Oxford House Chapter Housing Service Committee Details
"Learn about the roles and responsibilities of the Housing Service Committee Chairperson in an Oxford House chapter. Find out about meeting agendas, duties, and the importance of maintaining accurate records within the committee."
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Oxford House Chapter Housing Service Committees
Chapter Housing Service Committee Chairperson Each Chapter shall have its own duly elected Housing Service Committee Chairperson (HSC Chair). The HSC Chairperson must be a member of a house in the Chapter at the time they are elected but may complete their term as an alumni. They shall serve a term not to exceed one year, may not serve two consecutive terms but may be elected to HSC Chair again one year after completion of a term
Chapter Housing Service Committee Chairperson Duties The HSC Chair shall serve as the chairperson of the Chapter Housing Service Committee, a committee comprised of the HSC Chair, Chapter Vice- Chairperson, and one Housing Service Committee Representative elected by each house in the chapter
Chapter Housing Service Committee Chairperson Duties Schedule (per Chapter Bylaws) and preside over monthly Housing Service Committee Meetings Prepare an agenda for monthly Housing Service Committee Meetings Preside over the Housing Service Committee s (HSC) election of an HSC Secretary from among the committee members, to take minutes at monthly meetings and assist in maintaining other HSC records
Chapter HSC Meeting Agenda House Name DATE OF MEETING 1.Roll Call by secretary 1.House and Representative s name 2.Approval of previous meeting minutes 3.Old Business (Items still pending from previous HSC meeting) 1.Old Business Item 2.Old Business Item 3.Old Business Item 4.House Status Updates since last chapter meeting 1.Update on vacancies 2.Update on overall function of house 3.Update on any questions or concerns for HSC 5.New Business 1.House evaluation report 1.Discuss house meeting 2.Identify any problems 3.Offer solutions 4.Schedule follow up visit if necessary 2.New Business Item 3.New Business Item 4.Dates to remember 1.Chapter Meeting 2.HSC State Training 3.Bi-Monthly State Training 4.HSC Meeting 5.Open for any new business Meeting adjourned
Chapter Housing Service Committee Chairperson Duties With assistance from the HSC Secretary, maintain an up-to-date contact list of all HSC members, including HSC Representative Alternates if applicable With assistance from the HSC Secretary, maintain accurate records of committee membership attendance at monthly HSC Meetings and other HSC activity Prepare a written report to present at monthly Chapter Meetings informing the Chapter of Housing Service Committee activity, scheduled events, and attendance records
Oxford Houses of Virginia Chapter 9 Housing Service Committee Contact List Chapter Housing Service Committee Chairperson Chapter Vice- Chairperson Chapter Housing Service Committee Secretary Outreach Worker Evan Lindquist evan.lindquist@oxfordhouse.org 434.326.7687 Oxford House Apple Blossom Douglass Park Fairview Park North Ave Old Town Piccadilly Place Pleasant Valley Serenity Park Shenandoah Valley South Cameron House Email HSC Representative HSC Rep Email HSC Rep Cell HSC Representative Alternate HSC Rep. Alt. Email HSC Rep. Alt. Cell appleblossom@oxfordhouse.us douglasspark@oxfordhouse.us fairviewpark@oxfordhouse.us northave@oxfordhouse.us oldtown@oxfordhouse.us piccadillyplace@oxfordhouse.us pleasantvalley@oxfordhouse.us serenitypark@oxfordhouse.us shenandoahvalley@oxfordhouse.us southcameron@oxfordhouse.us HSC Team A Apple Blossom Fairview Park Old Town Serenity Park South Cameron HSC Team B Douglass Park North Ave Piccadilly Place Pleasant Valley Shenandoah Valley
Chapter Vice-Chairperson Each Chapter shall have its own duly elected Vice- Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson must be a member of a house in the Chapter at the time they are elected but may complete their term as an alumni. They shall serve a term not to exceed one year, may not serve two consecutive terms but may be elected to Vice-Chairperson again one year after completion of a term
Chapter Vice-Chairperson Chapter Duties Serve as acting Chapter Chairperson if the Chairperson resigns, is expelled from their house, or otherwise cannot serve Preside over the monthly Chapter Meeting in the absence of the elected Chairperson Prepare a written report to present at monthly Chapter Meetings Serve as chairperson of temporary/auxiliary chapter committees (e.g. fundraising committee, social events committee, etc.) unless the Chapter designates/elects a separate committee chairperson
Chapter Vice-Chairperson HSC Duties Serve as acting Chapter Housing Service Committee Chairperson if the HSC Chair resigns, is expelled from their house, or otherwise cannot serve Preside over the monthly HSC Meeting in the absence of the elected Chairperson Work closely with the HSC Chair in planning and carrying out HSC activity and events
Housing Service Committee Representative Each House shall have its own duly elected Housing Service Committee Representative (HSC Rep.). The HSC Rep. must be a member of the particular house and shall serve a term not to exceed six months. A member may not serve as HSC Rep. for two consecutive terms but may be elected to HSC Rep. again six months after the completion of one term.
Housing Service Committee Representative Duties The HSC Rep. should be an experienced house member with a basic understanding of the Oxford House Model/System of Operations. The HSC Rep. will attend and represent their house at scheduled Housing Service Committee meetings and other Housing Service Committee activities.
Housing Service Committee Representative Duties The HSC Rep. will participate in scheduled presentations at area treatment centers and other referral agencies, informing about Oxford House, and distributing Oxford House literature and vacancy information. The HSC Rep. will assist in the various tasks of opening a new Oxford Houses. The HSC Rep. will assist the HSC Chairperson and Committee with supporting/training struggling houses in the Chapter as needed.
Housing Service Committee Representative Duties The HSC Rep. will inform their individual house of pertinent information discussed at Housing Service Committee meetings and other Housing Service Committee goals and activities. The HSC Rep. is encouraged to develop partnerships with other organizations in the recovery community and help Oxford House maintain positive relationships in their community at large.
What is the Chapter Housing Service Committee? A permanent committee of every Chapter The most important aspect of Chapter operations Strong chapters full of strong houses have strong/active Housing Service Committees Weak chapters full of weak houses have weak/inactive Housing Service Committees An incredible opportunity to be of service to your fellow persons in recovery Service work will keep you in recovery!
What is the Chapter Housing Service Committee? HSC is comprised of: Chapter Housing Service Committee Chairperson Chapter Vice-Chairperson One Housing Service Committee Representative from each house in Chapter (Some houses/chapters encourage/require Alternate Housing Service Committee Representatives from each house) House member volunteers Alumni volunteers
Three Primary Functions of Housing Service Committees 1: OPENING NEW HOUSES 2: OUTREACH: ATTRACTION/EDUCATION 3: ASSISTING NEW/STRUGGLING HOUSES
Opening New Houses No time limit to membership in Oxford House we all have an obligation to help create new beds We expand to meet the need of more individuals suffering from Substance Use Disorder who seek recovery Most rewarding experience in Oxford House Outreach workers need your help!
Outreach: Attraction/Education Oxford House too often the best kept secret of recovery supports Chapters need to do more! Presentations, presentations, presentations! Guidelines in HSC Rep. training packet 90% of weak chapters/struggling houses are because of failure to fill vacancies Ask outreach worker for help (especially presentations to professionals) Establish regular schedule of presentations
Outreach: Attraction/Education Places to do outreach/presentations: Inpatient treatment centers Outpatient treatment centers (IOP) Detoxification/crisis stabilization centers Recovery centers Community services boards (CSBs) Jails & prisons Reentry fairs Treatment units/therapeutic communities Community corrections/probation office Public defender s offices Reentry council meetings Public defenders Faith-based communities/outreach organizations Others?...
Assisting New Houses Housing Service Committee should attend all house meetings for at least first 1-2 months New houses become struggling houses when HSC neglects them Even new houses with outreach/core members need HSC support
Assisting Struggling Houses Housing Service Committee is there to be of service no bossism the HSC s collective experience, strength and hope is a powerful and persuasive voice 1. House is permanently chartered and problems not charter violations: HSC there to train and offer suggestions 2. House is violating charter (not expelling relapsers, not financially self-supporting, not operating democratically per Oxford House System of Operations) or detrimentally effecting other houses/Oxford House as a whole (5thTradition): HSC should take necessary corrective actions (consult w/ outreach) Know the Oxford House System of Operations well enough to know the difference between 1 and 2
How to be Effective Show respect, announce visits Lead by example Don t be controlling Avoid being court for personality disputes or problems house/members have not tried to resolve on house level Focus on solutions
How to be Effective Know the House Manual/Nine Traditions Know house officer duties/paperwork Know chapter bylaws Know the house s rules (some variation) Utilize House Evaluation and House Safety Checklist Always schedule follow-up visit: HSC can discuss solutions/strategies at monthly meeting Follow up to see if house is acting on suggestions/expectations
How to be Effective HSC Chair/Chapter Vice-Chair determine schedule of house visits (new, struggling, routine) Always schedule HSC activity with committee as a whole or team A/team B, never schedule HSC activity for only HSC Chair/Chp. Vice- Chair or individual HSC Reps Never go alone! Especially to opposite gender houses.
How to be Effective Communicate attendance expectations effectively: Already have schedule for the month completed prior to monthly HSC Meeting and present at meeting Call and text Email HSC Reps/Alts personal email, ask for response to confirm receipt Text and email (and call?) reminders Social media Keep organized attendance records of all HSC activity, report to Chapter Chairperson/Treasurer Insist Chapter enforce bylaws regarding HSC attendance expectations!
How to be Effective Work closely and communicate frequently with your outreach worker Fellowship with your HSC members outside official events make it fun Half or more of you job is not helping houses, it is training and maintaining a COMMITTEE Most important part of your job, most difficult part of your job, and most tempting part of you job to ignore If you cannot do this, you cannot be an effective chapter officer
Routine House Visits DO NOT have individual HSC Reps conduct house visits team A/team B or committee as a whole Use HSC house evaluation sheet and house safety checklist Walk the house When opening new houses or dealing with multiple struggling houses consider holding off on regular house visit schedule (least important aspect of HSC activity)
