Oxford House - Ginsburg

Oxford House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that pioneered the concept of self-run, self-supported recovery homes for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders since 1975. Founded when residents of a closing halfway house in Montgomery County, Maryland, took over the property and established a democratic, sober living environment, Oxford House has grown to over 3,500 houses across 47 states, housing more than 24,000 people annually. The Oxford House Model provides community-based, supportive, and sober living environments where residents share responsibilities, elect officers for six-month terms, and enforce a strict policy of immediate expulsion for any drug or alcohol use, ensuring a 100% sober atmosphere. This evidence-based approach, backed by extensive research from DePaul University and recognized by SAMHSA and NIDA, emphasizes long-term residency without time limits—averaging about a year but often extending to multiple years—democratic self-governance, financial self-sufficiency through equal expense shares, and active participation in AA/NA for sustained recovery. Targeting recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, including those with co-occurring mental health issues, veterans, women with children, and special populations like the deaf or LGBTQ+ individuals in gender-specific homes, Oxford House fosters leadership, responsibility, and peer support to achieve high sobriety rates (over 80% long-term), reduce recidivism, and promote employment and community integration, all while replicating the model nationwide through charters, technical assistance, and a network of chapters and associations.