Become A Member

Application Process

To become a member, please download the Application.

Please fill out the application including the requested attachments and email it to:

Brian Sylvestre

Chairperson

Ocean State Coalition of Recovery Houses

Email Brian at [email protected]

The application will be reviewed by a member of the Membership Committee.

A member of the Membership Committee will contact the applicant within seven days of receipt, one time by phone and email to inform the applicant of corrections needed to the required paperwork or to inform the applicant that they have passed the document review. If the member is not able to reach the applicant by phone or email, it becomes the applicant’s responsibility to follow up with the membership committee. It is the applicant’s responsibility to reach a member of the Membership Group within thirty days of application or the applicant will need to re-apply.

Initial Walk-Through

A member of the Membership Committee will contact the applicant within two weeks of the document review one time by telephone and email to inquire about the property’s readiness for a walk through and to schedule the walk through. If the member is not able to reach the applicant by phone or email, it becomes the applicant’s responsibility to follow up with the membership committee. It is the applicant’s responsibility to reach a member of the Membership Group within thirty days of application or the applicant will need to re-apply.

Two members of the OSCRH will walk through the property.

If the property meets the OSCRH standards the application moves into Provisional Status.

A walk through of each recovery house run by an OSCRH member will be performed once yearly and upon application.

A house must be completely furnished and at least 50% occupied before a walk through will be schedules. Beds must be physically in place even if not occupied.

Properties must be finished, furnished, have operational locks on exterior doors and first floor windows, have house rules posted, have fully functional kitchens, bathrooms, utilities, central heat, reasonable living space, have working smoke detectors, CO2 detectors and fire extinguishers, complete and clean furniture and the exterior appearance of each property must be neat and clean.

Any floors with bedrooms (including basement) must have two means of egress.

OSCRH members will record number of bedrooms, bathrooms, beds, how many beds per bedroom and where there are any areas of the house in need of repair.

OSCRH is not liable for any delays caused by a potential member’s inability or unwillingness to make necessary repairs.

Provisional Membership

Provisional Membership begins upon completion of the OSCRH application and walk-through and approval by OSCRH of properties. If there are any repairs, the property will not be approved for provisional membership until the required repairs are made.

If an applicant has no established history of running recovery houses, there will be a provisional membership period of six months. If an applicant has a six month established history of running recovery houses, there will be a provisional membership period of three months.

At the end of the three or six month period the entire coalition will vote on making the property a full member.

During the provisional membership, the applicant is expected to attend or send a designee to attend each monthly general meeting.

Provisional members (with no other OSCRH approved houses) do not have voting privileges.

It is the responsibility of each OSCRH member to present any pertinent information related to provisional members at the vote.

Full Membership

Full Membership shall be granted upon completion of the following:

1. Completion of OSCRH application for each property.

2. Walk-through and approval by OSCRH of properties.

3. Completion of the provisional membership period.

4. Attendance at all meetings.

Full members shall have voting privileges. Full members who open new houses will need to complete applications for these properties. However, they will continue to have voting privileges.

As a member of the coalition, a house is subject to a walk-through at any time with one week’s notice unless there is an imminent threat to the health, safety and welfare of residents.

Any time beds are added at a house, members are required to inform the Executive Committee.

OSCRH members may not maintain membership and run recovery houses that are not approved by the OSCRH.

Duties and responsibilities of full members are as follows:

1. To attend 75% of general meetings and to participate in the Membership Committee when necessary.

2. Each member is expected as part of their duties on the Membership Committee to perform as many walk-throughs as they have houses. Example: 7 houses, 7 walk-throughs of other member’s house

3. To listen to reports and suggestions, read minutes, financial reports and participate in discussions and activities of the OSCRH

4. To educate the public about OSCRH as occasions present themselves

5. To be aware of programs in Rhode Island which provide services to person who abuse alcohol and other drugs and share those resources with fellow members.

6. To show an active interest and participation in any OSCRH events

7. To continuously evaluate the Executive Committee in order to be certain that OSCRH is providing needed services within its maximum capabilities by:

1. Reviewing periodically the work accomplished;
2. Studying the needs of recovery housing clients across the state
3. Maintaining contact with other agencies and organizations in the community and integrating the work of OSCRH with them;
4. Modifying periodically, if necessary, the policies, responsibilities, functions and By-Laws of OSCRH
5. To complete incident reports within 24 hours and submit to the Executive Committee and BHDDH if appropriate.

For more information, read a full copy of our Bylaws:

OSCRH Bylaws