Members
Oxford House:
A Place for New Beginnings
The following article appeared in the print issue of Ponca City Monthly magazine, which includes hyperlocal stories about Ponca City. Get full access to all online articles, videos, and content by becoming a paid subscriber. We offer free and paid subscription plans. Find rack locations to pick up your free print copy here, or subscribe here to get online access plus exclusive content.
“Oxford House has changed my life. It has given me room to grow and thrive and be of service and, as a result of all those things, I have become a better person.”
~ Nicole, Arizona Resident, oxfordhouse.org
The beginning of the new year is a time to think about new beginnings, especially ones that can make your life better, more worth living. That is precisely the end goal for those finding a home in an Oxford House, a network of addiction recovery homes chartered by the 501(c)(3) Oxford Houses of Oklahoma. Paige Johns, a former resident of Oxford House Peachtree (Ponca City’s female house), is an active alumnus who has since transitioned out to live with her family. She believes in the significance of the program and continues to be active within the local chapter and the larger organization.
When talking about the program, Johns explains that her passion is because someone helped her get her life back in order, and she feels an intense desire to do the same for others. She serves as the Northwest Oklahoma Alumni chairperson, representing Chapter 15 (Ponca City and Stillwater) and Chapter 10 (Enid). She was recently elected to serve a three-year national voting term on the Oxford House World Council, their advisory board which includes 12 members and alumni from across the country. Johns says, “I enjoy serving locally because I can see firsthand how residents in the program grow, and I appreciate working at the national level to work toward more expansion and organizational growth.” Oklahoma has a strong foundation and has even been able to provide loans to help Missouri and Nebraska develop and expand their programs.
That first step to change is not always an easy one, and Johns says that she found out about the Oxford House while in a court-ordered rehabilitation program. She graduated from Kay County Drug Court and shares that it and the Oxford House program saved her life. Due to this, her most passionate forms of giving back are to provide friendship, support and guidance to newer members who are navigating early recovery and ongoing encouragement to existing members. She wants to provide the type of support she was given.
The premise of Oxford House is both self-affirming and empowering. The houses are self-sustaining units that are democratically governed and drug-free homes. They are large homes for 6-15 same-gender individuals, with women’s homes able to house children. Ponca City currently has three men’s houses and one women’s house, but Johns and those working with her hope to expand to more soon. Right now, there are 33 available beds, most of which are occupied by residents who have been part of the program for more than 90 days. She explains that individuals who remain in the program for a year and a half have a success rate of 88% for long-term sobriety. Residents are active in the community, providing fundraisers for other community service organizations like Peachtree Landing and Coryell Cupboard and even establishing new 12-step meetings to expand recovery opportunities for others seeking help.
The process of getting into an Oxford House begins with completing the application and then participating in an interview with current house members. Even this application process is a democratic one, with the approval of at least 80% of the current members needed to be welcomed into the house. However, once approved, there is a tremendous support system to assist in the challenges that come. Johns explains, “Oxford House is all about support, education and accountability.” There are weekly business meetings in each house where members take care of bills, check in with one another and discuss upcoming events or issues that have arisen. There are house presidents who serve as the meeting moderators and help ensure that each house is following the Oxford House model, charter and traditions. The method is proven, so all learn how best to follow it toward success.
The program had its 50th anniversary in 2025. There are 4,191 houses providing 34,838 beds worldwide. The reach is massive, and while Johns and others involved are delighted with these numbers, their goal will always be to move toward serving even more people.
The organization has recognized Johns’ leadership and passion. She was the 2024 recipient of the Tony Perkins award, which is a national award given out annually at the Oxford House World Convention. Perkins is a previous house member who has continued with exceptional service to others and the program. Johns was the first female to receive the award, and in the future, there will always be a male and female award annually, with the female award being named the Anna Jones award, after an individual who has given much back to the program serving primarily in the Washington, D.C. area and helping to open over 30 houses, as well as working with other programs which help people. This means Johns will be the only female to receive the Tony Perkins award and not just the first. She is currently helping coordinate the first Anna Jones award. She is building paths for others to follow.
When asked how others in the community can support the mission of Oxford House, Johns responded that the answer is to help with community understanding, as well as volunteering or donating time and resources. Help may consist of offering rides to interviews or sharing expertise in areas like maintenance, counseling or education. Many residents may need help obtaining their birth certificates or getting a driver’s license. These are types of help that serve to rebuild lives of residents in recovery and strengthen their ability to become productive members of society once again. She also stressed understanding of the issue, such as not assuming a person with a criminal history will be a poor hire for a job. She says, “People change! We need the community to understand that recovery housing is a positive, community-based solution, not something to fear.” Johns knows what she’s talking about. She is a perfect example of the changes that can occur in a life when given the support and resources to succeed.
Johns continues to serve, grow and move forward in a life she loves. She is a graduate of Leadership Ponca City Class 38, an NOC graduate with an associate degree in business administration, and is now enrolled at NWOSU through the UC to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She says, “Every step of my success is thanks to God, my mentors and sponsors, my program of recovery and especially Oxford House, which gave me the foundation and support I needed to build a new life.” What a beautiful life it is when individuals use their past experiences to help those around them!
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