MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
For individuals recovering from alcohol or drug addiction, stable housing and daily accountability can be the difference between relapse and long-term recovery. That is the mission of Oxford House, a national network of self-governed recovery homes with a significant presence in Hutchinson.
Michael Jacobsen and Tyler McClanahan, residents and leaders within the local Oxford House chapter, recently spoke about how the program provides a supportive, drug- and alcohol-free living environment for people committed to recovery.
“The primary purpose of Oxford House is the provision of housing and rehabilitative support for the alcoholic or drug addict who wants to stop drinking and using — and stay stopped,” Jacobsen said.
Oxford House is not a treatment center or short-term program. Instead, it offers peer-run housing where residents support one another while rebuilding their lives. McClanahan said the group setting is critical, especially for individuals who may lack basic life skills or a healthy home environment.
“We get people who don’t know how to apply for a job, don’t know how to do laundry, and are struggling with temptation,” McClanahan said. “In our house, they have multiple people they can turn to for advice and accountability.”
Unlike many sober-living facilities, Oxford Houses are entirely self-governed. Each home operates democratically, with residents voting on decisions ranging from household purchases to financial matters. There is no house manager or outside authority.
“People don’t get resentful over authority, because the rules are rules they set for themselves,” McClanahan said.
In Hutchinson, there are 13 Oxford Houses — 10 for men and three for women — a number that may surprise many residents. House size varies, but most homes operate best with six to eight members to ensure accountability and effective self-management.
Oxford House began in 1975 in Silver Spring, Maryland, after residents of a state-funded halfway house lost their funding. Instead of returning to the streets, they pooled their resources, rented a house, and ran it themselves. That model has since expanded nationwide.
Financially, each Oxford House is self-supporting. Residents are required to work full-time, unless they are on disability or Social Security, and each pays an equal share of rent, utilities, and household expenses. The homes do not rely on state funding or insurance.
“This teaches financial responsibility, budgeting, and independence,” Jacobsen said.
Donations and grants are used primarily to help newcomers with moving costs. Community members interested in supporting Oxford House can donate through Friends of Recovery Association, the program’s advocacy and outreach organization, at friendsofrecovery.com. Local events and fundraisers are also promoted through the Oxford House Chapter 13 Facebook page.
For those seeking to join Oxford House, openings can be found at oxfordvacancies.org, a nationwide database searchable by city or ZIP code. Prospective residents contact a house directly and participate in an in-person interview with current members, followed by a house vote.
Oxford House places no limit on how long a resident may stay. Individuals can remain indefinitely as long as they stay sober, pay their share of expenses, and follow house rules.
“There’s no finish line,” McClanahan said. “Recovery is a lifelong process, and Oxford House gives people a stable foundation to keep moving forward.”
More information about Oxford House and recovery housing options is available online at www.oxfordhouse.org.