Key takeaway
Oxford House is a self-run, self-supported model of recovery housing where residents share expenses and vote on membership. It is not clinical rehab. Ask about vacancies, rules, and whether the chapter fits your recovery plan. Call or text (800) 653-9376 if you also need treatment matching.
Last updated: Wed Oct 07 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
You keep hearing Oxford House and need a plain explanation. It is a peer-run recovery housing model. Residents share costs and govern the house. It is not detox, not IOP, and not a hospital.
Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for a crisis.
What the model means for you
Expect interviews or votes for membership, shared chores, abstinence expectations, and shared bills. Ask how relapse is handled and whether prescribed MOUD is welcome. Get house rules before you move a bag in.
Compare with sober living near me, sober living vs rehab, and halfway house vs sober living.
If you still need treatment
Oxford House does not replace clinical care. If you need detox, residential, or MAT, search FindTreatment.gov first.
Broker filter
Nobody should sell you an unrelated out-of-state rehab as the only way into an Oxford House bed.
Next step
Check Oxford House vacancy tools and local chapter contacts. For clinical matching, call SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or call or text (800) 653-9376.
Call or text (800) 653-9376 when housing and treatment questions are tangled.
Additional Resources
Sources cited on this page:
- SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov
- SAMHSA National Helpline
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Oxford House official site
- SAMHSA: Recovery and Recovery Support
Common Questions
What is an Oxford House?
Oxford House is a charter model of democratically run recovery residences. Residents share rent and chores and vote on who lives there. It is housing, not a licensed treatment program.
How is it different from staffed sober living?
Many sober living homes have paid managers and owner operators. Oxford Houses emphasize peer self-governance under the Oxford House model. Ask each house how decisions and finances work.
Can I live in an Oxford House on methadone or buprenorphine?
Policies can vary by house. Federally protected disability rights and recovery housing best practice support access for people on MOUD. Ask directly and get the answer in writing.
How do I find an Oxford House near me?
Use the Oxford House vacancy resources and local chapters, and ask treatment programs which houses they know. Confirm the charter and current openings yourself.
Is Oxford House free?
No. Residents share household expenses. There is no treatment bill from Oxford House itself, but rent and utilities are real costs.