By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The fifth Oxford House in Hays opened Nov. 1, just four years after the first one opened. There are now four men's houses and one women's house in Hays, with 168 Oxford Houses in Kansas.
The self-run, financially self-supported Oxford Houses provide an opportunity for individuals recovering from substance abuse disorder to learn a clean and sober way of living their lives. Oxford House is a publicly supported, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation.
The other four Hays Oxford Houses are in the north part of town.
The new house, 211 E. Sixth, is the first in south Hays and is close to Fort Hays State University.
"We think it's working out great," said Kady Stevens, outreach coordinator for Barton and Ellis counties and an Oxford House alum. She's also a member of the Friends of Recovery Association for Oxford Houses of Kansas.
The new house, which can accommodate seven men, is within walking distance of High Plains Mental Health Center and meetings at Oak Street Alcoholics Anonymous. Many Oxford House members don't have vehicles.
"It's been a big benefit to many of our new guys, being on this side of town," said Dustin Banes, chapter chair of Oxford House Chapter XX. It uses the Roman numerals for 20.
"And we're not done," Banes said. "There has to be a demonstrated need for a house before a new one can open. One of our chapter goals this year is to open another one. This house filled up quick, so we could easily say there's a need for another house already."
The other homes in Hays can accommodate 10 members.
"We have to make sure the house is big enough," Stevens said, "usually four or five bedrooms ... We have single rooms, and we have shared rooms."
Two Oxford Houses in Hays have a room large enough to accommodate three shared living spaces.
"Finding a decent house with that amount of room is challenging," she said.
There is a national revolving loan fund available to loan groups of six or more recovering individuals the money to rent a house to start a new Oxford House.
There are Oxford Houses for men, women, women with children, and men with children. The number of members may range from six to 15, depending on the size of the home.
The first Oxford House opened in 1975 in Silver Springs, Md., as a low-cost and effective method of addiction recovery management.
Each Oxford House is autonomous. Members govern themselves, elect officers and have weekly house meetings.
Members work jobs and pay their share of rent and household expenses.
There was plenty of community support in furnishing the newest house in Hays, which is rented.
Everything was donated, including computer equipment, except the dining table set and a large flat screen TV, which were purchased. "Even the Christmas decorations were donated," Stevens said.
Members may stay as long as they like but will be expelled if they return to using alcohol or drugs or exhibit disruptive behavior.
"There are no bosses. Everything is a group decision. Everyone pays an equal share," Banes said.
The ultimate goal of Oxford House is long-term sobriety.
"One of the greatest benefits of coming into Oxford House is learning responsibility. You learn to hold yourself accountable. You hold other people accountable," he said.
The Oxford House's "3 Rs" include recovery, responsibility and replication.
"We come in for the recovery. We learn the responsibility while we're here. And then, the replication comes by sticking around and teaching the new members that come in after us," Stevens said.
Oxford House Chapter XX has plans to be more involved in the Ellis County community "and just to give back to the community."
Members have volunteered for Special Olympics events and helped at the recent Night to Shine in Hays.
Stevens wants Oxford House to spearhead collection drives to help with needs at Options Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Service and Northwest Kansas Community Corrections.
"Just giving back to the people who have helped us," she said.
More information about Oxford House is available online at oxfordhouse.org, oxfordvacancies.com, oxfordhousekansas.org and friendsofrecovery.com.