It is important to remember that the process of re-entry is possible after the individual seeks additional treatment. Using established meeting formats, such as the Robert’s Rules of Order (simplified), helps to streamline the process and ensure that all members have an opportunity to express their views. 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. Each member has a voice and a stake in the house’s success, promoting a sense of belonging and mutual support.
Oxford House Forms
During our drinking and drug use years, and even before, many of us found it difficult to accept authority. Many individuals in society are able to abide by the strict letter of any rule, regulation , or law. Alcoholics and drug addicts seem to have a tendency to test and retest the validity of any real, potential, or imagined restriction on their behavior. By the time many of us had stopped drinking, we had lost jobs; we had lost families, and some of us either had no place to live or no place to live which was not an invitation to start drinking again. Oxford House was founded not only to put a roof over our head, but also to create a home where the disease of alcoholism was understood and the need for the alcoholic to stay away from the first drink was emphasized.
- 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.
- Once the members of the new house agree to utilize the Oxford House Model’s system of operations and Oxford House, Inc. issues a no-cost charter.
- Chapters are important links in the effective democratic system of operation guiding Oxford House as a whole.
- This hands-on experience in managing a household, mediating conflicts, and making collective decisions builds confidence.
- Propagation, or spreading the word, of the Oxford House concept is given the highest priority by the members of Oxford House.
Q. Can both men and women live in the same Oxford House?
One of the greatest threats to the sobriety of a recovering alcoholic or drug addict is loneliness. At a time when we acquired a serious desire to stop drinking or using drugs, many of us had lost our families and friends because of our alcoholism and/or drug addiction. Too often, newly recovering alcoholics and drug addicts are faced with the necessity of living alone and of relying solely on contacts with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous to stay sober. Some are able to keep from drinking in spite of the loneliness with which they were faced.
Resources and Tools for Success: Guiding Operational Efficiency
There are six house officers in each Oxford House, elected by the members to support the operations of the house. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been living in the house for one day or for multiple years. House members determine how they want to run their household, including which new members they will invite to move in and how to manage their finances.
Since then courts have found that the same protection applies with respect to fire safety standards and rates charged property owners for property insurance coverage. An Oxford House Chapter is an additional level of support for individual Oxford Houses. Chapters are important links in making the democratic system of organization underlying Oxford House™ work. The Chapter is the place where all the members of the Oxford House family of individual houses help each other to stay on track and to remain effective. The Chapter is also the place where individuals expand their network of sober friends as Chapters host all kinds of social events that bring their community together. Those who have benefited from an Oxford House Oxford House have acquired enthusiasm for the Oxford House concept.
This autonomy fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, crucial for long-term recovery. They share expenses, maintain the property, and create a supportive atmosphere. This means residents collectively manage the house, both financially and operationally. The Oxford House model represents a unique and compelling approach to addiction recovery. Finding nice affordable furniture, appliances, kitchenware, and other items can be challenging. If you have any items in your home that you no longer need, you may consider a donation to a local Oxford House.
Each Oxford House should be autonomous except in matters affecting other houses or Oxford House, Inc., as a whole. Our officers are but trusted servants serving continuous periods of no longer than six months in any one office. Before spreading the word, an individual Oxford House should make certain that it is sufficiently established to undertake public discussion of it goals and mission. The best sales pitch for spreading the word about Oxford House is simply the establishment of a sound Oxford House and a straightforward discussion of what it is, how it works and why it is needed. It is not easy to spread the word of a new concept or an old concept with a new twist. Propagation, or spreading the word, of the Oxford House concept is given the highest priority by the members of Oxford House.
Once more applications are received than there are beds available, the members of any Oxford House will begin to look around for another suitable oxford house traditions house. When they find such a house they will bring it up with the other existing Houses and if there is a consensus they will attempt to find the start up money and members to fill the new house. 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. The opportunity for a house to democratically function requires periodic meetings within the house — at least once a week.
- Oxford House should rely on democratically-chosen leaders, but the leaders must always be but trusted servants.
- Key findings include 63% of residents involved in mentoring others in recovery, 44% running support groups, and 56% involved in educating the community about Oxford House.
- The degree to which we were able to successfully change our lives had a direct relationship to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
- The World Headquarters acts as a repository of knowledge and experience, offering guidance and support to houses facing unique challenges.
- A recovering individual can live in an Oxford House for as long as he or she does not drink alcohol, does not use drugs, and pays an equal share of the house expenses.
These meetings provide a forum for members to discuss important issues, share their experiences, and make collective decisions. They empower individuals to take control of their recovery journey and build a foundation for lasting sobriety. These core values work in harmony to create a structured yet supportive environment. This peer-driven environment offers a unique form of accountability and encouragement.
We’ll show you how Oxford Houses work together to form a self-supporting network of houses. The Oxford House Model references the system of operations of a unique, time-tested model recognized by the Federal Government as an evidence-based practice shown to bring significant results currently unmatched in the recovery space. Learn what makes Oxford House stand https://shopbd1healthcare.shop/2024/03/01/reframing-holidays-in-early-recovery-holidays/ out as a unique model for recovery housing. The situation should be avoided whereby certain individuals will begin to equate their persuasive qualities with the Oxford House concept.