One of the most important and yet obscure aspects of the community is what a House is and is not. At its most basic a House among the Upyreshi is a group of Upyreshi with a single Head as its leader, with a single paradigm, is usually based around a single tribe, family and lineage, but will often include Upyreshi of other than that tribe, family and lineage. The paradigm of a House may, but does not always, include a religious element, which leads some to view joining a House to be like joining a Church, but this is not the case. Some Houses have members that live closely or even communally, but many Houses have long distance members, especially in this age of the ease of communication. A House that thrives is not one built upon the ego of its Head but rather is built on the paradigm that it is based on. Many Houses are embodied by an archetype based on the mythic-historical founder of the House. In many cases the members of a House will take the House name as part of their own name in the Upyre community.

A House is meant to be a family of sorts for the members but should not replace any member’s mundane family or mundane social contacts; a House is not a vacuum, socially speaking. A House should be an addition to the life of its members not a means of isolation from individual life. People in the lives of members who are not part of the House have the same protection of the House and are respected equally with members. Husbands and wives of members are not expected to take a back seat to the House any more than a wife would take a back seat to a Mason’s lodge. Non-member individuals in a member’s life are no less important than they were before the member joined the House. A House is not an escape from the mundane world and its obligations; rather, it is meant to be a tool to help its members be able to see to those obligations while also being individually true to what they are. If a member of a House has an issue not related to the House, those close to that member who are not members should feel free to contact the House as a resource for help, but is not obligated to do so.

Most Houses have a system of colors and symbols with which to recognize each other, as can be seen in the various ankhs worn by many in the vampyre community (House Rakoczy uses a ring) which are based on the Horus ankhs used in the film and book called The Hunger. These symbols and colors should not be a distraction from life, but rather a way to be true to oneself without being loud about being so. A House should not dictate the lives of its members; rather, the House should enable and encourage members to live their individual lives. An Upyre House is not a criminal organization or a political group any more than it is a Church. A House is a group of individuals that share a paradigm, that back each other as individuals; while a group, each member’s path is their own as a way expressing diversity leading to unity. While the Head of a House’s word is law as to and in that House, said Head does not rule the lives of its members; rather, the role of a Head is to inspire, educate, protect and encourage those that are a part of the House. The role of a Head of House is to embody the House and serve those that are members of that House. A House should enhance the lives of its members and the lives of those close to its members. To be a member of a House in the community is a great honor, but to forget life at the cost of a House cheapens that House.