Sober Living Homes & Oxford Houses Cost & Length of Stay

These witnesses all testified that they themselves held no animosity towards recovering alcoholics or addicts, and, in some cases, that they had provided support and guidance when their own loved ones were struggling with recovery. Although the Court has no doubt as to the sincerity of this testimony, it misses the mark as to whether defendant intentionally discriminated against plaintiffs in the enforcement of its zoning codes. In 1975, Paul Molloy and several other recovering alcoholics and drug addicts formed the first Oxford House. Molloy testified that he and the others had been residing in a halfway house which faced closure by the county because of a lack of funding. From its inception, this first Oxford House was run differently from a typical halfway house. No staff was present at the house, and a resident could stay as long as he wished, provided he remained drug- and alcohol-free and paid his share of expenses. This model proved to be successful and Molloy expanded the concept and assisted other groups in starting other Oxford Houses around the country.

• From people in active recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
• In this respect, they are similar to a college fraternity, sorority, or a small New England town.
• There is no limit on the length of time a resident may remain in the house, so long as the members remain drug and alcohol free, pay their share of the expenses, and are not expelled for disruptive behavior.
• Often they come from inpatient treatment centers or half-way houses.
• 683, 698 (E.D.Pa.1992) (“the FHAA rejects any notion that a Township can somehow avoid the anti-discrimination mandate by accepting some sort of `fair share’ or apportionment of people with disabilities”), aff’d 995 F.2d 217 (3rd Cir.1993).

To locate in the “A”, single-family, “B”, two-family, or “C”, multiple-family dwelling districts, and a conditional use permit is required for an Oxford House with more than eight persons to operate in the “D” through “H” districts. Thereafter various discussions between the parties ensued, which culminated in the City’s filing an information in the Municipal Division of the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, charging the Franciscan Sisters of Mary with the same three violations. That https://ecosoberhouse.com/ information was held in abeyance pending resolution of the instant law suit. As a result of the building code violation citations, OH-C removed a cover over a window, resolving the window area dispute, and ceased using the basement room as a bedroom. OH-C never applied for a variance under the City’s zoning code. Oxford House is a concept in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. In its simplest form, an Oxford House describes a democratically run, self-supporting and drug free home.

Oxford Houses

The first Oxford House was opened in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1975 by Paul Molloy. Molloy had been a Senate committee staff member between 1967 and 1972. He sought treatment for his alcoholism in a halfway house in 1975. Later that year, the halfway house would close due to financial difficulty, and Molloy and the other residents took over the lease. They chose the name Oxford House in recognition of Oxford Group, a religious organization that influenced the founders of AA. The house that you move into is supposed to be in a nice neighborhood and indistinguishable in quality from any other houses in the area.

The program prefers to use larger single-family houses, as this provides the family atmosphere desired, and because cooperative living is required. The members of each house are expected to share kitchen facilities and to share in the cleaning and upkeep of the house and yard. In almost all Oxford Houses, including those at issue here, the residents are required to share a bedroom, and no locks are allowed on bedroom doors, in order to avoid the possibility that one member could become withdrawn from the group and face a greater risk of relapse. Apartments obviously do not meet these goals of cooperative living and having a large group to provide support.

What is Oxford House?

The zoning ordinance in effect at the time OH-C was cited had a discriminatory impact on handicapped individuals by denying them this necessary housing option. In short, the evidence clearly showed that defendant’s actions were motivated by consideration of plaintiffs’ handicapped status. The City’s reaction to the state’s introduction of the concept was that Oxford Houses would cause flight from the City. The City’s Zoning Administrator, who was its top zoning official, testified that he wouldn’t want recovering alcoholics or addicts living next door to him. The chief building inspector sought guidance from this same Zoning Administrator by asking him if pursuing a complaint of overcrowding would be “heading in a right direction …, if that’s what we could use” to stop the operation of the Oxford House. The first city inspection of OH-C occurred on the same day the neighborhood meeting regarding OH-C was held, in which unfounded and stereotypical fears about safety and property values were raised by the neighbors.

OH-W, because it is near a popular restaurant and commercial area, is in an area with long-standing parking problems. After the parking problem became apparent to them, the OH-W residents agreed among themselves that no more than four members would park cars on their street, and other members must park some distance away. The evidence showed that this had resolved any parking problem, and, in any event, all the evidence showed that the parking problems on the OH-W street had predated the opening of that home.

Oxford House Handbook 2022/23

After the release of our outcome study, Dr. Jason was called by a lawyer who asked if we could help him with a dispute. The case involved a town trying to close down the local Oxford House, claiming that there could be no more than five unrelated individuals living in one home. Residents must only abide by the rules of the home, but if they ever use drugs or alcohol while a resident, they are immediately evicted. Residents may stay as long as they need to, although most stay about 1 year. Oxford Houses what is an oxford house are supposed to be self-run, democratic, group-type homes for people who are in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. The philosophy is that people who have been through the hell of active addiction provide better-quality, no-judgment support than those who have not, and when a person is in the early stages of being clean and sober, they will fare better in a household of their peers. Some sober living homes have exercise equipment, fitness areas, recreational space, pools and cookout areas.