Oxford House - Ryder

Oxford House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that pioneered the self-run, self-supported model of recovery housing in 1975, when residents of a closing halfway house in Silver Spring, Maryland, took over the property to continue their sobriety journey, establishing the first Oxford House. Since then, Oxford House, Inc. has facilitated the growth of over 3,500 democratically operated, gender-specific sober living homes across 47 states and internationally, providing affordable, community-based environments for more than 24,000 individuals in recovery from substance use disorders at any given time. The core philosophy emphasizes recovery through responsibility and replication, fostering self-help, egalitarian democracy, and financial self-sufficiency, where residents elect officers, share equal expenses, and immediately expel any member who relapses to maintain a 100% drug- and alcohol-free setting. This evidence-based approach, supported by extensive research from DePaul University and recognized by SAMHSA and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, yields unmatched outcomes, with over 80% of residents maintaining long-term sobriety, reduced criminal involvement, and improved employment, serving diverse populations including those with co-occurring mental health issues, veterans, women with children, and underserved communities through technical assistance, charters, and a supportive network of chapters and associations.