All Oxford Houses have been careful to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ avoid undo dependence on government or other outside funds. In deference to that tradition, Oxford House has never sought nor obtained sponsorship from any AA or NA group. Oxford House members value the Sixth Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous (and Narcotics Anonymous) too greatly for themselves to try to get either movement deeply involved in the organizing, financing, or sponsorship of any Oxford House. However, Oxford House members firmly believe that the Oxford House concept can expand as an independent entity, while fully utilizing the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous and/or Narcotics Anonymous.
Oxford House Manual: Chapter Manual: Sharing the Experience, Strength, and Hope of Oxford Houses for the Common Good
This monthly or weekly amount varies from state to state and house to house and can range anywhere from $125 a week to $250 a week. When you call a house to set up an interview you can ask them how much their EES is. 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 of office to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy.
- In this respect, they are similar to a college fraternity, sorority, or a small New England town.
- 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.
- Each member pays EES (Equal Expense Share) which includes the total amount of rent due for the month as well as the cost of utilities, telephone, cable TV and any other expenses that the house includes in its common expenditures.
- In Oxford House, each member equally shares the responsibility for the running of the House and upholding the Oxford House tradition.
- No Oxford House can tolerate the use of alcohol or drugs by one of its members because that threatens the sobriety of all of the members.
sober
If a house votes to accept you, you can tell them whether or not you accept the invitation to move in. Alternatively, if you’d like to send your application to all houses near you that have an opening, you can Apply Online. Oxford House, Inc. provides technical assistance to foster the expansion of the Oxford House Model. Find documents, templates, and everything residents need while living at an Oxford House. For example, the landlord and phone company may require a security deposit and, while furnishings are generally donated, members will often have to rent a truck in order to pick them up. There may also be a need to buy more “staples” such as flour, sugar, coffee, etc. when a House starts up.
Democratically self-run
For those of us who had been in institutions or halfway houses, resentments against authority were common. Oxford House has as its primary goal the provision of housing and rehabilitative support for the alcoholic or drug addict who wants to stop drinking or using and stay stopped. As our recovery progressed, the supervision and dependency on oxford house traditions a half-way house created dissatisfaction.
(Since 1989, many new Oxford Houses have taken advantage of state revolving loan programs. The concept and the standardized, democratic, self-supported Oxford House system of operations itself are far more persuasive than any individual. Be honest and straightforward when sharing the Oxford House concept with others. Each Oxford House should be financially self-supporting although financially secure houses may, with approval or encouragement of Oxford House, Inc., provide new or financially needy houses a loan for a term not to exceed one year.
If an Oxford House follows the democratic principles and traditions of Oxford House, Inc., it should have no difficulty in running smoothly. Those democratic principles will also enable the members of a particular Oxford House to take pride in their new found responsibility. Oxford House should rely on democratically-chosen leaders, but the leaders must always be but trusted servants. No member of an Oxford House is ever asked to leave without cause — a dismissal vote by the membership because of drinking, alcoholism treatment drug use, or disruptive behavior. By 1988, the number of individual Oxford Houses had become so great that it became difficult to have a meeting at which everyone would get a chance to speak.
- The Oxford House concept is a sound one, based on sound principles, and has demonstrated its worth with an established track record.
- Experience has shown that both the individual houses and Oxford House, Inc. as a whole are more likely to succeed and last if every house belongs to a chapter.
- However, an Oxford House relies primarily upon example for assuring a high percentage of AA and/or NA attendance from its members.
- Once more applications are received than there are beds available, the members of any Oxford House will begin to look around for another suitable house.
- Within an Oxford House group, it is not unusual to find some members who have problems which cannot be dealt with by the group.