We Do Recover

Growing up, I never lived anywhere longer than a year as we moved a lot and I never was able to have friends or people around consistently. Being as hyper as I was, I got in trouble everywhere we went, which probably helped contribute to us moving a lot. I was put on Adderall at 6 and it made me extremely erratic for about 2 years until my mom decided it wasn't helping me. At 7, I was kicked out of a school for getting into a fight with a teacher and throwing a desk through the classroom window; the state decided to put me in multiple foster homes for roughly 6 months, then a psych ward for children to be evaluated for another 6 months.

After I was released back to my family, I was sent to live with multiple family members to see if any of them could help with my anger and energy; none could. My mom decided to send me to my dad's, where I'd meet him for the first time at 10. He had a mental break and hung himself in the next room. I watched the ambulance people carry him out; he survived. My mom took me back and I was more aggressive and wilder than before.

Three years later, I went to my father’s again because he thought he was better and able to handle life and me this time. The first year of living with him, I started drinking, smoking weed, doing pills and selling all the drugs I could find under his guidance. Over the years, the drugs got harder and the experiences that came with them got worse. I eventually started going in and out of prison and, after about 6 years, including county trips, I gave my best shot to become sober but didn't have any real guidance on how to do that so I relapsed harder than ever.

I was at a point where I was about to return to prison or die when I was introduced to Oxford. I took all the money I could get my hands on and got a hotel and stayed there for a week and a half sleeping and eating. I eventually ran out of money and, by the grace of God, was accepted into my first Oxford House. The members accepted me as family and showed me positive guidance and strength on how to live in sobriety.

I have since then helped start multiple other homes and been elected as the first Illinois state alumni chair. I now chair AA meetings and participate in the community.

I found Oxford House right after leaving treatment. It was a better decision to move into a sober living house than to go back home. Oxford house helped me find stability and support and motivation. I’ve met many wonderful inspiring people. Oxford house was there for me since the beginning of my journey, and I will always be grateful for that.

Before I moved into Oxford House, I was living clean and sober but nowhere near living a life in recovery. I was in another sober living home, just going thru the motions, paying my rent and doing my chores, really just doing the bare minimum so I would have a place to sleep at night.

A friend of mine told me about a women's Oxford House opening in Peoria. I interviewed for a bed and was one of the first two women to be a part of Oxford in my area. With guidance from my outreach worker, I quickly learned how to set and maintain boundaries within the home and for myself, as well as the beauty of accountability and holding others accountable. I got to relearn how to be a responsible, reliable and dependable person while living in Oxford.

Fellowship, self-reliance and self-respect formed the foundation where I began to build the life of recovery I wanted for myself. I started going to outside meetings; I got a sponsor; I got involved in chapter, HSC, fundraising, and the State Association. I am always more than happy to go to other houses/chapters and offer my support where it's needed and help others help themselves. Service work has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my life!

Now as an alumna, I am forever grateful for the year I spent in Oxford House. I really learned so much about myself and my capabilities. It gave me a safe place to find my own voice, to grow as a person and work a program of recovery that best suited me without fear of judgement. I love my Oxford family!

I'm a recovering drug addict. I'm tired. I had 3 years sober; then I messed up and now I'm sober again. I lost my brother 7 days sober: he is my reason for keeping up my fight.

I was addicted to drugs for 10 plus years; went to jail for 6 months; got out; got into Oxford and have now been sober for 10 months.

I've been sober 1 1/2 years and I am learning how to deal, cope, and live a sober and happy life.

I am 30 years old and I have 5 kids. I have struggled with my addiction since I was 11. I have been to countless treatment centers. I honestly don't know exactly how many times I've been arrested but I've been in and out of jail since 2013. I have lost a lot due to my addiction. I have lost all rights to four babies; they all got adopted and it's so hard to forgive myself. I have to live with that for the rest of my life but I hold on to the hope that when they turn 18, they will come find me and I believe that God will bring them back into my life. I thank God for my Aunt Jennifer because she has my 8-month-old baby girl, Zayla, and has been taking care of her day and night and being a mom to her that I wasn't able to be at the time. By the grace of God, I still want the chance to be the mom that she deserves. and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure she never sees me high.

I thank God for this Oxford House because it is giving me hope on living life on life's terms without having to use and giving me the chance to be the mom and woman God intended for me to be all along.

My Sobriety Date is October 15 2018! I came to Oxford House Ophelia in 2020 right out of prison with nothing to my name! Within a couple months, I became the chapter HSC! Oxford taught me how own my actions and to be an adult again. Since Oxford, I have gotten my license back after a 15-year suspension. I have a new car, s job that I had had for 3 years now, my kids back and our own home! Today, we are house-shopping and looking to buy my first house! Staying involved after moving out of Oxford is what has had helped me stay sober! ❤

Oxford House was not my first choice of housing. As I neared my completion date of the re- integration treatment I was in, I had a housing voucher. I looked for housing with no luck; it just wasn't in the cards for me. I remember the in-person interview for the Monarch Oxford House. I was nervous and had no idea what to expect. I was in complete shock when they said “welcome home.” I couldn't believe they accepted me for me. For once, being an addict seeking long-term recovery, I was accepted and I belonged.

During my membership, I learned a lot about myself and how to communicate effectively and what it really mean to be accountable for my actions. I was able to bring my children for the last 6 months of my membership and that structure and support enriched the experience of reuniting with my children. During the three years I lived in Oxford, I became peer-support certified and held our state budget and finance positions.

Since moving out, I have been an alumni officer for our state association, and I work for FORA as outreach in southeast Kansas. I'll keep sharing the Oxford concept and model so others like me can have this opportunity.

I was born in a small town, fell in love with my high-school sweetheart and had a child with her withing a few months of our graduation from high school. She passed away due to an asthma attack. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to deal with, OR SO I THOUGHT! I had a hard time dealing with it and so I turned to alcohol to help me deal with my emotions. Fast forward 8 years: I met a new lady who is still my wife today! When we first got together, I was drinking a lot and, once I found out we had a son on the way, she asked me to stop drinking. I had a hard time staying clean of alcohol and being able to hide it. Instead of getting sober I turned to using meth off and on for almost 10 years while having 3 more kids in the process. My wife ended up kicking me out to my drug use and I spiraled downwards from there.

I had multiple arrests and just couldn't stop using until one day I had just had enough. I had spent 12 days in jail which was normal at the time but, when I got out, I truly had nothing: nowhere to go; no money; literally nothing! I went to my sisters’ home and asked if I could stay at their house till Sunday! The answer was yes! That Sunday has changed my life forever.

I got accepted into Shocker Oxford House in Salina KS. I was the newest member in Oxford in our chapter at the time so they decided I'd be one of the lucky ones to go to the World Convention! It was amazing and I wanted more! I came home from World and hit the ground running. I enrolled in college and didn't stop there. I graduated from college with a 4.0 GPA and I'm now a journeyman electrician. I have had the luxury of starting and helping open 5 Oxford Houses in my chapter in the last 2 year’s I was chapter chair for a full year. I graduated drug court at all-star level 2 and I'm proud to say that my wife and I are living together again and have another one on the way!! I am also part of the Alumni West for the state of Kansas.

Oxford House changed my life and I will always be in debt to Paul but, with that being said, his dreams have become my dreams and I want everyone in the world to have the same opportunity I did! Thanks, Paul, and Oxford House for teaching me how to live! Clean and sober!

I am a woman in long-term recovery, and what that means to me is that I have not found the need to use any mind- or mood-altering substances since 03/24/14. I grew up thinking drugs and the drug life was normal so, at the age of 15, I by myself went down the same path I saw my parents take. For 15 years, I was in my addiction, I was what you would call a “trash can junkie”, doing any drug I could get my hands on. When asked today what my drug of choice was, I say “yours, more and free.” I wanted whatever you; had more of it; and I wanted it to be free. After fifteen years in and out of jails, treatment centers, and prison, I finally had enough. During my last prison stay, something clicked and I refused to ever go back. I got out on February 29, 2015, I ended up in treatment for about a month and a half and that’s where I made the decision to start my life over.

I went to an Oxford House in Topeka, KS. It was the only women’s house there at the time and it stayed full. After 6 months in Oxford House, I went and opened my first house for women with children and I opened 2 more during the following 2 years, I got involved I was part of chapter, I was the Kansas State reentry chair for 2 years, and helped plan the world convention in Kansas City. I was finally part of something; I was accepted. Those are things I wanted my whole life.

In 2019, I was given the opportunity to go work for OHI in Arizona and that was the most amazing decision I had ever made! To open houses in a state there were none was such a reward on its own. I came back to Kansas in 2021 for some family issues and that’s when I started working for Friends of Recovery Assoc., as an outreach coordinator in Topeka, where I advocate, train and assist Oxford Houses in Kansas. In 2021, I was awarded the Tony Perkins Award at the world convention. Oxford House saved my life and helped me figure out who I was and how to live. I learned to build incredible relationships with women because of my Oxford House experience. I will forever give back to the organization that taught me how to be me clean and sober. I just celebrated 9 years two weeks ago thanks to my Oxford House family. Oxford House for life!

I moved into Oxford house right after I celebrated two years clean and sober. I got the opportunity to move into Oxnard House Rows, which is in Chapter 7 in northern Kentucky. They welcomed me with open arms, and they gave me love and care. I got the opportunity to be able to move into that sober living, two years clean and have one of my children live with me, I was only in Oxford house for less than two weeks when I got the opportunity to go to the World Convention last year. I learned so much in that little time about Oxford House and I came home on fire.

Three weeks after being home, I got asked to move to Oxford House in Middletown as a core member to help get that house back on its feet. Knowing that my outreach worker had that much faith in me gave me even more drive to do what was right for Oxford House. I am now the chapter chair for Chapter 13 and I hold two positions in my house. I am the fundraising chair and I also hold a state position. I continue to grow in Oxford House. As long as I continue to look at myself as art, and always remain teachable, then I will be able to do all things. My Oxford house family is huge and I will never be able to express how much gratitude I truly have for Oxford House.

Been clean for seven months!

I’m a addict who’s in recovery and looking for a better life. I made bad choices using drugs and I just want to get my life together!

I came to Oxford House straight out of treatment in January 2019, I thrived, focused on my recovery and was able to celebrate my first year clean. The Spring and Summer of 2020 was a strange year for everyone and, unfortunately, I took my will back. I got honest with my housemates, and I was properly expelled, but I left on good terms.

I was able to reinterview, and I was accepted. I have been residing in an Oxford House ever since. I have been able to focus on my recovery, as well thrive outside as well. I work five days a week; my daughter is with me every weekend and she stays with me at the House. I have been able to pay off my debt, get my license, and get a car. I am forever grateful for Oxford House.

I was addicted to pain medication, went to recovery and the to the Oxford house Saorsa. The Oxford House has helped me out in a tremendous way. I’m so grateful to be a part of such a great fellowship.

I grew up in South County Maryland until I was 12. I played different sports and was forced to go to church every Sunday. We moved to Annapolis, Maryland, when I was 13 years old and I started running into the street life: marijuana, alcohol and fast women. As I grew older, I started using and selling more narcotics. From the ages of 16 to 30, I had no responsibilities. Then I had my daughter and I got married to her mother. We were together for seven years. After my divorce, my addiction became unmanageable – everything from PCP to alcohol. I saw myself putting drugs before everything else so I started my recovery in Mountain road for 30 days in Baltimore, then went to Evolve for five months; from there to at Opportunity Ministry for five months, Grace House for three months and then I landed at Oxford House. I am currently working at the Hvac apartment complex in Glen Burnie, and part-time I leave on the weekends.

I was in my active addiction for 10 years and on my way back to prison, lost and confused. I was addicted to the fullest and I didn't know what I was going to do with my life I knew that I didn't want to use anymore. I was sitting in Greene County on my way to do prison time when my sister-in-law suggested that I try to get into some kind of recovery program that she had heard about – a program called Oxford House. She had set me up with an interview with our outreach worker. He had set up a phone interview and let me interview with the House and hoped that I'd get in. I'd never been in a rehab nor had I ever been in a recovery house but I was lost, desperate, scared and just wanted something different. I had an interview and they accepted me but they didn't have a bed open yet and the judge wouldn't let me out unless I had a recovery house. So, I sat in county for four more months and then I kept calling every week to talk to Mikey, the outreach worker. He never gave up on me and finally they had an opening at the Calvary House in Springfield, Missouri. A few weeks later, Mikey came to pick me up. He was the first person to ever give me a chance; the first person to believe in me and he gave me a sense of hope that maybe I am worthy of living a life without drug. I came to Oxford on September 19, 2021. I got clean in Greene County and I have stayed clean because of Oxford House. Oxford has taught me how to be a grown man; taught me how to do my own laundry; taught me how to cook; and told me how to be a productive member of society. They gave me hope and I haven't let go of it. I have been part of Oxford since that day.

I'm an alumnus of Oxford since 2022 and it took an army of recovering addicts and a recovery House known as Oxford and Chapter 4 to give me a sense of purpose; to give me a life that I never knew I could ever have without Oxford. I don't know where I would have been. I look forward to seeing the future that Oxford has to offer and I am in debt for the rest of my life to Oxford. Thank you for giving me this chance and showing me that life is better without drugs and for giving me the recovery I needed. Thank you, Oxford!

I was a hard drinker for 40 years. I got into Oxford House Moffett in Joplin, MO. Michael Gustafson introduced me to what Oxford House is. I have been to World, Missouri, and Oklahoma State conventions; it has been a blast. I have seen Springfield grow with eight Houses. I love it!

I came to Oxford House, looking for a drastic change to help save my life. I wanted a new way of life – a Recovery life. I needed and wanted what I saw everyone in Oxford House had. Lafayette  Oxford House, the 12 steps, DAA, my awesome SPONSOR, AND OXFORD HOUSE helped save my life. I'm very grateful for all of them.”

My name is Rhianda and I am an addict. My clean date is November 7, 2019. I moved into Oxford House Aster in Kansas City, Missouri on November 9, 2019 when I was 2 days clean. I was scared and had lost all hope. My bottom could have been at lot worse honestly but, by the grace of God, I heard those 2 words from the women who interviewed me, “Welcome home!” and for that I will be forever grateful. Since living in Oxford and working my 12-step program of recovery, I have had a major surgery, navigated a major pandemic and all that came with that, a divorce, the death of my beloved grandmother, the death of my infant niece, career changes, my children growing up, friendships gained, friendships lost and living day by day- life on life’s terms. And through it all I have stayed clean!

Oxford gave me the accountability I so desperately needed. But, after awhile, I realized Oxford has given me so much more. I have my voice back. Oxford has given me a safe place to come home to, and a place to work my recovery. I have regained my self-confidence and self-esteem and I have peace and serenity that I have never felt before. I don’t have to hide behind drugs or alcohol any longer for people to like me or for me to be seen or heard. I stepped out of my comfort zone and was elected HSC co-chair for Chapter 9 and then Chapter Chair. Being able to give back to the organization that has given me so much was life changing. Helping the newcomer in Oxford is something that (I feel is a privilege. To show them the way and replicate to them. I never want to forget where I came from. I love my house so much and the women and children I live with. They are my family. As I type this, I have tears in my eyes. Oxford House saved my life. Without a doubt. For that, I will be eternally grateful!

I am a recovering meth addict of 18 years. During my addiction I lost precious time with my two oldest children and broke my family's trust. Through my time in Oxford, I was able to rebuild those relationships. My family all trust me again and my kids are with me for the summer. I was also able to become a mother again and brought my newest daughter into the world on November 16th 2022. I was in the mommy and me room at Oxford House Hovey and my daughter was able to come home with me. Just recently in April we decided to move out and got our own place and start her a little family. I still stay involved with Oxford and get frequent calls for guidance. I also got a new job at the Springfield Recovery community center. Where I work with peers every day. Currently this week I am in my certified peer specialist training to get my CPS and enrolled in college to start in August. I owe Oxford my life.

Hi, my name is Lindsay and I am an alcoholic and an addict. I am not going to go into my substance abuse history because that would take way too long and that isn't who I am today. Let's just say I definitely qualify and have completely changed my life around. I have lost many loved ones, been to jails, institutions and cheated death multiple times. Today, I am an Oxford House Alumna from OH Hammond Place, Chapter 9 in Kansas City, MO. I resided there for over 2 years and held every position in the house at least once. I also had the pleasure of serving as Vice-Chair, HSC Chair for Chapter & Secretary for the State Association. Along with those, I have been active with AA/NA, my sponsor, working the steps, sponsoring others, holding a job consistently for the past 4 years, and fixing my credit.

My relationships with others are strong and I actually moved out with two of the strongest people I know, who are also alumni! Oxford House helped hold me accountable, gave me a sense of responsibility, a purpose within the house and in life. It taught me how to have healthy relationships with women and how to lift others up instead of tearing them down. I learned how important it is to work a 12-step program of my own, outside of the house! If it wasn't for the tools that Oxford House provided me, I wouldn't have made it this far. I will forever be grateful to the women and men who welcomed me home!

I moved into an Oxford house 6 days sober. I haven't looked back. I have no idea where I'd be without the life I've found helping others. I moved in for me; now I'm able to help others.

I graduated from the Salvation Army ARC in February 2021. On April 14th of 2021, I contacted Ken Norman and asked him about vacancies in Oxford. He told me he’d check and call me back. He called and said he had a house (Farnam House) that had openings and I should contact them. I interviewed and was in the same day. Without Oxford and the friends I have made there I would not be celebrating 4 years sober in August. I just celebrated 2 years at Farnam. A big ‘Thank You’ to the Farnam guys and especially to Ken, Yale, and everyone else in Oxford for all the support,