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>> Vieira: WOULD YOU BE SHOCKED
TO LEARN THAT A BUNCH OF
RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS AND
ADDICTS WOULD LIKE TO RENT THE
HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO YOU?
THE MAN WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN IS PAUL MOLLOY.
WHY DOES HE WANT TO PUT THOSE
PEOPLE NEXT DOOR TO YOU?
AND WHO IS HE ANYWAY?
LET ME READ A DESCRIPTION OF
YOU THAT I READ: "FORMER DRINKER
OF TWO FIFTHS OF CANADIAN CLUB A
DAY, FORMER WIFE ***, FORMER
MENTAL PATIENT, FORMER STREET
DRUNK."
TRUE?
>> Molloy: YES, I THINK ALL OF
THOSE THINGS OCCURRED, YOU KNOW,
BEFORE I FINALLY STOPPED
DRINKING.
>> Vieira: PAUL MOLLOY AND HIS
WIFE, JANE, WERE TWO AMBITIOUS
KIDS FROM VERMONT WHO WANTED TO
MAKE THEIR MARK IN WASHINGTON.
MOLLOY HIT THE HALLS OF CONGRESS
BY DAY AND THE BOTTLE BY DAY AND
NIGHT.
HE THOUGHT HE WAS SMART ENOUGH
TO BECOME THE WORLD'S FIRST
SUCCESSFUL PRACTICING ALCOHOLIC.
>> Molloy: I HAD SORT OF BEEN
THE YUPPIE OF MY DAY, I SUPPOSE,
IN THE LATE 60'S, IN THAT I WAS
REPUBLICAN COUNSEL OF THE SENATE
COMMERCE COMMITTEE, AND HAD
GOTTEN INVOLVED IN CREATING
AMTRAK AND A LOT OF FEDERAL
ELECTION CAMPAIGN ADS, A LOT OF
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
>> Vieira: ALL THE TIME YOU WERE
A DRUNK?
>> Molloy: YEAH, YEAH.
>> Vieira: MOLLOY'S WIFE
DIVORCED HIM, AND HE ENDED UP
ON THE STREET.
FINALLY, IN AN EFFORT TO GET
HELP, HE WENT INTO TREATMENT AND
THEN CHECKED INTO A HALFWAY
HOUSE, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE
HOUSE WAS ABOUT TO SHUT DOWN.
HE AND THE OTHER RESIDENTS,
AFRAID THEY MIGHT RELAPSE
WITHOUT THE HOUSE, DECIDED TO
RENT IT THEMSELVES.
THEN THEY DID SOMETHING UNHEARD
OF: THEY DECIDED TO RUN IT
THEMSELVES WITH NO STAFF, NO
PAID COUNSELORS.
IT WAS CALLED OXFORD HOUSE.
IT WAS SUCH A SUCCESS THAT
MOLLOY AND HIS FRIENDS OPENED
ANOTHER HOUSE, AND THEN ANOTHER
AND ANOTHER.
15 YEARS LATER, THERE ARE MORE
THAN 200 AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND
OVER 6,000 PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN
THEM.
MOLLOY HEADS UP THE CENTRAL
OFFICE, BUT THE HOMES THEMSELVES
ARE RUN BY THE RESIDENTS, ALL OF
THEM FORMER DRUNKS AND ADDICTS,
LIKE THESE MEN IN BETHLEHEM,
PENNSYLVANIA.
WHAT OXFORD HOUSE GIVES THEM,
THEY SAY, IS TIME.
>> Molloy: WE SAID THAT ONCE YOU
GOT INTO THIS HOUSE, YOU COULD
LIVE THERE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
IF YOU DIDN'T DRINK, DIDN'T USE
DRUGS, AND PAID YOUR WEEKLY
SHARE OF EXPENSES.
>> Vieira: THOSE WERE THE THREE
KEY RULES?
>> Molloy: THOSE WERE THE THREE
KEY RULES.
>> Vieira: THE AVERAGE STAY IN
EACH OF THE 200 OXFORD HOUSES IS
15 MONTHS.
WHILE THERE, MOST OF THE
RESIDENTS GO TO ALMOST DAILY
SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS LIKE
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, AND
EVERYONE MUST HOLD DOWN A JOB TO
PAY HIS SHARE OF THE RENT,
UTILITIES, AND FOOD.
SINCE EACH HOUSE IS
SELF-SUPPORTING, EVERYONE
PITCHES IN, WHICH IS SOMETHING
NEW FOR THESE MEN.
I COULD SEE SOME PEOPLE WATCHING
THIS, THINKING, "WHAT YOU'RE
LEARNING ARE SUCH SIMPLE KINDS
OF BASIC..."
>> Man: BUT FOR AN ADDICT AND AN
ALCOHOLIC IT'S NOT SO BASIC WHEN
YOUR FIRST PRIORITY WAS DRINKING
AND DRUGGING.
>> Man: YOU GOT TO PAY RENT.
YOU GOT TO CLEAN THIS.
YOU GOT TO DO THAT AND YOU GOT
TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER
PEOPLE.
>> Man: I DIDN'T PAY MY RENT ON
TIME.
I GOT EVICTED FROM A LOT OF
PLACES.
I DIDN'T BATHE REGULARLY, YOU
KNOW.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO HERE.
>> Man: FROM THE TIME THAT WE
PICKED UP OUR FIRST DRUG, WE
STOPPED GROWING MENTALLY AND
PHYSICALLY.
WE STOPPED.
NOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET
OURSELVES SOBER AND CLEAN AGAIN,
WE HAD TO START FROM THE TIME
MENTALLY-- THE TIME WE STARTED
THE DRUGS.
SO WHAT'S NORMAL FOR YOU IS NEW
TO US.
>> Vieira: DOING YOUR CHORES IS
AN ESSENTIAL PART OF RECOVERY.
IN THE WOMEN'S OXFORD HOUSE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., THE HOUSE
COORDINATOR MAKES SURE THAT
EVERYONE PULLS HER OWN WEIGHT.
>> Illona: OH, MY GOODNESS,
LOOK AT THIS.
SEE?
WHO JUST WASHED?
I'M GOING TO HOLD ONTO THIS LINT
AND SEE WHO'S GOING TO COP TO
IT.
WHOEVER DRIED CLOTHES LAST, THE
FILTER WAS FILTHY.
WHAT I WANT TO ASK NOW, DOES THE
PERSON WHO DID NOT CLEAN THE
DRYER WANT TO COP TO IT?
THE NEXT TIME THERE WILL BE A
FINE INITIATED OF $50.
>> Vieira: A $50 FINE FOR
LEAVING SOME LINT IN THE DRYER?
>> Illona: OUR FINES ARE $50,
AND I JUST GOT ONE.
>> Woman: I SAY THAT BECAUSE--
>> Vieira: YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING SURE ALL
THE CHORES ARE DONE, AND YOU GOT
A FINE?
>> Illona: I GOT A FINE.
I WAS NOT RESPONBLE FOR TAKING
OUT MY TRASH.
>> Andrea: THE COORDINATOR IS
THE MOST FEARED PERS IN THE
OXFORD HOUSE.
>> Vieira: WHY IS THAT THE MOST
FEARED PERSON?
>> Andrea: THEY'RE THE ONE WHO'S
LOOKING AT YOUR REAL BEHAVIOR.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU CAN RELAPSE
WAY BEFORE YOU PICK UP THE DRINK
OR THE DRUG, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
COULD SEE THE BEHAVIOR.
>> Vieira: MOLLOY SAYS NOT ONLY
DOING CHORES BUT HOLDING AN
ELECTED OFFICE HELPS TO MAKE A
PERSON RESPONSIBLE.
>> Molloy: I THINK THAT THIS IS
WHERE WE STUMBLED INTO A VERY
GOOD SYSTEM IN AN OXFORD HOUSE.
IT'S DEMOCRATICALLY RUN.
SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE
HOUSE ARE ELECTED TO BE
PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER.
THAT'S IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT
SAYS THIS PEER GROUP HAS ENOUGH
FAITH IN ME TO BELIEVE I CAN
TAKE THE MINUTES OF THIS
MEETING, OR EVEN MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THEY BELIEVE I CAN
BE TRUSTED WITH THE MONEY AND
RUN THE HOUSE CHECKING ACCOUNT.
>> Vieira: IT'S A MESSAGE MOLLOY
AND HIS PEOPLE CARRY AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
>> Andrea: MY FORTE WAS WRITING
FORGED CHECKS, AND THERE THEY
VOTED ME THE TREASURER
COMPTROLLER OF THE HOUSE.
I SAID TO THEM, "DO YOU KNOW WHO
I AM?"
AND THEY SAID, "YES, WE DO."
I SAID, "WOW, IF THESE GIRLS
BELIEVE I CAN DO IT," THAT MADE
ME BELIEVE THAT I COULD DO IT.
SO IT HELPED A LOT.
>> Vieira: ANDREA HAS BEEN CLEAN
FOR TWO YEARS, AFTER SEVERAL
YEARS ON CRACK AND 20 YEARS ON
***.
SHE IS NOW ON THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF OXFORD HOUSE, WHICH
MAKES HER PAUL MOLLOY'S BOSS:
ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE INMATES
RUNNING THE ASYLUM.
WHEN SHE AND MOLLOY TRAVEL THE
COUNTRY TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT
RECOVERY IN OXFORD HOUSE, ONE OF
THE THINGS THEIR AUDIENCE LIKES
TO HEAR IS THAT IT DOESN'T COST
THE TAXPAYERS A PENNY.
MOLLY CLAIMS A SUCCESS RATE OF
75%.
STILL, THERE ARE THOSE WHO
RELAPSE, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS,
THE HOUSE RESIDENTS WHO VOTED
THEM IN KICK THEM OUT.
BUT THEY'RE FAMILY, I THOUGHT,
AT THAT POINT.
>> Andrea: OUR SOBRIETY COMES
FIRST.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS THING
WORK.
SOBRIETY'S FIRST, NO MATTER
WHAT.
>> Vieira: EVEN IF IT MEANS
TOSSING OUT A FAMILY MEMBER?
>> Andrea: THAT'S RIGHT,
NO MATTER WHAT.
THEY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY COME IN
HERE, IF THEY USE, IT'S BYE-BYE.
>> Vieira: SO YOU WOULD HAVE NO
PROBLEM SLAMMING THE DOOR ON
ILLONA'S FACE IF YOU FOUND OUT
SHE WAS TAKING?
>> Andrea: NO.
>> Vieira: IT ALMOST SOUNDS TOO
SIMPLE.
>> Molloy: IT IS, IT IS.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR
INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE TO UNDERSTAND: THAT
ADDICTION IS TREATABLE, AND IT'S
NOT GOING TO COST THEM A LOT OF
MONEY.
BUT IT IS GOING TO COST THEM
TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING.
FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ALCOHOLICS AND
WHO ARE NOT DRUG ADDICTS WILL
NEVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY
SOMEBODY LIKE ME HAS TO DRINK
UNTIL THE BOTTLE'S EMPTY.
BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO IS TO GET
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ALCOHOLICS
AND DRUG ADDICTS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT, LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON,
THEY CAN COME BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND FUNCTION WELL IF
SOCIETY WILL LET THEM BACK INTO
THE COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN'T TAKE THE NEWLY
RECOVERING PERSON AND PUT THEM
IN A CRACK NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE
THEY WERE USING CRACK.
YOU'VE GOT TO OPEN HOUSES AND
RENT HOUSES IN GOOD
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> Vieira: WHEN YOU FINALLY GOT
OUT OF TREATMENT, MARK, COULD
YOU HAVE COME BACK TO THIS AREA,
TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, TO LIVE?
>> Mark: NO.
ONE THING I LEARNED IN
TREATMENT, THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO
CHANGE YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR PLACES,
AND YOUR THINGS.
SO I KNEW I COULDN'T COME BACK
TO THIS NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENT.
>> Vieira: WHAT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED IF YOU'D COME BACK
HERE?
>> Spence: OH, I'D FALL RIGHT
BACK INTO THE SAME SYNDROME,
SAME GUYS, SAME PEOPLE WHO HAD
BEEN AROUND ME ALL THE TIME.
EVENTUALLY I WOULD HAVE WENT
BACK AND PICKED IT UP.
>> Vieira: MARK SPENCE HASN'T
PICKED UP CRACK OR A DRINK IN
OVER TWO YEARS.
NOW HE'S USING HIS SOBRIETY AS A
SELLING POINT IN CONVINCING
LANDLORDS TO RENT OUT THEIR
HOMES FOR OXFORD HOUSES IN GOOD
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> Mark: BASICALLY WHAT I DO IS
JUST TELL THEM MY STORY.
I TELL THEM THAT IT'S BECAUSE OF
A NEIGHBORHOOD ALLOWING AN
OXFORD HOUSE TO BE THERE, IT
ALLOWED ME THE CHANCE TO GROW,
AND NOW LOOK WHAT I'M DOING.
AND I'M ASKING YOU FOR THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN YOUR
AREA.
>> Andrea: WE'RE THE BEST PEOPLE
YOU CAN LIVE NEXT TO.
I MEAN, WE'RE QUIET.
WE KEEP THE HOUSE UP.
>> Vieira: PAUL MOLLOY HIMSELF
LIVED IN OXFORD HOUSE FOR TWO
AND A HALF YEARS.
NOW SOBER FOR 16 YEARS, HIS
GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AN
OXFORD HOUSE FOR EVERYONE WHO
NEEDS IT.
MOLLOY WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE HIS
OLD FRIENDS ON CAPITOL HILL OF
THAT.
HE USED HIS CONNECTIONS TO GET
LEGISLATION PASSED SO THAT
STATES CAN NOW LOAN FORMER
ALCOHOLICS AND ADDICTS THE MONEY
THEY NEED UP FRONT TO RENT A
PLACE FOR RECOVERY.
>> Molloy: MOST INDIVIDUALS WHO
TOOK THE ROAD I TOOK OF BECOMING
AN ALCOHOLIC, AND FOLLOWED THAT
PATH, END UP WITH SAD, SAD
ENDINGS.
GOD'S BEEN GOOD TO ME.
I'VE ENDED UP WITH A HAPPY
ENDING.
>> Vieira: YOU REMARRIED?
>> Jane Molloy: WE DID, TWO
YEARS AGO.
>> Molloy: TWO YEARS AGO.
>> Vieira: AFTER HOW MANY YEARS
BEING DIVORCED?
>> Molloy: '75, '80...
>> Jane Molloy: THIRTEEN.
>> Molloy, YEAH, 13 YEARS.
>> Jane Molloy: AND THE FACT OF
THE MATTER IS THAT WHEN HE'S
NOT DRINKING, HE'S THE NICE GUY
THAT I MARRIED THE FIRST TIME.
>> Vieira: AND A SHREWD GUY.
WHEN YOU REMARRY YOUR WIFE, AND
SHE MOVES IN WITH YOU, WHAT DO
YOU DO WITH HER OLD HOUSE?
IF YOU'RE PAUL MOLLOY, THE
ANSWER IS OBVIOUS.
HOW LONG AFTER YOU MOVED OUT DID
YOUR OLD HOME BECOME AN OXFORD
HOUSE?
>> Jane Molloy: IMMEDIATELY.
>> Vieira: YOU DON'T MISS A
BEAT, PAUL.