Learn what makes Oxford House stand out as a unique model for recovery housing. While no one is ever asked to leave an Oxford House without cause, some individuals will simply outgrow living in an Oxford House. They will return to their families; they may start new families; they may simply move into another living situation.
- He moved to a county-run halfway house in Silver Spring, MD, to recover but soon learned that the facility was about to close.
- Oxford House is a well-established model of democratically run, self-supporting, drug-free homes for people in recovery.
- Rent your home as an Oxford House and become a vital part in our mission to save lives.
How to Find Sober Roommates or Sober Living Homes in New Jersey
You should request oversight and certifications for the housing being reviewed. Sober living homes eliminate the biggest trigger by ensuring that no substances are present in the home environment. Roommates can help you de-escalate when you’re triggered and encourage you to use healthy coping tools. The concept and the standardized, democratic, self-supported Oxford House system of operations itself are far more persuasive than any individual. Be honest and straight-forward when sharing the Oxford House concept with others. Individuals living in each of the Oxford Houses have also been responsible for starting many new groups of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous having meetings near an Oxford House.
Share this document
Finding the right sober living situation might feel overwhelming at first, but New Jersey offers multiple pathways to connect with sober roommates and recovery housing. Our network of houses is only as strong as the community support we receive and the involvement of current and former members. The Oxford House Model provides community based, supportive, and sober living environment. Oxford House, Inc. is a separate nonprofit organization that provides technical assistance and training to the network of houses to help expand the Oxford House Model. While the houses themselves do not mandate attendance at these meetings, many residents choose to participate as part of their recovery process.
What to Look For in a Sober Roommate or Sober Housing Environment
- Engagement in support groups like AA significantly enhances sobriety rates; studies indicate that individuals who regularly attend AA meetings are more likely to maintain their recovery and avoid relapse.
- Residents share responsibilities, including chores, house maintenance, and rent.
- This is where sober roommates and sober living environments become essential.
But together we have learned to manage and maintain the house and interact as a family. Each member pays EES (Equal Expense Share) which includes the total amount of rent due for the month as well as the cost of utilities, telephone, cable TV and any other expenses that the house includes in its common expenditures. Some houses collect EES from its members on a monthly basis while many houses choose to collect EES on a weekly basis. This monthly or weekly amount varies from state to state and house to house and can range anywhere from $125 a week to $250 a week.
Option 3: Oxford Houses & Peer-Run Recovery Homes
- The Oxford House Chapter Manual provides the guidelines for houses to get together as a local chapter to provide mutual support to each other.
- Find a house, fill out the application, and call a house to schedule an interview.
- Potential properties must meet specific criteria, including being located in safe, residential neighborhoods and having enough space to accommodate multiple residents.
- When we stopped drinking or using drugs, we began to realize just how dependent we had become.
- Second, every resident would contribute equally to the expenses and household duties.
- Research has indicated that when recovery facilities offer these structured environments, clients are more likely to experience improved outcomes regarding drug use and greater levels of successful integration within society.
Often several members of an existing House will move into the new House to provide a core group of new members who already know how an Oxford House works. However, the members of Oxford House have found only by being active in AA and/or NA have they found comfortable, long-term sobriety — for themselves and the Oxford House in which they live. Oxford House should rely on democratically-chosen leaders, but the leaders must always be but trusted servants. To discourage an excessive dependence on leaders, it is a principle of Oxford House that no member should serve in the same office for a continuous period of longer than six months.
Member Resources
Having direct conversations and house meetings are helpful oxford house tools for resolving conflicts like chores, noise, visitors, or common areas in your household. If a roommate experiences a relapse, follow all house rules, safety protocols, contact the house manager, and keep your focus on maintaining your own safety at all times. Be alert to developing co-dependent relationships and/or creating substitute addictions; continue to establish healthy boundaries, and continue your recovery process.
Cognitive Test: Types, Application, Benefits, Scoring and Interpretation, and Limitation
Members can be expelled by a house vote for rule violations and would forfeit their deposit. The document also includes a contract that members can be placed on for a set time period if given another chance to live in the house under specific conditions. There are over 3500 self-sustaining Oxford Houses in the United States and more than 24,000 individuals in recovery living in these houses at any one time during the year.