Making a referral
is straightforward.

We accept referrals from housing, probation, recovery, and health services.

Open Hands Coventry is a peer-led recovery charity providing exempt accommodation for adult men recovering from alcohol and drug dependency. OHC is a recovery-focused living environment where residents commit to abstinence, mutual responsibility, and active participation in the recovery programme. It is not a clinical treatment service.

Is OHC right for this person?

OHC works well for men who meet the following criteria:

• Male, aged 18 or over
• Affected by alcohol or drug dependency
• Willing to engage with a structured, step-based recovery programme
• Ready to live in a shared house with other men in recovery
• Able and willing to support fellow residents as part of their own recovery
• Able to manage day-to-day life in a communal setting without one-to-one clinical support
• Not subject to restrictions that would make communal living unsafe or unworkable

OHC is unlikely to be suitable where a person has active and serious mental health needs requiring clinical oversight, a history of violence or behaviour that would place other residents at risk, or care and support needs beyond what a peer-led residential setting can safely provide.

Expectations are clear from the start.

All residents are expected to:

• Remain abstinent throughout their stay
• Take part in house meetings and the recovery programme
• Maintain their room and shared areas
• Contribute to the running of the house
• Play an active part in peer support within the community

These expectations are central to the model and are not optional.

Structured support built around peer experience.

Support at OHC is built around the Helper Principle — structured peer support where residents support one another as part of their own recovery, recognised and logged as part of the programme. Residents are also supported by permanent staff, experienced volunteers, and senior residents in house leadership roles.

Additional help includes support with benefits, housing, debt, and digital access and skills. An optional 12-step programme is available, and those who complete the main programme can progress into second-stage supported accommodation.

Not sure? Call us. We would rather have an honest conversation than a rejected referral.