Oxford House - Joey

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 sober living homes for individuals recovering from substance use disorders, including alcoholism and drug addiction. Founded when residents of a closing halfway house in Silver Spring, Maryland, took over the property to continue their recovery, Oxford House emphasizes recovery, responsibility, and replication through a network of over 3,500 gender-specific residences across 47 states, housing more than 24,000 people annually in a supportive, community-based environment free from drugs and alcohol. The model fosters long-term sobriety by allowing residents to stay as long as needed—averaging about a year but often much longer—while sharing equal expenses, household duties, and decision-making via weekly democratic meetings and elected officers with six-month term limits, ensuring no outside authority or time restrictions disrupt progress. Backed by extensive research, including studies from DePaul University showing sobriety rates up to 80% and reduced incarceration and improved employment, Oxford House promotes active participation in AA/NA alongside peer support, targeting those post-treatment who might otherwise face isolation, relapse, or limited housing options, including special populations like women with children, veterans, and those with co-occurring disorders.