Oxford House is a sober living and transitional housing organization that is managed by its clients. It was originally conceived in Washington, DC in 1975 and currently has over 700 locations throughout the US. Oxford House serves both men and women, with some facilities dedicated to helping mothers with young children. This organization’s model proved so successful that in 1988, Congress mandated that every state have funding to provide housing units modeled after the Oxford concept.
Oxford House Vacancies
The privately owned facilities associated with Oxford House vary in size and the number of clients they are able to house at any given time. The average number is between six and 10, with shared rooms and bathrooms.
Accommodations and Amenities
All residents share the common areas of the homes, such as the kitchen, living rooms, laundry facilities if applicable, and front and back yards.
Each home provides bedding, cleaning supplies and toiletries for all residents during their stay. Clients are only responsible for personal items, clothing and food.
Oxford House Rules
The programs at Oxford House are different than other sober facilities in the sense that the success of each client depends on their willingness to maintain sobriety and be accountable, to their landlord and the treatment program. Residents are expected to pay rent, get a full-time job (unless they are on disability), work the 12 steps, obtain a sponsor and keep up with house chores. If a client is on disability and can’t get a job, they are required to do a minimum of 20 hours per week volunteering in the community.
All clients must attend four recovery meetings of their choice per week and the house representative at each Oxford location can help provide resources for meetings. There is no minimum time commitment required by the program for clients to stay in the facilities. As long as the basic rules are followed, residents can remain in the program for as long as they like.
In Summary
Oxford House operates with a very basic and effective philosophy for its clients: commit to staying sober. With every location being self-managed, the onus is on giving every client the responsibility to maintain sobriety. While this is not an organization to go to for luxury amenities, it is a good fit for those looking to start over in an environment dedicated to self-sufficiency.
Oxford House
1010 Wayne Ave, Ste 300
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Oxford House Cost
Oxford House Cost: $400-$500 (30 days). Reach Oxford House by phone at (800) 689-6411. Find Oxford House on Facebook
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