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. During 2010, approximately 24,000 individuals lived in an Oxford House for some or part of the year. Of that number 4,332 relapsed 19% and were expelled, while 7,668 moved out clean and sober. Experience of Oxford House has shown that from 8 to 15 members works very well. Oxford House will not charter a house with fewer than six individuals because experience has shown that it takes at least six individuals to form an effective group.
The Significance of Group Conscience: Guiding Principles for Ethical Decision-Making

It’s the collective wisdom and judgment of the house members, ensuring that decisions are made fairly and with the best interests of the community in mind. They empower individuals to take https://nixpack.com.br/treatment-for-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-4/ control of their recovery journey and build a foundation for lasting sobriety. I just had to follow the rules, get along with everyone, and work on my recovery. But together we have learned to manage and maintain the house and interact as a family.
- Each Oxford House is an ordinary single-family house with two bathrooms and four or more bedrooms.
- Oxford House grew out of the need for many of us to begin a new life without fear of backsliding because of loneliness or renewed dependency on former drinking companions.
Self-Support: Empowering Financial Independence
It is built on mutual respect, active participation, and a commitment to the well-being of every resident. Residents are encouraged to treat each other with dignity and empathy, fostering a culture of mutual respect. This includes respecting personal boundaries, maintaining confidentiality, and resolving conflicts constructively. This decision is never taken lightly and is typically reserved for instances of relapse, violence, or persistent violation of house rules. Using established meeting formats, such as the Robert’s Rules of Order (simplified), helps to streamline the process and ensure that all members have an opportunity to express their views. It’s not about individual preferences or biases, but about striving for a consensus that reflects the values and principles of the Oxford House model.
- These principles ensure that each house remains true to its mission of providing a supportive and empowering recovery environment.
- It’s a tool to understand how these principles support a self-run, self-supported recovery environment.
- An underlying principle of Oxford House is that each individual member has the ability to be responsible for himself.
- In addition to these well-established resources, Paul Molloy’s “Is Freedom We Care For” (The Book) offers unique insights into the Oxford House philosophy.
Financial Management Within the House
These opportunities help to equip members with the skills and knowledge necessary to be effective leaders within their houses. Long-term power can lead to complacency, stagnation, and even a sense of entitlement. Rotating roles combats these tendencies, injecting fresh perspectives and approaches into the management of the house. Peer support and the use of recovery literature create a foundation for a truly collaborative atmosphere within the Oxford House.
- It is important to remember that the process of re-entry is possible after the individual seeks additional treatment.
- When they find such a house they will bring it up with the other existing Houses and if there is a consensus they will attempt to find the start up money and members to fill the new house.
- Once accepted, 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.
- The Oxford House website contains an application and information about How to Apply to live in an Oxford House.
The Importance of House Meetings
The majority of participants were involved in activities around their recovery. Key findings include 63% of residents involved in mentoring others in recovery, 44% running support groups, and 56% involved in educating the community about Oxford House. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of each member, the process for conducting house meetings, and the procedures for addressing Twelve-step program violations of house rules.

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Following these Oxford House traditions is key to maintaining a safe and sober living environment. Those who have benefited from an Oxford House have acquired enthusiasm for the Oxford House concept. In their enthusiasm, they have been anxious to share Oxford House with any recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who want to establish oxford house traditions an Oxford House in their community.
Q. What is the “ideal” number of individuals to assure a well-run self-run, self-supported recovery house?

When residents take responsibility for their actions, they build self-esteem and demonstrate their commitment to a sober lifestyle. At the heart of the Oxford House model lies the principle of collective management. It’s about more than just splitting chores; it’s about fostering a shared responsibility for the well-being of the entire household. His inspiration stemmed from a desire to provide individuals with the freedom to manage their own recovery journey, within a supportive community. Oxford House, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that employs both office and field staff to provide technical assistance to the network of houses to foster the expansion of the Oxford House Model. Oxford House, Inc. is a separate nonprofit organization that employs field staff to provide technical assistance to the network of houses to help expand the Oxford House Model.
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