Support funding for the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences

Right now members of the Virginia House and Senate budget committees are debating how to fund safe, certified recovery residences in Virginia.

MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD!

Tell members of the Virginia House and Senate budget committees to fund the originally budgeted full $2.2 million to the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR) that provides urgent recovery support services for individuals with a substance use disorder.

The original budget allocated $2.2 million. And while the Senate is suggesting no changes to this number, the House is suggesting a $1.1 million decrease.

VIRGINIANS URGENTLY NEED THIS FULL INVESTMENT IN PROVEN,
COMMUNITY-BASED RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES!

As you are aware, we are in the midst of an addiction crisis. In 2021, over 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose - a 28% rise over 2020. Virginia, however, experienced a 35% increase - or nearly 2,700 people. That’s a four-fold increase since Virginia began tracking overdose deaths in 2007.

VARR is Virginia's credentialing body for recovery residences and falls under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). With over 1,000 certified recovery beds in Virginia, VARR supports providers through indigent and minority scholarship funds while simultaneously building recovery support capacity into underrepresented areas.

We are very grateful for previous financial support from the VA General Assembly and ask that you continue this support with $2.2 million.

These urgently needed funds would be directed to DBHDS for VARR grants that continue to support proven, community-based recovery solutions to Virginia’s addiction epidemic.

Thank you for supporting this important legislation.