My name is Marquese Worrell. I am a member of Oxford House Brookland Park. It has come to my attention that the State of Virginia is developing new standards for recovery homes in the state.  While regulations are needed, these new rules if approved would effectively close all Oxford Houses in the state. The Oxford House model is a tried and true approach for recovery houses. If it wasnt for Oxford house I dont know where I would be right now.

    I have been a member of my house, OH Brookland Park, for almost a year and a half.  Through my own hard work, the support of my housemembers, and Narcotics Anonymous I have become a self supporting, drug free, and respectable member of society. I will not go into my past, but it is safe to say I wasnt any of those before I moved into my Oxford House.

   My house is a safe , clean, quiet, and drug free place for me to work on my recovery. Because my house is democratically ran I learned how to take care of myself and my living space. Because of the support and teaching of my housemates I have stayed clean, learned to write a check, make a bank deposit, and may other life skills that others would consider as a given.  Because my house I democratically ran I have a voice on house decisions and that is a great feeling. 

   I see no reason for my house or other Oxford Houses to required to have paid staff or to be considered as a commercial enterprise. We are a self run, self supporting association of people in recovery.  I ask that the workgroup change rules that require a paid staff or consider my house a commercial business. Approving these rules would end Oxford Houses in Virginia as written. That would put all of us in the street. Oxford house model would be left out. Please dont do this.

Thanks