Dear Members of Town Council,

I am writing to ask you to please consider the impact that changes to the laws surrounding Oxford Houses could have on individuals and families in our community.

Oxford House has personally impacted my family in a profound way. My sister was able to benefit from the support and stability that Oxford House provided during her recovery. It gave her an opportunity to maintain her sobriety, rebuild her life, and work toward reunifying with her son, who was in foster care.

For our family, Oxford House was not simply a place for her to live. It was part of the support system that helped her create stability and move forward. Her recovery ultimately gave her the opportunity to rebuild her relationship with her son and become an active part of his life again.

I understand that communities have legitimate concerns about housing, safety, and neighborhood impacts, and I believe those concerns should be addressed thoughtfully. However, I hope any changes to local laws will also take into consideration the people who rely on recovery housing and the families whose lives can be positively affected by it.

I respectfully ask that you protect access to Oxford House and other recovery-supportive housing rather than implementing changes that could unnecessarily force these homes to close or make them inaccessible to people who are working hard to recover.

My sister’s experience showed me firsthand that recovery housing can give someone a chance to turn their life around—and, in her case, helped give a mother the opportunity to reunify with her child.

Thank you for taking the time to listen and for considering the real people and families who may be affected by this decision.

Sincerely,

A concerned family member