Oxford House - Creedence

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 alcoholism and drug addiction. Originating from a group of residents who took over a closing halfway house in Silver Spring, Maryland, led by co-founder Paul Molloy, Oxford House has grown into a network of over 3,500 democratically governed residences across 47 states, housing more than 24,000 people in recovery at any given time. The core philosophy emphasizes Recovery, Responsibility, and Replication, providing a community-based, supportive, and sober living environment where members share household responsibilities, elect officers for six-month terms, and maintain 100% drug and alcohol abstinence through immediate expulsion for violations. As an evidence-based model recognized by the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, Oxford House fosters long-term sobriety— with studies showing over 80% of residents maintaining recovery post-residency—by encouraging active participation in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, building leadership skills, and offering unlimited stays as long as members remain sober, non-disruptive, and pay their equal share of expenses (typically $125-$250 weekly). Targeting a diverse population including men, women, veterans, those with co-occurring mental health disorders, and special groups like women with children or LGBTQ+ individuals, Oxford House, Inc., the 501(c)(3) umbrella organization, issues no-cost charters, provides technical assistance, and promotes expansion through state associations and field staff, ensuring affordable, autonomous housing that empowers residents to rebuild lives without time limits or external authority.