particular house.

The opportunity for a house to democratically function requires periodic meetings within the house — at least once a week. Such meetings should be used to resolve any operational or personality problems facing the house. Oxford Houses are democratically self-run by the residents who elect officers to serve for terms of six months. In this respect, they are similar to a college fraternity, sorority, or a small New England town.

Oxford Houses are self-run, self-supported recovery homes for same sexed individuals. These homes are typically found in quiet, nice neighborhoods and offer a drug and alcohol free living environment for those in early recovery. 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. Third, an Oxford House must, in essence be a good member of the community by obeying the laws and paying its bills.