Mr. Molloy and the other residents devised the basic rules of self-government that have shaped Oxford House ever since. First, all decisions would be made democratically, with a group vote. Second, every resident would contribute equally to the expenses and household duties. And, most important, anyone using drugs or alcohol would be expelled. The Oxford House Model is shared, studied, and growing because it works.

Programs

As reviewed elsewhere (Polcin et al., 2004), homelessness affected nearly 6 million people from 1987 to 1993. Conservative estimates indicate 40% suffer from alcohol problems and 15% suffer form drug problems (McCarty et al., 1991). In one county in Northern California, a study of homelessness revealed a lifetime prevalence for substance use disorders of 69.1% (Robertson & Zlotnick, 1997). House of Hope (HOH) is a Clean & Sober Program that provides an environment free of drugs and alcohol.

Clean and Sober Transitional Living

Six month follow up findings have been reported on 130 residents (Polcin, 2006, October 23–25). Findings indicated that residents made important improvements between baseline and 6-month follow up. Despite the finding that 56% had left the houses by the 6 month time point, 40% of the sample reported complete abstinence from alcohol and drugs between baseline and 6-month follow up. An additional 24% reported they had been completely abstinent five of the last six months. CSTL tests for drugs and alcohol at random in both Phase I and Phase II. If relapse is suspected, the resident is given an opportunity to admit to their use and a urine sample is taken.

Oxford House – Valinor

One of the ways that CSLT has built upon the traditional sober living house model is through implementation of a phase system. The program has found that increased limits and responsibilities early in the residence helps individuals adapt to the sober living environment. As they develop stability in their residence and recovery they tend to be more successful with the increased freedom and autonomy of phase II. Since 2003, Makana O Ke Akua has provided clean and sober transitional living for men in recovery. The purposes for which this organization is formed are charitable and exclusively for relieving and reducing unemployment, homelessness, crime, and chemical dependency of Native Hawaiians and all peoples’ of Hawai’i.

The House Manager is someone who has demonstrated responsibility, integrity, is in good standing with the community and abides by rules and regulations and is chosen by the General Manager. These homes often incorporate specialized support addressing issues like trauma, self-esteem, and relationships. They create an empowering environment where women can connect, share their experiences, and support one another, building a strong sense of community and resilience. Sharing experiences, offering advice, and supporting each other makes the journey less lonely and more encouraging.

Halfway Houses

A long-running study by Chicago’s DePaul University shows that people completing one year of residency maintain a sobriety rate as high as 80 percent. 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. The easiest way to find an Oxford House is to use our vacancy locator at oxfordvacancies.com.

If the Division does not have authority over the subject area of the complaint, your complaint will be referred to the appropriate agency. By connecting with others who have shared similar experiences, men in these homes can build a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding, fostering a supportive community. 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.

• One of the ways that CSLT has built upon the traditional sober living house model is through implementation of a phase system.
• By the 1960’s Los Angeles supported several dozen such houses (Wittman, Bidderman & Hughes, 1993).
• In recent years, considerable resources have been directed toward bridging research and treatment (Polcin, 2004).
• The easiest way to find an Oxford House is to use our vacancy locator at oxfordvacancies.com.
• Cities decreased rooming houses and single room occupancy hotels that were frequently used as sober living residences.
• The resident requests the General Manager put them on the waiting List for a Phase II house which usually has a thirty to ninety day wait.

Health insurance usually doesn’t cover sober living homes since they’re not considered medical treatment. Sober living homes share the same core principles, but they can come in different types to cater to various needs and demographics. This flexibility allows people to find an environment that fits their unique situation, increasing their chances of a successful recovery. Sober living gives residents a chance to rebuild things like budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and maintaining healthy relationships in a supportive environment. In this article, we’ll break down what sober living homes are and highlight the many ways they help those dedicated to living addiction-free.

The Oxford House Model provides a community based, supportive, and sober living environment.

The resident requests the General Manager put them on the waiting List for a Phase II house which usually has a thirty to ninety day wait. For example, meeting cards to validate 12-step meeting attendance are not required, there are no curfew requirements, and overnight guests are permitted twice per week. Study procedures included recruiting residents for the research within their first week of entering the SLH. All participants signed informed consent documents and were informed that their responses were confidential. A federal certificate of confidentiality was obtained to further protect study confidentiality.

The most common referral source was the criminal justice system (25%), followed by https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ family/friend (23%), self (20%) and inpatient/residential treatment (13%). Few incoming residents reported stable housing over the past 6 months. While 7% reported renting an apartment as their primary housing, 23% reported staying with family or friends and 12% reported homeless as their primary living situation. Ten percent indicate that a residential treatment facility was their primary living situation. The Oxford House model offers a “social model” recovery philosophy (Kaskutas, 1999) that emphasizes peer support for sobriety and shared, democratic leadership in managing house operations. In addition, Oxford houses are financially independent of outside organizations and are financially self-sustaining.

Drug and alcohol free

If residents desire a change in the rules, they can make a request to the Resident Congress which is governed by current residents and alumnae. Residents also have an opportunity for input through their House Manager. The House Manager is a liaison between the residents and the General Manger and advocates for residents.

The need for sober housing increased during the 1970’s and continues today. Wittman (1993) observed that one reason for the increased need was the decline of affordable housing in metropolitan areas during the mid 70’s. Cities decreased rooming houses and single room occupancy hotels that were frequently used as sober living residences. As a result, there were fewer SLH’s available at the time when the need was high.

Oxford House gave me the opportunity to practice the principles and action. 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. Officers have fixed terms sober house of office to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy. Every member has an equal vote regardless of how long they’ve been there. Each house adheres to the absolute requirement that any member who returns to using alcohol or drugs must be immediately expelled.