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Insights: Oxford House Vacancies: How to Find an Open Bed and Apply

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By Sober House Directory · Published October 26, 2026 · Last updated October 26, 2026

To find an open bed in an Oxford House, check the national vacancy list, call the houses that show an opening, and ask for an interview. If the members vote you in, you can usually move in once you pay the first two weeks. Start with the Oxford House listings in this directory, then check live openings at oxfordvacancies.com.

Oxford House says there are more than 3,500 houses in the United States, with more than 24,000 people living in them at any one time during the year, according to its frequently asked questions page. Each house fills its own openings, so the search is a phone job more than a form.

Step 1: Check the Oxford House vacancy list

The official vacancy site, oxfordvacancies.com, lists houses with each house's open beds, a contact name and phone number, interview times, and the date the listing was last updated. You can filter by state, county and house type (men, women, men with children, women with children) and choose to see only houses with vacancies.

Two things to know before you trust a listing:

  • Each house updates its own entry. Look at the "Updated" date. A listing that is several weeks old may already be full.
  • An opening is not a reservation. Another applicant may be voted in first.

Step 2: Find the Oxford Houses in your state

The Sober House Directory lists Oxford Houses alongside every other sober home, so you can see them on a map with the rest of your options. Pick your state:

The state pages show every Oxford House we list there, including houses with no current opening, so you can see which houses are near you and call ahead.

Step 3: Call and ask for an interview

Call the contact number on the listing. Say you are looking for a bed, give your move-in timeline, and ask:

  • Do you have an opening now, or one coming up soon?
  • When is your next interview time?
  • What is the weekly equal expense share, and what does it cover?
  • What is due on move-in day?

Oxford House tells applicants to ask each house for its equal expense share when they call, because the amount varies by house and by state.

Step 4: Apply and interview

Every Oxford House uses the same membership application. Oxford House says applicants "must complete this membership application and be interviewed by the house they are looking to live at." You can also apply online, either to one house or to every house with openings in an area, and tick a box to see only houses that allow children.

The interview is with the residents, not a manager. They want to know that you are serious about staying sober, that you will pay your share, and that you will take part in running the house. There is no minimum amount of sobriety required to apply.

Step 5: The vote

After the interview, the members vote. Oxford House's FAQ says that if 80% of the members approve, the applicant is accepted and moves in. A house can say no even with a bed open, so apply to more than one.

Step 6: Move in and pay your share

Oxford House's homepage says you will usually pay a nonrefundable fee plus your first two weeks when you move in. After that you pay the weekly equal expense share, which Oxford House says ranges from $125 to $250 a week depending on the house. It covers rent, utilities and other shared household costs.

If that first payment is the obstacle, read no-money sober living for the routes people use to get in before the first paycheck.

What life in the house looks like

Every Oxford House follows three conditions: it is run democratically by its members, it pays its own bills, and anyone who drinks or uses drugs is asked to leave right away. There is no house manager. Members elect officers, hold weekly house meetings and vote on house business. There is no time limit on how long you can stay; Oxford House says the average stay is about a year.

For the rules, curfew questions, rent and houses for women and mothers with children, read how Oxford House works.

If there is no Oxford House near you

Oxford House is dense in some states and thin in others. If the vacancy list comes up empty, widen the search to other sober homes in the same area. Start from your state's page in the directory and filter by gender or certification.

Before you commit to any home, it helps to know what sober living costs and what house rules to expect.

Need a bed this week?

Call two or three Oxford Houses today, and line up a second option at the same time. If an Oxford House is not the right fit, apply to Vanderburgh Sober Living, a chartered network of sober homes with a house mentor in every home.

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