Choosing Family at Oxford House

“I know if I come home in a state the girls are here, ready, and willing to talk about whatever happened right away.”

When an individual applies for Transitional housing at Oxford House, they are set up for an interview with a Support Worker/Recovery Coach who determines which house would be a good fit for them and then sets up a second interview between the applicant and residents of that home.

Allison moved into her Oxford House in March 2021. She learned about Oxford House through a friend in her home group who had lived in an Oxford House two years earlier; the same house Allison lives in now. She figured she would stay for just a few months until her personal life and financial matters were settled. But it became clear to her that she still had a lot of work to do with her codependency, recognizing that she continued trying to please everyone, worrying about outcomes, and not taking care of herself. Having never lived alone, Allison really appreciated the built-in support in her Oxford House home.

“I know if I come home in a state the girls are here, ready, and willing to talk about whatever happened right away.  Living with four women I’ve also had to learn how to set boundaries and talk about the things that bug me instead of letting things fester.  The women have really helped me, and I hope I’ve been able to help them figure out some things along the way as well.”

Allison admits she did not understand how Oxford House worked when she first moved in, but she is glad she stayed longer than she first intended and adds, “Oxford House is not just somewhere you leave your belongings and go to work. It’s somewhere you’re meant to work on yourself. I’m super thankful that Oxford House was here for me and still is.”

Oxford House residents are given the unique opportunity to get and provide support from, and to each other. In a very real sense, the residents become a family within their home and work to maintain the well-being of its members. Ideally, they offer predictability, structure, and safety to each other as they mature in their recovery and learn to participate in community.