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. Oxford Houses are self-governing, meaning residents elect their own officers to manage the house. Sharing chores ensures a clean and comfortable living environment for everyone. TRADITION SEVEN Oxford House should remain forever non-professional, although individual members may be encouraged to utilize outside professionals whenever such utilization is likely to enhance recovery from alcoholism.
What is the Model?
- This ecosystem provides vital resources, guidance, and oversight, ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the Oxford House movement.
- Moving into an Oxford House can be a significant step toward recovery, but understanding the unwritten rules makes the transition smoother.
- The most important traditions revolve around self-support, self-governance, and democratic decision-making.
This autonomy fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, crucial for long-term recovery. Instead of being left to their own fates, Mr. Molloy and other residents decided to take over the house themselves, paying the expenses and utilities, cooking the meals and keeping watch over one another’s path to recovery. 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, oxford house 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.
The Contribution of Oxford House Chapters and Associations
All too often, an abrupt transition from a protected environment to an environment which places considerable glamour on the use of alcohol and drugs causes a return to alcoholic drinking or addictive drug use. 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 alignment with the core principles of the Oxford House philosophy.
The Importance of House Meetings
Everything your Oxford House needs in order to run successful house meetings. By providing a consistent format for gathering and organizing information, these templates save time and effort, allowing members to focus on their recovery. Similarly, standardized forms for documenting disciplinary actions and expulsions ensure that these processes are conducted fairly and transparently. Standardized forms play a crucial role in ensuring fairness and consistency in various processes, such as applications and expulsions. One of the key benefits of the Oxford House Manual is that it promotes consistency across all houses within the network.
- Long-term power can lead to complacency, stagnation, and even a sense of entitlement.
- Contacting a local Oxford House chapter might also provide access to the resource or information on how to obtain it.
- The easiest way to find an Oxford House is to use our vacancy locator at oxfordvacancies.com.
- This means residents collectively manage the house, both financially and operationally.
- In those situations, it is not uncommon for the Oxford House members, at a meeting, to strongly suggest that a fellow member seek professional help.
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. Within an Oxford House group, it is not unusual to find some members who have problems which cannot be dealt with by the group. In those situations, it is not uncommon for the Oxford House members, at a meeting, to strongly suggest that a fellow member seek professional help. In those situations where a member’s behavior is disruptive to the group as a whole, the member may be required to seek such professional help or more self-help meetings in order to avoid being dismissed from Oxford House. It is inconsistent with the Oxford House system of democratic rule to have a professional manager of Oxford House.
