The Oxford House Manual stands as a cornerstone resource, a comprehensive guide that encapsulates the collective wisdom and best practices accumulated over years of successful operation. Clear and consistently enforced rules help to create a safe and predictable environment, promoting stability and accountability among members. The website serves as a central point of access for individuals seeking help, information, or ways to get involved. National conventions foster a sense of unity and shared purpose, reminding members that they are part of a larger movement.
- Things that I have learned through AA and Oxford House are an attitude of gratitude, acceptance, love, forgiveness, compassion, and the willingness to take that next step.
- This standardization ensures that members can expect a similar experience, regardless of which Oxford House they reside in, thereby fostering a sense of community and shared identity.
- All Oxford Houses have been careful to avoid undo dependence on government or other outside funds.
What happens if someone violates the rules or Oxford House traditions?
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous provided a framework for us to change physically, mentally, and spiritually. The degree to which we were able to successfully change our lives had a direct relationship to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Many of us soon learned, however, that living alone or living among our old drinking companions made it more difficult to practice the principles necessary for continued sobriety. In its simplest form, an Oxford House describes a democratically run, self-supporting and drug free home.
Oxford House: A Success Story
- Long-term power can lead to complacency, stagnation, and even a sense of entitlement.
- It outlines the roles and responsibilities of each member, the process for conducting house meetings, and the procedures for addressing violations of house rules.
- There may also be a need to buy more “staples” such as flour, sugar, coffee, etc. when a House starts up.
By fostering a collaborative atmosphere, Oxford Houses harness the collective power of their residents to create a supportive, empowering, and effective recovery environment. At the heart of the Oxford House model lies the principle of collective management. It’s about more than just splitting chores; it’s about fostering a shared responsibility for the well-being of the entire household. His inspiration stemmed from a desire to provide individuals with the freedom to manage their own recovery journey, within a supportive community. It’s more than just a sober living environment; it’s a self-governed, peer-supported community. Mr. Molloy and the other residents devised the basic rules of self-government that have shaped Oxford House ever since.
Ensuring Fair Application Processes
Every opportunity should be given to a member who needs professional help to see that he obtains it. The Oxford House Model provides community based, supportive, and sober living environment. Oxford House, Inc., a non-profit corporation, belongs to the residents of oxford house traditions Oxford Houses nationwide. Residents democratically make their voices heard through the individual houses, the Chapters, the World Council and the Oxford House, Inc. The legacy of Oxford House is forever secure as long as the concept, Traditions and system of operations is assured by control of its members through participation in an effective democratic system of organization.
It’s not about individual preferences or biases, but about striving for a consensus that reflects the values and principles of the Oxford House model. The concept of Group Conscience is the cornerstone of ethical decision-making within an Oxford House. It’s the collective wisdom and judgment of the house members, ensuring that decisions are made fairly and with the best interests of the community in mind.
What is the Model?
In fact, Oxford House creates an environment whereby each member can more fully realize the benefits available from active AA or NA membership. A house full of sober, recovering alcoholics and drug addicts invites informal AA or NA “meetings after the meeting” and each day finds many informal AA or NA meetings before individual members each go off to their regular AA or NA meeting. An underlying principle of Oxford House is that each individual member has the ability to be responsible for himself. Living within an Oxford House provides both the opportunity and motivation for all residents to regularly attend AA and/or NA meetings. The example of Oxford House members going to AA or NA meetings on their own is contagious. It has been the experience of Oxford House that participation in AA and NA is extremely high in an environment where one individual can see another individual, with the same disease, reaping great benefits from AA and/or NA participation.
- However, the men living in that halfway house, including Oxford House’s founder Paul Molloy, were not ready to leave.
- The third factor affecting us both in the rehabilitation facilities and the half-way houses was the realization that the duration of our stay must be limited because space must be made for others in need of help.
- Oxford House must always have as its Primary goal the provision of housing and rehabilitative support for the alcoholic who wants to stop drinking and stay stopped and the drug addict who wants to stop using drugs and stay stopped.
The Oxford House Model provides a community based, supportive, and sober living environment.
These meetings provide a forum for members to discuss important issues, share their experiences, and make collective decisions. The Group Conscience guides decisions on a variety of issues, from approving new residents to resolving conflicts and addressing violations of house rules. They empower individuals to take control of their recovery journey and build a foundation for lasting sobriety. The power of shared experience creates a strong sense of belonging and reduces feelings of isolation, common struggles for those in early recovery. It received a boost after Mr. Molloy successfully lobbied for passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, which established a fund to help provide start-up loans for groups opening residential recovery locations like those of Oxford House.
No Oxford House can tolerate the use of alcohol or drugs by one of its members because that threatens the sobriety of all of the members. Neither can an Oxford House function if some do not pay their fair share of the costs. But even within a strong, supportive community, consistent and fair leadership is essential for sustained success. This is where readily available resources and tools become indispensable, ensuring that each house operates efficiently and in what is Oxford House alignment with the core principles of the Oxford House philosophy. The strength of the Oxford House model lies not only in its core principles but also in the robust support network surrounding each individual house. This ecosystem provides vital resources, guidance, and oversight, ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the Oxford House movement.