Oxford House - The Gardens

Oxford House The Gardens is an ordinary rented house in Ocean City, New Jersey, in Cape May County, run by the men who live in it. With 12 beds it is one of the bigger houses: the weekly share is spread further, and there are more people to live alongside.

There is no staff here and nobody is a patient. The residents hold the charter themselves, elect their own officers, and divide the rent, utilities and household bills between them, which is what keeps a week here within reach of someone just back at work. The charter comes down to three rules: run the house democratically, pay its own way, and immediately expel anyone who goes back to drinking or using. Nobody leaves on a schedule — most arrive after detox or a residential program and stay until they are ready to go.