ADDICTION destroys familiesoxfordhouse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Oxford-House-Annual-Report... · Recovery without relapse is possible in an Oxford home. Each home forms its own

ADDIC TIONdestroys families

RECOVERY restores families

Annual Report 2017/2018

Annual Report 2017/2018

Addiction is a family disease. One person may be inflicted, but the

whole family suffers.

Through the provision of a home and support offered by experienced

staff, Oxford residents are empowered to take responsibility in their

own recovery and make valuable contributions in their community.

Recovery without relapse is possible in an Oxford home. Each home

forms its own family and is situated in a suburban neighbourhood away

from danger areas.

Through staff support and peer support from other residents, people in

recovery find understanding and hope while learning how to live with

life’s challenges, mend broken relationships and develop new social

supports.

O U R M I S S I O NT O P R O V I D E P E O P L E

I N R E C O V E R Y F R O M

A D D I C T I O N S ,

A S U P P O R T I V E

P R O G R A M A N D S A F E

H O M E T O A C H I E V E

A P R O D U C T I V E ,

R E W A R D I N G , C L E A N

S O B E R L I F E .

We believe in the goodness, dignity and potential of

men and women with alcohol and drug addiction

and that, by providing them with safe and affordable

housing, they will have the best opportunity for full,

long-term recovery.

O U R V I S I O NT O E S T A B L I S H

R E C O V E R Y H O M E S

W I T H E N G A G E D

C O M M U N I T I E S

L O O K I N G T O D E V E L O P

C L E A N A N D S O B E R

L I V I N G F O R P E O P L E

C O M M I T T E D T O

R E C O V E R Y .

We have an opportunity to expand the Oxford House

model in rural communities.

Helping people in recovery take their lives back

1 | OXFORD HOUSE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18

ON BEHALF OF the Board of Directors and staff of Oxford House, Homes for Recovery, I would like to welcome you to the 22nd Annual Community Gathering.

Over the past year, Oxford House has continued to meet the unique needs of men and women in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction through safe, affordable housing and support. Today we own and operate 28 houses throughout Alberta. That is one more than in 2017.

Over the last year, our Executive Director and Staff worked diligently in researching and developing future partnerships with rural communities throughout Alberta where there is a deficit of housing for individuals coming out of treatment and in need of a home to live in as they continue in their recovery. As a result, we have purchased a house in Drumheller, Alberta, which is currently at full occupancy.

We are continuing to work with both Municipal and Provincial governments to help them understand the important role Oxford House plays in the community.

The First 30 Days program continues to be successful with the assistance of increased donors. This program allows residents to settle into their new home quicker by providing them with food, bedding, toiletries, etc., to help them get started.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the volunteers and Board Members who dedicated numerous hours to Oxford House over this past year. Additionally, I would like to give my sincerest thanks to the staff, who generously give their time and efforts to the successful administration and implementation of services to the residents of Oxford House and to the community. And, to our donors, of whom we would not be able to deliver the level of service we are committed to, thank you for believing in people.

I would like to honour three long service Board Members who retired from the Board of Directors this year; namely, Cecil Lukenbill, Michael Pashelka, and George Stady. Their tenure, devotion and belief in Oxford House is unbelievable. Their sage advice will be missed at our quarterly meetings. All the best to you.

On behalf of Oxford House, and in honour of the late Ron MacMillan, the founder of Oxford House, I express my heartfelt thanks to our funders and donors for their continuous support and understanding.

Debra J. Johnstone

Chair, Oxford House Foundation

Message from the Chair

Debra J. JohnstoneChair of the

Board of Directors

Debra J. Johnstone Retired (Partner at Cenara)

CHAIR

Rod WilkinsonRetired

VICE CHAIR

Kim WalmsleyLighthouse Bookkeeping

TREASURER

Leanne Froese (Oxford House Alumni)Trade Winds to Success

SECRETARY

Diedra BlackExecutive, Human Resources

DIRECTOR

Eve MacMillanRetired (Executive Director,

Sunrise Native Addiction Services)HONORARY DIRECTOR

OX F O R D H O U S E F O U N DAT I O N

Board of Directors

Addiction is a destroyer. It numbs you, and then ravages you. It leaves behind a shell of the person you once were. It drives a wedge between you and the people you love.

When a man or woman makes the decision to stop using and goes into

treatment, they are often worried about where they will go next. Going

back to the same situation that fed their addiction creates stress and fear

of relapse. Oxford House knows this and fills a gap in providing sober

living recovery homes in a timely manner for those who have completed

treatment. Often the transition from treatment to an Oxford House home is

seamless, ensuring that newly sober people do not fall through the cracks

due to long waiting lists.

The Oxford House program works, but we came face to face with a difficult

challenge this past year. In April, our occupancy rates hit an all time low.

In studying our data and creating space for conversation, we were able

to pinpoint specific houses that had frequent turnovers and took a good

hard look at them. We learned some of the houses needed to be renovated

while others needed more seasoned residents and more guidance from

staff. And so we got to work, updating each home that needed it, and

implemented the Entry Level Housing Program for residents that need it.

The Entry Level Oxford House program guides residents who need a bit

more help upping their chances for life-long sobriety and independence.

One men’s house and one women’s house is home to new residents who

need extra help to gain employment and time to relearn important skills

for independent living. Already we are seeing encouraging results. Both

entry-level houses are at full occupancy. The peer-to-peer mentoring of the

house leads, in consultation with program staff, is cause for celebration.

House leads who have lived experience and are proven role models of

the Oxford House program, support residents during their time in entry-

level housing. This seems to be making a significant difference both, in

outcomes for our residents and operationally for Oxford House. Entry-

level residents are learning what it means to be part of the Oxford House

Message from the Executive Director

ADDIC TION DESTROYS FAMILIES R E CO V E R Y R E S TO R E S FA M I L I E S

Patrick NixonExecutive Director


34% WOMEN

32% FIRST NATIONS

OR METIS

66% MEN

OXFORD HOUSE RESIDENTS

APRIL 2017 – MARCH 2018

program, are well on their way to overcoming addiction and living fuller

lives, and Oxford House is regularly hitting its goal of 80% plus occupancy.

Moving forward, we will continue to evaluate and tweak the Oxford House

program as needed, recognizing the best source to better our approach to

recovery, are the very people who have made Oxford House their home. We

are listening through regular resident surveys and one to one conversation.

We know that our best homes are filled with people who take peer-to-peer

support seriously.

I invite you to read Dora’s story, written by her, on pages 6 & 7. Having a

sober home with structure and support was exactly what she needed.

Dora reminds me how important our work is at Oxford House, and how

a determined person who takes hold of the help offered, can become the

best version of herself.

Yes, addiction is a destroyer. However, recovery is a builder. It humbles you and then builds you up. It sets the foundation upon which you can rebuild relationships with the people you love and live a richer, more meaningful, and independent life. Oxford House is passionate about the role we play in creating an environment that does exactly that.


“Entry level residents are

learning what it means to be part

of the Oxford House program

and are well on their way

to overcoming addiction and

living fuller lives.”

agency partnerships | Calgary Food Bank | Claresholm Treatment Centre | Grace House Drumheller Society for Recovery |

| Henwood Treatment Centre | Lander Treatment Centre | Prospect Career LINKS | Sunrise Native Addictions |

Oxford House partnerships Oxford House partners provide grants, gift-in-kind donations, training, and reduced cost for services

on an on-going basis.

Stop + GoreproductionsPRINT + GRAPHIC DESIGN

Oxford Housecommunity support

Recovery DayL to R Diana Schwenk, Earl Thiessen,

Tracey Twittey and Jerron Isaac represent Oxford House at Recovery

Day Calgary at Poppy Plaza.


Drumheller HouseOn April 5, 2018 Oxford House’s first two men moved into their home in

Drumheller. We are so excited to welcome them, and those who have

moved in since then. We cannot overstate how thrilled we are about our

partnership with Grace House, who have been nothing short of rock stars

in building this much-needed service in Drumheller with us.

Oxford House received $1,585 through United Way of Calgary

and United Way Edmonton’s Donor Choice programs.

Individuals recovering from addiction have long-term sobriety and skills for self-sufficiency to successfully re-integrate into the community.

9 outcomes of the Oxford House program

MID-TERMOUTCOMES

Increased self-efficacy to abstain

Increased life skills for self-sufficiency

Improved social and emotional skills

Increased positive self-concept (self-esteem,

self-worth, etc.)

SHORT-TERMOUTCOMES

Engaged in productive and

meaningful activities

Supportive social network

Access to Aboriginal cultural supports

LONG-TERMOUTCOMES

Long-term sobriety

Quality of life


Ride for Refuge raised over $20,000.

LEFT Calgary Aquabelles collected food for First 30 program.

Music for a Winter Evening raised over $35,000 with profits divided between Oxford House and

Next Step Ministries.

Enbridge Silent Auction raised over $24,000 during the United Way Campaign.

ABOVE Tim Hortons donated gift certificates for a resident event.

Alberta Works and Oxford House work together to provide the best possible outcomes for

Oxford residents.

IMPACT

Improved overall health, wellbeing, and sobriety for individuals suffering from addiction

Reduction in the health, social and economic costs associated with substance use/abuse

Reduction in homelessness for individuals struggling with addiction

The first time I came to Oxford House I was still pretty selfish, self-centered and self-seeking. I didn’t appreciate Oxford House for what it is intended for, as I had my own idea of what I ‘needed’ from them. I

moved out too soon due to frustration and into a house with friends from treatment. There I saw what lack of structure, and no rules/guidelines does with enabling personalities—chaos and relapse.

When I moved into Oxford House the second time around I understood what I could get out of the Oxford House Program. There’s quite a transition moving from the bubble of a treatment center to real life. In treatment the basis is to keep you safe and away from everyday issues. This allows you to gain some clean time to rebuild your mental faculties and perhaps face some of the trauma that led you to use in the first place. To go from that environment straight back to real life is a lot for anyone to handle, never mind someone who hasn’t dealt with everyday issues in a healthy way for years.

Oxford House is there to help bridge this gap in transition by helping addicts regain essential life skills. They do this first by providing a strong foundation to build on; stability, safety and the security of knowing you

OX F O R D H O U S E I S T H E R E TO B R I D G E T H E G A P

Dora


have shelter, food, and sober roommates. This takes away a lot of the fear I had coming out of treatment. I had always gone back to the same type of environment I’d left, and then wondered why recovery didn’t ‘stick’. Oxford House rules guide the development of life skills. Weekly chores are there to guide you on maintaining a healthy environment. As addicts, we like to let things slide, and chaos in environment leads to chaos in life. Oxford House also aids in routine building and motivation by getting people active in their recovery.

It’s hard living with other addicts. Everyone is still learning how to be assertive in their communication. It’s so easy to fall back into old habits when dealing with stressful situations. My sponsor says it is more than a roof; it is a living skill laboratory. In life, personally and professionally, you have to deal with many different people. Oxford House allows you to practice those skills in a safe environment.

Sometimes it’s not necessary to be ‘right’ and the right choice is to not say anything at all. This one is tough for me but I am making better decisions by loosening those ideals of perfectionism that I grew up with, and realizing that others did not have the same upbringing and are not used to picking up after themselves. Tolerance and patience were never strong virtues of mine. Strict discipline in maintaining a high status quo was how I was raised. In life that’s just not realistic and leads to judgments and resentments and eventual relapse when you can’t let those things go. Weekly house meetings allow the house members to practice assertiveness and do it in a respectful manner.

I don’t want to leave too soon this time. I want to be in a new profession for 4–6 months before thinking of moving out. This allows me time to get used to a new routine and still have the stable foundation as a safety net until I am confident enough to move on.

My sponsor says I have blossomed these last six months, he sees a young professional now; I am no longer that addict who cannot think, or act for herself. Oxford House built that ability in me by encouraging me to make decisions on my own and handle stressful situations without their involvement. They let you know; you CAN do it yourself, and every time you do, your self-confidence grows.

“Oxford House is

there to help bridge

this gap in transition

by helping addicts

regain essential life

skills. They do this

first by providing a

strong foundation

to build on; stability,

safety, and the

security of knowing

you have shelter,

food, and sober

roommates.”

Dora’s outcomesMID-TERM

OUTCOMES

Develops and continues to practice healthy daily routines

and life skills

SHORT-TERMOUTCOMES

Focuses on recovery; meetings; sponsor

Participates in house meetings/chores;

accesses employment readiness resources

LONG-TERMOUTCOMES

Moves into leadership roles; guides new

residents

Secures employment

Committed to stay at Oxford House until

fully confident


OXFORD HOUSE IS GR ATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT FROM

Oxford Housefinancials

Rent68%

Government8%

Community Engagement & Resource Development

7%

Audited financial statements available upon request.

Administration7%

O P E R AT I O N S revenue $1,087,260

O P E R AT I O N S expenses$1,083,373

Donations & Events

24%

Programs86%

APRIL 2017 – MARCH 2018

Our deepest gratitude to our donors


Whether you are a monthly donor, or give one-time gifts throughout the year, YOU make a huge difference in the lives of men and women in recovery, living in Oxford House homes.

Oxford House residents pay about 70% of the cost of their recovery home. For this reason, every time you donate $7 you ensure that a resident has a safe and supported recovery home to live in for a day. In other words, your combined donations provided 41 men and women in recovery with a home for an entire year!

436 UNIQUE CLIENTS SERVEDAPRIL 2017 – MARCH 2018

152 MEN AND WOMEN MOVED OUT SOBER, CLEAN, AND BETTER EQUIPPED TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLYAPRIL 2017 – MARCH 2018

T H E R E A R E N’ T E N O U G H W O R D S TO

D E S C R I B E H O W T R U LY G R AT E F U L I A M

F O R T H E W O R K YO U D O, B U T W H AT C A N

B E S A I D I S T H AT I O W E M Y R E CO V E R Y

TO T H E OX F O R D H O U S E T E A M . I W I L L

F O R E V E R VA LU E M Y T I M E A S A N OX F O R D

H O U S E R E S I D E N T.

– Former Oxford House Resident ”

“

1B – 4321 23B Street NE Calgary AB T2E 7V9

403.214.2046 | www.oxfordhouse.ca

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ADDICTION destroys familiesoxfordhouse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Oxford-House-Annual-Report... · Recovery without relapse is possible in an Oxford home. Each home forms its own