The Refuge Recovery Center

Refuge: A place to be safe from danger, harm, or trouble.

I recently toured The Refuge Recovery Center, a residential treatment program dedicated to addiction recovery. Besides addiction recovery programs, they offer stable housing for a year or more for people who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness.

Director Christopher Khan founded The Refuge Recovery Center in August 2020. As the name implies, it provides a safe space for recovery, where lives, spirits, and hope are restored. It not only offers shelter, but also medical care for recovering addicts. A dedicated team provides support and guidance tailored to a client’s unique needs and circumstances.

The Refuge, as it is known, consists of five distinct programs in nine residential properties scattered throughout Tuolumne County, each suited to a different stage in recovery. On both my visits, I found a hub of activity, with quiet corners for reflection. Clients are always free to leave the program, and Christopher Khan acknowledged that not every battle will be won (1).

Clients are transported to needed appointments in The Refuge’s van. They receive help with obtaining driver’s licenses and job training, and with drafting and submitting resumes, all in support of their successful journey to employment.

Among the nine properties owned or leased by The Refuge is a medical respite facility, a much-needed program for those experiencing homelessness that offers short-term post-hospitalization housing for recuperation after receiving medical intervention or hospital care (2).

The Sobering Center offers an alternative to incarceration for public intoxication. Rather than going to the Emergency Department or jail, a person can go to The Refuge to detoxify.

The 108 House is a co-ed residence for those in addiction recovery. It offers a supportive environment with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) rehabilitation services.

Kevin’s House is a justice-involved treatment facility for clients who have been incarcerated. The inpatient services include MAT, along with community reintegration, incorporating life skills, therapeutic community treatment concepts, and cognitive-behavioral interventions to foster positive outcomes.

The Housing Suite is where the diverse needs of individuals facing homelessness or housing instability are assessed, and personalized housing plans are crafted for each individual. Other properties offer housing for families, a residence for men, one for women, and one for seniors.

The Leadership Team consists of Christopher Khan, who holds a master’s degree in addiction counseling, and his wife, Christine Khan, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is the Clinical Director.

A professional staff of thirty-five full-time employees includes six licensed medical professionals, California Board of Behavioral Sciences licensed therapists, and licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. Ninety percent of the staff, some former clients, have first-hand experience with addiction, homelessness, and/or incarceration, and are role models for program participants. Services are delivered in a family-type atmosphere; excursions and camping trips are part of the program.

The breadth of programs at The Refuge is remarkable and unique in our community.

NOTES

1. Interview with Christopher Khan, founder and director of The Refuge Recovery Center, August 12, 2025.

2. “Recovery Center,” The Refuge.