What Is Open Houses?
Open Houses is a national campaign in England to improve access to residential treatment services. We are extending an invitation to visit rehab centres and see recovery in action.
It’s an opportunity for commissioners, clinicians, policymakers, partner organisations and anyone else with an interest to meet those who live and work in rehab, and understand the role it plays in supporting recovery, families and communities.
THE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
The Open Houses campaign launched on July 7th, 2026, at the House of Lords, when representatives from across the recovery community came together to share insights, experiences and hopes for the future.
We are proud to stand alongside people with lived experience, helping to highlight the value of recovery and the importance of making lived experience central to policy and practice.
Here, some people with experience of rehab share their excitement about the launch before it happened.
Our Mission
To ensure state funded residential treatment is available to all
Rehab is an effective, yet underused part of the treatment system.
National guidance recognises the value of rehab, especially when used as part of a joined-up care pathway, alongside detoxification services, community treatment, housing and aftercare.
Despite this, residential rehab remains a small and underused part of the drug and alcohol treatment system in England.
Open Houses is about increasing access to rehab through openness, transparency, and real-world insight.
In the last decade, around 50% of residential services in England have closed
Just 1% of people in drug and alcohol treatment access state-funded residential rehab each year
We are working to strengthen the future of rehab.
Despite clear evidence of effectiveness and strong regulatory oversight, residential rehab continues to face significant challenges, particularly around sustainable funding and access pathways.
And yet, services continuously develop new approaches, strengthen partnerships and respond to changing patterns of need in communities across England, allowing them to support people with multiple disadvantages, co-occurring mental health challenges and complex social circumstances.
Open Houses is a chance to recognise both realities:
The value and impact of residential treatment
The need to protect and strengthen its future
MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER SEEN A REHAB.
Yet decisions about them are made every day.
Come and see for yourself.
What You’ll See.
Safe, highly regulated environments with strong governance and safeguarding in place
Dedicated staff and lived experience teams delivering person-centred support
Structured recovery programmes designed to support recovery, health, and long-term stability
Community settings that contribute positively to local areas
A the sense of hope, creativity and recovery.
Seeing rehab in practice builds understanding that no report or briefing can fully convey.