Oxford House - Ellis

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 governed recovery homes for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. Founded by Paul Molloy and fellow residents who took over a closing halfway house in Silver Spring, Maryland, the organization has grown to over 3,500 gender-specific houses across 47 states, housing more than 20,000 residents at any given time and supporting hundreds of thousands through its evidence-based approach. The core philosophy emphasizes recovery, responsibility, and replication, offering long-term, community-based sober living environments where members share equal responsibilities, pay their fair share of expenses, and immediately expel anyone who relapses, fostering an 80% long-term sobriety rate as evidenced by DePaul University studies. Without house managers or time limits, residents elect officers for six-month terms, attend 12-step meetings, and build self-efficacy through participatory democracy, while Oxford House, Inc. provides charters, technical assistance, and resources to expand the network, ensuring autonomy yet interconnected support via chapters and associations for alcoholics, drug addicts, and those seeking to stay stopped without loneliness or relapse.