The Parham Papers

10/03/2026

Resident charged with attempted murder at Starfish Recovery & Wellness sober home

At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2025, 19-year-old Jose Martinez allegedly stabbed one of his housemates 13 times with a kitchen knife at a Richmond recovery residence run by Starfish Recove…

23/02/2026

Companion recovery housing bills cross chambers

The companion bills for recovery housing oversight have passed unanimously in both the House and Senate and crossed over for consideration on the other sides. Senate Bill 270 (sponsored by Sen. Sch…

11/02/2026

House companion bill to SB 270 on Thursday’s docket; how to participate

House Bill 931, introduced by Del. Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax County) as the House companion to Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg’s SB 270, will be heard before the House Health and Human Services Subcommit…

11/02/2026

Revisions to recovery housing bill reintroduce loopholes in patient choice protections

Language intended to protect patient choice was significantly altered before Senate Bill 270 was heard Friday in committee. As introduced, the bill explicitly prohibited recovery residences from ma…

04/02/2026

Recovery housing oversight bill heads to committee amid unclear revisions

Senate Bill 270, Virginia’s recovery housing bill, is scheduled to be heard in committee this Friday, Feb. 6. Members of the public are able to weigh in, but productive participation might be compl…

22/01/2026

New bill draws firm line between recovery housing and clinical treatment

Where the recovery housing workgroup’s final recommendations stopped short of protecting patient choice, a new bill seeks to make residents’ rights unmistakably clear. Continuing to lead efforts on…

21/12/2025

Key reform neutralized in recovery housing workgroup’s final recommendations

What began as a proposal to end sober home operators’ control over residents’ treatment ultimately became language that preserves the existing business model. During workgroup sessions convened ear…

30/10/2025

📣 Want to learn how advocacy really works?

Join SAARA’s Advocacy Manager, Michael Sizemore, for our Advocacy 101 Workshop — perfect for anyone who wants to understand advocacy from start to finish!

🗓 Monday, November 25
🕙 10:00 AM
💻 On Zoom
🔗 Register here: www.saara.org/upcoming-events

You’ll learn how to effectively advocate for what matters most, how to talk to your legislators, and how ideas become laws. Whether you’re new to advocacy or looking to sharpen your skills, this free workshop will give you the tools and confidence to make your voice heard! 💪

28/09/2025

Draft proposal could rattle Richmond’s sober-home-to-outpatient pipeline

At last week’s final meeting of the SB838 recovery housing workgroup, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) announced a draft proposal aimed at stopping sober home …

02/09/2025

SB838 update 6: Complaint pathways, investigations and NDAs in recovery housing

Who can sober home residents turn to if they’re being exploited or treated unfairly? Who can family members or neighbors call when they have concerns? For years, the options have been slim. Complai…

26/08/2025

Thanks RVA Magazine!

Journalist Christa Motley’s Parham Papers investigation exposes how Virginia’s recovery housing funds were steered to VARR insiders, including ties to Sen. Lamont Bagby’s family. Her reporting uncovered secret grants, misused rent subsidies, and resident mistreatment, sparking legislative refo...