Oxford House - Spears
4131 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Oxford House, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 by Paul Molloy, providing a nationwide network of over 3,500 self-run, self-supported, democratically governed recovery homes for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders.
The Oxford House Model offers a community-based, supportive, and sober living environment where residents share responsibilities, pay equal expenses, and enforce a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol, allowing members to stay indefinitely as long as they remain sober, non-disruptive, and contribute financially.
Emphasizing recovery, responsibility, and replication, this evidence-based approach—recognized by SAMHSA and backed by DePaul University research showing 80% long-term sobriety rates, improved employment, and reduced incarceration—promotes peer support, leadership development, and self-efficacy for diverse populations including men, women with children, veterans, and those with co-occurring disorders.
Oxford Houses, chartered by the nonprofit, operate autonomously yet connect through chapters and associations to expand access to affordable, effective housing that helps restore lives, instill hope, and support lasting sobriety.
What we treat
Treatment & Programs
Levels of Care
Oxford House - Spears provides a supportive sober living environment with no arbitrary time limits. Rather than following a clinical step-down process, residents find powerful aftercare support by managing their own democratically run household. Members are welcome to stay indefinitely, provided they remain clean, non-disruptive, and financially contributing.
Therapies
Clinical treatments and formal therapies are intentionally absent from this non-professional, peer-run home. Instead of working with on-site therapists or psychiatrists, residents build emotional resilience through active participation in groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Deeper healing happens naturally through shared household responsibilities and disciplined, democratic living.
Addictions
The absolute requirement for living here is a sincere desire to stop drinking and using drugs. Individuals recovering from both drug addiction and alcoholism are welcomed into the peer community. To protect the group's safety, any member who returns to active substance use faces immediate expulsion from the home.
Conditions
While primarily focused on substance use disorders, the peer-led environment also accommodates individuals learning to manage co-occurring mental health challenges. Members navigate their ongoing recovery by openly supporting one another without clinical intervention. The stable household structure helps residents maintain their daily well-being while safely returning to society.
Issues
Rebuilding a stable life often means addressing severe challenges like housing insecurity, a history of criminal justice issues, or sudden job loss. Oxford House - Spears tackles these hurdles by helping residents build an incredibly strong sober social network. By sharing financial obligations and daily chores, members gain the routine needed to overcome chronic relapse and secure steady employment.
Programs
The residents at Oxford House - Spears strictly follow the evidence-based Oxford House Model, which requires them to self-govern through elected house officers serving temporary six-month terms. This abstinence-oriented, peer-led recovery community model is globally recognized for its long-term effectiveness. Backed by rigorous DePaul University research, the program successfully promotes lasting self-efficacy and unwavering personal accountability.
On-site
Amenities
Operating out of a traditional single-family home in Indianapolis, the residence fosters connection through shared rooms that actively discourage isolation. Members handle all of their own housekeeping, routine maintenance, and cooking as part of rebuilding a responsible lifestyle. This quiet residential setting provides a warm, realistic backdrop for their transition back into independent living.
Coverage
Payment
Financial self-sufficiency is a central tenet of the experience, with all residents utilizing a self-payment structure known as an Equal Expense Share (EES). Every member pays the exact same amount to cover monthly rent, utilities, and basic household staples. This egalitarian approach ensures that Oxford House - Spears remains financially independent while keeping living costs accessible for everyone.
Please contact the facility directly to verify insurance coverage and payment options. Many facilities offer free insurance verification.
Eligibility
Who We Serve
Built for individuals ready to take full ownership of their continued sobriety, this Indianapolis home serves adults from a wide variety of backgrounds. The broader national network explicitly supports diverse populations, including veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and native communities seeking community-based accountability. Everyone living within the walls of this residence is united by a shared dedication to mutual respect and lasting recovery.
Populations Served
Additional Services
The backbone of daily life relies on intensive peer support rather than outside case managers or facility directors. House members gather for weekly democratic meetings, and many stay closely connected through an active alumni program long after moving out. This gender-separate housing model often utilizes state-backed revolving loan funds to ensure the home remains fully autonomous.
About
Facility Info
Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this residence operates under the charter of a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As an entirely autonomous home, there is no outside owner or paid facility manager supervising the premises. The quiet neighborhood setting allows all members to live exactly as an ordinary family, blending seamlessly into the broader local community.
Credentials
Accreditations
While it operates outside traditional clinical structures, the overarching organizational model is officially recognized by SAMHSA and listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. The home itself holds a formal charter from Oxford House, Inc., which mandates strict adherence to democratic principles. These unique credentials highlight the proven safety and effectiveness of this long-standing recovery housing framework.
- 4131 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, IN 46208
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