Oxford House - Moxie

Oxford House, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 by J. Paul Molloy and a group of recovering alcoholics who took over a closing halfway house in Silver Spring, Maryland, to create the first self-run, self-supported sober living residence. The Oxford House Model provides community-based, supportive, and sober living environments for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders, emphasizing recovery, responsibility, and replication. In its simplest form, an Oxford House is a democratically run, shared residence where people in recovery live together, support each other in a 100% drug- and alcohol-free environment, and share house responsibilities without a house manager or outside authority. Members can stay as long as needed—averaging about a year but often much longer—provided they remain sober, are not disruptive, and pay their equal share of expenses (EES), which covers rent, utilities, and staples. The model is evidence-based, with research from DePaul University showing over 80% long-term sobriety rates, reduced substance use, criminal involvement, and improved employment and income outcomes compared to usual care. Oxford Houses are gender-specific, accommodate at least six residents, and follow nine traditions that ensure autonomy, financial self-support, non-professionalism, and active participation in AA/NA for continued sobriety. With over 3,500 houses across 47 states housing more than 24,000 individuals annually, including veterans, those with co-occurring mental health issues, women with children, and diverse populations, Oxford House fosters leadership, self-efficacy, and responsible behavior to help members achieve and maintain comfortable sobriety without relapse, expanding nationwide through charters, chapters, associations, and field support from Oxford House, Inc.