By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – It takes a community, and today, that community rewarded a tireless worker with the naming of the newest sober living facility under the tutelage of the Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition. On Monday, the Kathy Grimes Caring Hearts Women’s Sober Living Home officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting and dedication attended by a litany of movers and shakers in Graham County.
“Today marks a new chapter in our 24-year journey with the Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition,” Grimes said.
Politicians and community leaders joined local judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and business community as well as Representatives from Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office and U.S. Rep Juan Ciscomani to welcome the opening of the sober living facility at 630 W. 1st St. The facility is adjacent to and a near mirror image of the Marge Schade House of Hope Sober Living Facility for Men, which is a 4,000-square-foot, 14-bed facility that serves men transitioning from rehab back into the community that opened in April 2021. The group also operates the Sunrise Re-Entry and Prevention Center. Schade was the owner and CEO of Southeastern Bottling Company in Safford and operated the independent Pepsi-Cola franchise for 71 years. She was a driving force behind the creation of the House of Hope and donated money and land toward the cause.
The houses are transition facilities for those addicted to drugs or alcohol who are returning from a stay at a rehabilitation center or imprisonment. Clients who live at the home are expected to stay about six to nine months, follow strict house rules, and must have employment. While staying at the home, residents receive counseling and other assistance to remain sober. The cost is $300 for the first month, followed by $500 for each additional month up to six months, and then $700 a month through the end of the year. By then, clients are expected to have graduated to their own living situation elsewhere. Grimes said they are just waiting for the state of Arizona to give them their license to allow their first clients to move into the home.
Former Thatcher Mayor and current Substance Abuse Coalition Board Member Bob Rivera emceed the event on Monday and remarked on Kathy Grimes’s legacy in the community. Grimes has been at the forefront of the Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition since its inception 24 years ago.
“Kathy Grimes has dedicated her life to helping others navigate the challenging journey of recovery,” Rivera said. “Her vision was to create a safe haven for individuals who can find support and compassion with the tools they need to rebuild their life. Today, we honor her legacy by opening these doors behind you to those who seek a fresh start. The Kathy Grimes Sober Living House is more than a residence; it’s a community. Here, we foster an environment of understanding and encouragement where every individual is empowered in pursuit of their dream. The road to recovery is not easy. Many of you know that. But together, we can walk this path, uplift one another, and create a lasting change.”
In addition to luminaries in their field, such as Graham County Superior Court Judge Michael Peterson and Graham County Attorney L. Scott Bennett, Grimes’ family also spoke about her at the facility’s dedication.
“I’m just so proud of my mom,” Kristin Grimes-McCabe told the Gila Herald. “Her dedication is unwavering, and it’s exciting to see all of her initiatives come full circle and be completely successful.”
Judge Peterson praised the coalition, saying it was made up of “the most forward-thinking, progressive, intelligent people (who) work on so many different levels.”
“This facility will provide an environment dedicated to sober living to help individuals who are otherwise committed to be able to become the best versions of themselves, and I am extremely proud to have such a tiny, small part of this success.”
Graham County Attorney L. Scott Bennett thanked those in attendance for their assistance in creating the facility and for all they do to help those with substance abuse problems.
“I am so privileged again to be part of this because everyone who resides in this new home is going to have the benefit of all of your help and all of your experience and all of your support, and they’re going to take this opportunity and change their lives.”
“And each of us, at the end of our days, can say we had a difference. We made the world better. We worked together, and we saved lives. I commend you, and I congratulate you, and I celebrate with you as we open this new home.”
The facility was constructed by Patrick Anderson of Anderson Remodeling LLC. It is made of a wood frame and stucco with spray foam insulation, commercial-grade synthetic flooring, stone fascia, cultured marble showers, solid wood cabinets, and more.
“This is built to last forever,” Anderson said.
The project’s funding included $160,000 from Graham County’s National Opioid Settlement, $200,00 each from the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties and the Freeport McMoRan Community Investment Fund, and an additional $100,000 from Arizona Complete Health.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a larger capital project to get fully funded so successfully in such a short period of time,” said Sean Wenham, strategic community development manager at Freeport McMoRan.
Kristen Johnson, re-entry coordinator for the Sunrise Re-Entry and Prevention Center, said the sober living homes in Graham County are better than those in bigger cities due in part to the personalization and assistance available. She said the women’s sober living home is “to be a beacon of hope and a catalyst for lasting recovery to empower women so that they leave here knowing that they do matter; they are worth it.”
Click here to view a photo album of the event.
