Legislative update: New recovery residence bill on tomorrow’s docket
A new senate bill creates a path for the state to get involved in oversight of recovery residences. You have an opportunity to weigh in.
Author: Christa Motley
Independent journalist investigating money and power in the sober living industry
‘All Virginians’ still come second to insider benefits
With VARR managing millions, ‘all Virginians’ in need of addiction recovery services still come second to VARR leaders’ insider benefits.
Project updates and some legislative news
There’s a new bill on the table for the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly that takes a small step toward oversight of recovery house operators. State Sen. Barbara Favola – a Democrat representing parts of Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties – has prefiled Senate Bill 19, which would “require recovery residences, in the […]
He loved the women’s house ‘for all the wrong reasons’: Former female residents describe Starfish Recovery & Wellness under Frank Bellanger’s control
Former female residents of Starfish Recovery & Wellness allege sexual misconduct by CEO Frank Bellanger.
New VARR audit confirms undisclosed conflicts of interest, finds other deficiencies
A DBHDS review confirmed “lack of robust conflict of interest policies and disclosures” and “lack of supporting documentation and monitoring of the expenditures,” among other deficiencies.
Degraded, silenced, exiled: The quiet casualties of Starfish Recovery & Wellness
People battling addiction say they were degraded, discarded and sworn to silence in this VARR-certified recovery organization. The CEO’s own words support their claims.
Starfish Recovery, River City and Medicaid: How sober home residents become outpatient hostages
Richmond’s Starfish Recovery & Wellness allegedly steers sober home residents to River City Comprehensive Counseling for Medicaid kickbacks
Coming Soon: Behind the Scenes in VARR-Certified Housing
The next several installments will explore gaps between paper and practice in VARR-certified housing owned by people within VARR’s inner circle.
Interim Update & Request for Information
I need help corroborating new reports of sexual harassment and body brokering across several organizations.
Relapse, secrecy, and weak oversight shadow Richmond recovery leaders
For sober home residents, a relapse can mean eviction or jail. But what happens when operators return to using?
Notification to readers: Q&A page added
If you have a lingering question about this project, feel free to ask me anonymously on the Q&A page. I will update the page periodically with answers to questions as I receive them. Sept. 2024 update: I archived this page, as readers are no longer using it.
VARR secures millions; VARR leaders among top beneficiaries
VARR leaders funneled large sums of taxpayer money to their own for-profit companies, while smaller organizations struggled to stay afloat.
The Medicaid cash cow
River City Comprehensive Counseling, True Recovery, and the WAR Foundation are accused of exploiting sober home residents for Medicaid revenue.
Introducing The Parham Papers
Amid growing national attention to the sober home industry’s predatory underbelly, Virginia delegated oversight to a small group of Richmonders with financial stakes in the industry.