Phillips House

The Basics

Founded in 2010 in Oxnard, California, by Matt Phillips, who has 21 years of sobriety, Phillips House provides safe and structured sober living home for men in recovery. Phillips is a staunch believer that the 12 steps as defined in the Big Book are fundamental to achieving long-term abstinence from chemical substances.

Accommodations and Amenities

Located on a quiet residential street near public transportation, Phillips House is a quaint pale green bungalow with white trim. Trees frame the exterior, which includes a landscaped lawn. The house accommodates no more than twelve men, including two house managers and an Australian shepherd named Pete. Residents share triple or quadruple-occupancy furnished rooms, which include bunk beds and nightstands. Due to limited space, clients are only allowed to move in with personal hygiene products and clothing. Personal radios and televisions are forbidden, but iPods are acceptable. Amenities include Wi-Fi, Cable TV, outdoor gym and gas barbecue. Smoking is permitted on the front porch only, and clients must use provided ashtrays.

Residents are responsible for their own groceries and prepare meals in a spacious, fully equipped kitchen. Clients have designated areas within the refrigerator to store their perishable food items. Additionally, they are responsible for clean up and food disposal. Cooking is not allowed between the hours of 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm—which is chore time—or after 10:30 pm. While free laundry facilities are available, each client is allotted a specific time, on a weekly basis, to wash and dry clothing. There is a weekly maximum of two loads per client and laundry detergent is not supplied.

Rules and Regulations

At Phillips House, there are extensive rules designed to uphold the well-being of the entire household and to maintain order. Clients must pass a drug test to be admitted. During the first 30 days, newcomers undergo a blackout period. All clients must obtain a sponsor within this time frame. Other rules for the blackout period include the performance of extra chores, no family visits and no weekend passes. The men must attend 90 meetings in 90 days. For the first 30 days they must have attendance slips signed by the meeting’s secretary. After 90 days, weekly requirements include five AA/NA meetings. Once a sponsor is obtained, the blackout period is lifted.

The house is off limits between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm Mondays through Fridays. During this time, the guys must search for work, attend school or outpatient treatment or go to meetings. On a daily basis, all clients must check in at 5:30 pm for chores, but newcomers can’t leave the house afterwards without a house manager’s approval. Additionally, on Sundays all residents are confined to the premises, unless their sponsor or a house manager checks them out. Super Scrub, a mandatory Sunday afternoon event, which involves rigorous house cleaning. Those who skip Super Scrub are subject to immediate eviction.

After the first 30 days, those in good standing, and who have gotten sponsors get a little more leeway. The curfew is 11 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Residents who have not obtained a sponsor within 45 days are viewed in an unfavorable light, and are asked to move out. Weekly requirements include attending house meetings, outside 12-step meetings, talking with their sponsors on daily basis as well as meeting with them at least once. The men are also required to be actively working the steps and being of service by taking a meeting commitment or helping their fellow housemates.

The two house meetings include a 7:30 pm Tuesday night step study and a 6 pm Sunday night house issues and recovery check-in meeting. House managers ensure that clients are working their steps and making progress. Random drug and alcohol screenings are conducted. At Phillips House there is a zero tolerance policy for those under the influence, theft and aggressive behavior.

Extras

Phillips House is a member of the Ventura County Sober Living Coalition.

In Summary

The men at Phillips House are close, and the house managers are active members at the local Alano Club. Men preparing to stay here must be willing to follow direction and participate in the mandatory weekly Super Scrub. If they are seeking to immerse themselves in the local recovery culture and delve into their steps while being part of a brotherhood, this is the perfect spot.

Phillips House
435 West 1^st St
Oxnard, CA 93030

Phillips House Cost: $550 (30 days). Reach Phillips House by phone at (805) 317-5657 or by email at phillipssoberliving@gmail.com.

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