Oxford House - Heatherwood

Oxford House is a pioneering nonprofit organization founded in 1975, offering self-run, self-supported recovery homes for individuals recovering from substance use disorders, including alcohol and drug addiction, with a core philosophy centered on 'Recovery. Responsibility. Replication.' As a 501(c)(3) entity, Oxford House, Inc. provides technical assistance and charters to expand its evidence-based model nationwide, now encompassing over 3,500 democratically governed, gender-specific residences across 47 states that house more than 24,000 residents at any time. These community-based sober living environments emphasize long-term stays without time limits, where members share equal responsibilities for household operations, finances, and chores, fostering leadership, self-efficacy, and abstinence through immediate expulsion for any relapse; residents, often coming from backgrounds of homelessness, incarceration, or multiple treatment episodes, benefit from peer support, integration with AA/NA programs, and a structured network of chapters, associations, and field staff that promotes expansion and accountability. Serving diverse populations including veterans, women with children, those with co-occurring mental health issues, and special groups like LGBTQ+ or deaf individuals, Oxford House achieves unmatched outcomes—such as 80% long-term sobriety rates per DePaul University studies—by treating the whole person in affordable, drug-free homes that enable continued employment, family reconnection, and productive lives while replicating the model to meet growing demand.