Virginia State Laws, Policies and Funding
RH terminology used by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Office of Recovery Services (ORS) “A recovery residence is a housing facility that provides alcohol-free and illicit-drug-free housing to individuals with substance abuse disorders and individuals with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders that does not include clinical treatment services.”
Accreditation, Certification, and State Licensing Requirement: Certification required to be listed on the state registry and for operation of a home.
RH Law(s): HB 277 (2022) Requires that all recovery residences be certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) and that recovery residences, as a condition of such certification, comply with minimum square footage requirements related to beds and sleeping rooms established by the credentialing entity or the Uniform Statewide Building Code, whichever is greater. The bill requires every person who operates a recovery residence to disclose to potential residents its credentialing entity. If the credentialing entity is the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose the level of support provided by the recovery residence and, if the credentialing entity is Oxford House, Inc., the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose that the recovery residence is self-governed and unstaffed. The bill also requires the Department to include such information on the list of all recovery residences maintained by the Department on its website. The bill exempts recovery residences from the provisions of the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB277
HB 2045 (2019) Provides for the promulgation of regulations for the certification of recovery residences by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The bill defines “recovery residence” as a housing facility that provides alcohol-free and illicit-drug-free housing to individuals with substance abuse disorders and individuals with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders that does not include clinical treatment services. The bill prohibits any person from advertising, representing, or otherwise implying to the public that a recovery residence or other housing facility is a certified recovery residence unless it is certified by the Department. The bill authorizes the Department to assess a civil penalty for violations of this prohibition.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+HB2045
Legislation: HB 1172 (2022) Requires the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to adopt regulations requiring each certified recovery residence to include one or more resident or nonresident staff persons who are employed by the provider for compensation and who are responsible for oversight or management of the recovery residence.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB1172
HB 301 (2022) The bill requires that 40 percent of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority’s net profits distributed to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services be allocated to private certified recovery residences that provide low-cost evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and recovery services and satisfy certain other requirements set forth in the bill.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB301
Regulations: None/unknown
SABG Program: The “Planned Priority Areas” documents for your state’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) program and Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program do not specifically mention recovery housing as a priority, nor do they list recovery support services as an allowable activity. To learn more about specific recovery housing activities that are eligible for funding through these grant programs, please reach out to your state’s Single State Agency (SSA) that’s responsible for administering these funds by visiting https://dbhds.virginia.gov/developmental-services/substance-abuse-services/
According to WebBGAS, this state has indicated that it has established a revolving loan fund using SABG funds to develop RH for individuals in recovery.
SOR Program: Your state’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has previously funded recovery activities using State Opioid Response (SOR) funds. To learn more about specific recovery housing activities that are eligible for funding through this grant program, please reach out to your state’s Single State Agency (SSA) that’s responsible for administering these funds by visiting https://dbhds.virginia.gov/developmental-services/substance-abuse-services/
Medicaid Funding: Nothing in the state Medicaid plan suggests direct support for RH, however, certain covered activities could evolve to be provided in RH settings to include peer support, case management, counseling, and recovery skills.
NARR Affiliate Status: Yes, the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR)
Housing Assistance Funding: https://www.virginiahousing.com/
Directory/Registry:
Virginia Funders
Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation is based in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was established in 1972. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for communities in its service area.
Regions: The Foundation supports projects in Lynchburg and Bedford City, rural Appomattox County, and the partially rural counties of Amherst, Bedford, and Campbell in Virginia.
Issues Supported: The Foundation supports projects across a variety of issue areas including arts, education, health, humanities, and youth services.
Grant Process and Application: Grant application deadlines are usually in March and September each year. Find out more about the grant application process by visiting the Foundation website.
Grant-Making Per Year: In FY 2020, the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation provided grants in the amount of $1.8 million.
Recovery and Supportive Housing Grantee Example: Roads to Recovery is a grantee located in Lynchburg, Virginia, in partially rural Campbell County. Roads to Recovery offers single-gender, long-term, supportive housing services for individuals struggling with substance abuse. Services provided include peer support and employment support.
The Titmus Foundation
The Titmus Foundation is a family foundation based in Sutherland, Virginia. The Titmus Foundation was established in 1947.
Regions: The Titmus Foundation primarily serves Virginia, with limited grantmaking in North Carolina. Examples of rural Virginia counties served include Buckingham, Cumberland, Franklin, Louisa, and Prince Edward.
Issues Supported: Issues funded include arts and culture, education, family services, health, shelter and residential care, and youth support. The Titmus Foundation also supports the Baptist and Presbyterian churches.
Grant Process and Application: Contact the Titmus Foundation by phone at 804-265-5834 or by email at tfound@aol.com to find out more information about the grant-making process.
Grant-Making Per Year:
In FY 2021, the Titmus Foundation provided grants in the amount of $1 million.
Recovery and Supportive Housing Grantee Example: The Bridge Ministry is a grantee located in Buckingham, Virginia, in rural Buckingham County. The Bridge Ministry offers a program for men struggling with substance abuse and other issues and includes an Intern House program that provides transitional housing.
Virginia Opioid Settlement Funds
Total Settlement Funds in Virginia
- $530 million
Fund Distribution
- 15% to local governments
- 15% to the state
- 70% to the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund
Timeline
- Funds from three distributors will be paid over 18 years
- Funds from Johnson & Johnson will be paid over 9 years
Application Process
- Not established
Spending So Far
- NA
Key Contacts
- Office of the Attorney General Jason S. Miyares, 804-786-2071
Key Links
How About Your County?
To get a quick overview of the resources available in your county, including gaps that may need to be addressed, visit the Recovery Ecosystem Index Map developed through a partnership between the Fletcher Group Rural Center of Excellence, the NORC Walsh Center at the University of Chicago, and East Tennessee State University.
Need More Info?
A year in the making by a staff of ten, the Fletcher Group’s 82-page Recovery Housing Landscape Report provides an in-depth overview of the most recent laws, policies, and funding affecting recovery housing. You’ll find sections devoted to state laws, SAMHSA funding, Medicaid, corrections, and housing assistance plus numerous links to valuable resources and official documents. To see the complete downloadable report, click the image to the left.
This web page is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $13.7 million with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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