Subject: Support for Continued Funding and Protection of Oxford Houses in Virginia

To it may concern

I am writing to you today as a constituent and a person in long-term recovery to urgently request your continued support, protection, and funding for Oxford Houses across the Commonwealth of Virginia. As an alcoholic who has experienced the realities of trying to rebuild a life from the ground up, I can tell you unequivocally that these houses are a lifesaver.

Before finding an Oxford House, the path to sustained sobriety felt nearly impossible. The transition from treatment or detox back into the everyday world is where so many of us fall through the cracks. Oxford Houses bridge that dangerous gap by providing a safe, clean, and completely substance-free environment.

What makes Oxford Houses uniquely effective is their self-run, self-supported structure. They are not institutions; they are homes. Living among peers who share the same struggles teaches us accountability, responsibility, and the value of community. We pay our own rent, maintain the household, and support one another through the hardest moments of early recovery. This model doesn't just keep people sober—it helps us become productive, tax-paying citizens who contribute positively to our local Virginia communities.

Defunding or restricting these homes would have devastating consequences. Without the stable foundation that Oxford Houses provide, many individuals faces a return to homelessness, relapse, incarceration, or worse. The financial cost of treating relapse and overcrowding jails far outweighs the minimal public investment required to support and expand the Oxford House network.

I am living proof that this model works. Oxford House gave me my life back, and it continues to save the lives of thousands of Virginians every single day. I ask that you advocate for the necessary funding and zoning protections to keep these doors open for the people who need them most.

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to supporting the recovery community in Virginia.

Sincerely,

 James Terrance Lee Sayers