By Devyn Lyon, Fox23 News
TULSA, Okla. — Two months after a devastating fire destroyed a sober living home in north Tulsa, the men of Recovery Solutions said they’re not just rebuilding, but growing.
The founder of Recovery Solutions, Randy Grimes, said the fire wiped out nearly everything the residents owned when it tore through the home.
“When I showed up there, everything was demolished. We lost everything,” said Grimes. “It was a time of pure chaos and we really needed the community at that point.”
The fire displaced more than a dozen men who were in recovery, many of whom had little more than the bags they arrived with at the sober living home.
Residents said the fire broke out in the middle of the night, forcing them to flee without their belongings.
Resident Ovadiyah Hawkins explained, “We were standing there dumbfounded. Smoke covered our face. We were running out of that house. We couldn’t grab our stuff. It was just very scary.”
Another resident, Jayton Dominguez, described the chaos outside as emergency crews rushed in.
“The whole entire street was packed with fire trucks.”
Grimes said while the fire destroyed the building, it didn’t destroy their mission.
“It didn’t take our purpose or our dreams. It set us back a little bit, but it didn’t take who we are.”
In the days that followed, Recovery Solutions received help from community members and local nonprofits, including Isaiah 58, Hope Dealerz and GRAND Mental Health. Eventually, a group of Good Samaritans even stepped in with a new place for the men to stay.
Now, just two months later, Recovery Solutions has grown beyond what it was before the fire.
Grimes said, “We had nothing and now we we have three houses here in the community. We have an apartment complex, we’re starting a veterans house and we’re thriving.”
Residents said the experience strengthened their faith in their recovery along with their desire to help others.
“I have great support around me,” Dominguez explained. “You can ask anyone here for help.”
For some, the program has led to lifechanging firsts.
Resident Josh Remy shared, “I’m 44-years-old and I’ve never been sober as long as I am now. This shows me I can help other people. I can stand on my own two feet.”
Grimes said sober living programs like Recovery Solutions play a critical role in breaking the relapse cycle, which he explained often leads to homelessness and continued addiction when support isn’t available.
Now, the message from everyone involved is simple: thank you.
“I just want to say thank you,” Grimes said. “Thank you for coming together to save these guys’ lives.”
Recovery Solutions said the need for sober living residences in Tulsa remains high and they hope their story encourages others to seek help or step up and help someone else who needs it.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available.
To learn more and to access local resources, click on the names of the organization’s below to be directed to their website.
- GRAND Mental Health
- Hope Dealerz
- Isaiah 58
- 24/7 SAMHSA National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
