By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Several members and former members of local Oxford Houses presented before the Barton County Commission on Tuesday. The first Oxford House in Great Bend opened in 2016 to provide transitional living for people in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.
Albert, an Oxford House resident, said the mission of the houses is to provide a supportive, drug- and alcohol-free environment for people recovering from substance addiction.
"I've been in trouble in this town for a long time and going down the wrong path," said Albert. "I've used drugs since I was 12 years old. Now that I'm in Oxford, I have structure, hope and a reason to feel like I can live again. This place has done a lot for me. The brothers that I live with, I love them like they are my brothers. This saved my life."
The houses are not a boarding house or a halfway house, but a home run democratically by the service participants themselves. There are three Oxford houses for males and one for females in Great Bend.
Commissioner Barb Esfeld remembered years ago the urge to bring an Oxford House to Great Bend after addiction struck two of her family members.
"Both of my boys were in addiction, something not easy for me to say," said Esfeld. "They both own their own their homes right now and have their families intact. One of them went through Oxford House for 12 months and thank goodness it worked for him."
Reported statistics state if addicts stay in an Oxford House for at least 18 months and actively work a program of recovery, there is an 87.7% chance of not reusing drugs or alcohol.
"All of the other proclamations that we have been signing off on the last two weeks tie to Oxford House," added Esfeld. "Every one of you and the lives that you get to enjoy now is better for our community."
Listen below to the discussion on Oxford House from the Barton County Commission meeting on April 8, 2025.