South Florida Oasis isn’t just a business. It’s a place shaped by personal experiences, genuine care, and a vision for recovery inspired by real people. The heart of this place beats with the stories of individuals like Wael Hamid, a man I’ve worked alongside for over a decade. Our journey together is full of ups and downs, but it is his journey, in particular, that inspired me to create something that could help others like him.
Many years ago, Wael was one of my first employees in recovery. I wasn’t a business owner at the time—I was the general manager of another company. Wael had recently gotten sober, and he was an incredible worker. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, the company I managed had to shut down, and I had no choice but to let him go. It was a tough decision, but I was committed to helping Wael, and I quickly found him a new job at another company I had ties with. I had a good relationship with that company, which made it easier to ensure Wael had a place to land.
Months later, I ventured out on my own and opened a business. Of course, when I needed a hardworking and reliable employee, I rehired Wael. We worked together for another year and a half, but life threw us another curveball when my business faced issues, and I had to close it down as well. Once again, I helped Wael get re-employed—at the very same company he worked for before. Throughout all of this, my relationship with that company remained strong. Even as an ex-employee, I maintained a good rapport with the owners and management, which allowed me to keep helping Wael when needed.
After that, Wael and I stayed connected, and I would drop by the company from time to time to say hello to the owners and catch up with him. Then, on one of those visits, I noticed something was wrong. Wael had lost a significant amount of weight, his eyes were sunken, and it was clear that he had started using again. That moment hit me hard. I knew I had to act. I spoke with his boss, who was also in recovery, and they confirmed my fears. Given that the company had a zero-tolerance policy for relapses, there was nothing they could do but let Wael go. Their strict policy was in place to ensure fairness among employees, especially in a workplace where many were also recovering addicts.
It was tough, but Wael went to detox for 30 days. Before he left, I promised him that once he completed treatment, I would help him find another job. He was worried about his future, but I reassured him that I’d be there to help him rebuild. When he came out of detox, I vouched for him at the company I worked for, and they gave him shot. From that point on, Wael worked hard to stay clean and get back on track, and our relationship only deepened.
But there’s more to the story. Throughout all these years of working with Wael, the idea of starting a sober home had been discussed between us on multiple occasions. Wael had been sober for four years when he relapsed, and after his time in detox, he faced an incredibly difficult reality: even though he had put in years of work in his recovery, he didn’t have a place to live. He struggled to find a standard halfway house that fit his needs. The premium sober living homes were either full or far too expensive for someone like him—someone who was trying to get back on his feet after a tough setback.
For months, Wael was essentially homeless. He slept in his car, on friends’ couches, and even in a camper that a friend was trying to sell. Watching him go through that was eye-opening for me I’m not within the recovery community myself, and I couldn’t wrap my head around how someone who had been sober for years could end up without resources or a safe place to stay. It was mind-boggling. Wael’s experience made me realize that there was a massive gap in the recovery space. There needed to be more accessible, affordable, and supportive environments for people who were trying to rebuild their lives.
That’s when the idea of South Florida Oasis really started to take shape. I wanted to create a space that wasn’t just another halfway house but a home that provided an elevated environment where people could feel like they mattered—where they could get a second chance, no matter their financial situation. I wanted to create something that wasn’t priced out of reach for the average person, but also didn’t feel like a low-standard, impersonal facility. I wanted it to be a place where people like Wael—people who had worked so hard on their recovery—could continue their journey in a safe, supportive, and structured setting.
Today, South Florida Oasis exists as a direct result of these experiences. It’s a place where recovering addicts can not only stay sober but thrive. Wael, now the houseman and manager of our properties, plays a crucial role in this. His own journey and his resilience are at the heart of our mission. Together, we are building something that is about more than just keeping people sober. It’s about giving them the environment, support, and encouragement they need to succeed in every aspect of their lives.
South Florida Oasis isn’t just a business for us—it’s personal. It’s built on the foundation of real relationships, second chances, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to reclaim their lives.
