Oxford House - Sancho

218 Indian Trail, Evansville, IN 47715

Oxford House, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that pioneered the Oxford House Model in 1975, providing self-run, self-supported, and democratically operated sober living homes for individuals recovering from substance use disorders.
Founded by Paul Molloy and other residents who took over a closing halfway house in Silver Spring, Maryland, to avoid relapse and foster long-term sobriety, Oxford House emphasizes recovery, responsibility, and replication through a network of over 3,500 gender-specific residences across 47 states, housing more than 24,000 people annually.
The model offers a community-based, supportive environment where residents share responsibilities, elect officers for six-month terms, and maintain 100% drug and alcohol-free living, with no time limits on stays as long as members remain sober, pay their equal share of expenses, and avoid disruptive behavior.
Backed by extensive research from DePaul University and recognized by SAMHSA as an evidence-based practice, Oxford House achieves sobriety rates up to 80% after one year, serving diverse populations including those with co-occurring mental health issues, veterans, women with children, and the formerly incarcerated, while promoting active participation in AA/NA and integration into the community without professional management or external authority.

What we treat

Treatment & Programs

Levels of Care

The treatment continuum at Oxford House - Sancho centers entirely on self-guided sober living and long-term aftercare support. Residents can stay as long as they choose, provided they remain entirely drug and alcohol-free. There are no arbitrary time limits or step-down deadlines within this peer-run environment. Once accepted, members are encouraged to make the Evansville house their home while they build a sustainable life.

Sober Living Aftercare Support

Therapies

Because this is an entirely peer-run environment, there are no clinical therapies or professional counselors on-site. The focus instead lies securely on mutual empowerment and active participation in local self-help programs. Residents hold each other accountable through shared daily responsibilities and structured democratic house meetings.

Addictions

This community serves individuals recovering from both alcoholism and severe drug addiction. Members must maintain strict abstinence from all substances to remain in the home. A return to drinking or using drugs results in immediate expulsion to protect the sobriety of the rest of the household.

Alcohol Use Disorder

Conditions

While primarily addressing substance use disorder, the house successfully supports individuals managing co-occurring mental health issues. Research from DePaul University shows that residents with moderate to severe psychological challenges thrive here over time. Members learn to manage their dual diagnoses alongside their recovery journey within a highly stable environment.

Issues

Oxford House - Sancho frequently helps residents overcome compounding life challenges like sudden homelessness and chronic unemployment. With over 78 percent of the national network's members having faced criminal justice issues, this community deeply understands rebuilding from the ground up. Members work side-by-side to develop a strong sober social network that acts as a buffer against future hardships.

Homelessness/Housing Insecurity Criminal Justice Issues Job Loss / Unemployment Sober Social Network / Community Building

Programs

Life in the home revolves around a strictly abstinence-oriented, peer-led recovery community model. While organizationally independent from formal fellowships, the home is heavily 12-step informed and expects members to participate locally. This grassroots structure acts as an ideal extended care bridge for those needing long-term stability after completing 28-day rehabilitation or detox programs.

Abstinence Oriented Peer-Led / Recovery Community Model 12-Step Informed Extended Care (90+ days)

On-site

Amenities

Residents live in an ordinary single-family home designed to prevent isolation and encourage deep community connection. The layout includes shared rooms, fully equipped living areas with cable TV, and a library space for reading or recreation. Every member takes equal responsibility for daily housekeeping and maintaining a welcoming, organized environment.

Shared Rooms Housekeeping Cable/Satellite TV Library Game Room

Coverage

Payment

Financial responsibility is a core pillar of the behavioral framework at Oxford House - Sancho. Every resident pays self-directed, self-pay rent through an Equal Expense Share system. This weekly or monthly contribution covers the lease, utilities, and basic household staples, ensuring the democratically run home remains entirely financially independent.

Please contact the facility directly to verify insurance coverage and payment options. Many facilities offer free insurance verification.

Eligibility

Who We Serve

Providing a safe harbor in Evansville, Indiana, this location serves adults who are serious about maintaining their sobriety. The overarching nonprofit network runs gender-specific homes for both men and women, warmly welcoming veterans and the formerly incarcerated. Each applicant is interviewed directly by current house members to ensure a strong, democratic fit for the community.

Genders Accepted

Men Women

Additional Services

The democratically elected house officers manage the home without any outside housing assistance agency leaning in. Ongoing peer support is the backbone of daily life, ensuring everyone has someone to turn to during tough moments. Former members who leave in good standing frequently return through a robust alumni program to offer friendship and practical guidance to new residents.

Housing AssistanceAlumni ProgramPeer Support

About

Facility Info

Operating as a chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the home integrates seamlessly into a quiet residential neighborhood. This approach ensures residents feel like regular citizens rather than patients in a managed facility. The local Evansville chapter offers further safety nets by connecting individual houses across the immediate region.

Credentials

Accreditations

Although this program operates without traditional clinical accreditations, its model is widely recognized by leading federal health agencies. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration formally lists this recovery housing structure as an evidence-based practice. Decades of independent university research consistently back its ability to yield high long-term sobriety rates.

Oxford House - Sancho