My name is Tanya. I have lived in Oxford House Liberia Woods since February 4th, 2023. My clean date is January 27th, 2023. In just a couple days I will have 3 years and 8 months of clean and sober time, I owe that all to Oxford House. It has completely saved my life.  In 2018 I moved into a oxford house but relapsed the first day so I was kicked out. I moved back into that same house a few years later and that house was sick, the girls were drinking and not holding each other accountable so I ended up relapsing and I got kicked out. I spent a few years relapsing and going in and out of jail. In the beginning of 2023 I had enough of the lifestyle so I checked myself into detox then decided I didn't want to go to treatment so I interviewed for the only womens house in Manassas and got accepted. Those girls accepted me and I moved in. From the time I arrived they treated me like I meant something. I followed the rules that were given to me, I got a job very quickly, was able to get my drivers license and then a car in my own name with no co-signer. As the months progressed those girls turned into a family, we did thanksgiving dinner together, bought each other christmas presents, birthday presents, developed a best friend relationship. We held each other accountable if someone relapsed, even though it hurt to have to watch them leave, but my recovery is more important. We as peers call each other out on behaviors we see in others that we might not necessarily see in ourselves. I was able to build relationships back with family, and friends. I got a bank bank account as well as a savings account. I have a cell phone company that is not pre-paid. I can buy things in the store and know I can afford it instead of stealing it. I now currently work with Oxford House and love what I do. I say this because no of this would have been possible if it wasn't for Oxford and having my Peers. Oxford does not need to be ran by Managers or counselors if there was authority figures telling me what to do and how to do it, I would of never moved into an Oxford House.  If that would have been the case then I don't think I would be alive today to tell you everything I have accomplished. So please keep Oxford House self-run, self-supporting, peer run its saving more lives than you think.

Thank you,

Tanya