Current City Investments with Opioid Settlement Funds 

City of Richmond-based Projects

Harm Reduction Vending Machine Project: ORD. 2024-227 Places 24/7 harm reduction vending machines at three high-access locations (Marshall Plaza, Southside Plaza, and East End Library), providing free naloxone, Fentanyl, Xylazine, Medetomidine, and Nitazine test strips, hygiene and menstrual supplies, and first aid kits to reduce overdose risk and remove barriers to lifesaving resources.  Additional funding was awarded in 2026 to place 3 additional HRVM’s at North Avenue Library, Borad Rock Library, and Ginter Park Library. ORD. 2026-037.  The introduction of these machines would not be possible without dedicated collaboration of our community partners. Health Brigade’s Comprehensive Harm Reduction Team, Richmond Henrico Health District, and the Richmond Opioid Task Force introduced these initiatives in early 2024 and continue to provide vital support for the expansion. 

In the first eight months of the project (7/30/25 to 3/30/26), the vending machines distributed 1,376 doses of 4 mg nasal naloxone, 358 test strips, and 1,320 first aid and hygiene kits.  

Richmond City Justice Center MAT Continuation Pilot Program: ORD. 2024-297 

Ensures continuity of MOUD for incarcerated individuals who enter jail with a valid prescription, reducing withdrawal, overdose risk, and treatment disruption through clinical oversight, discharge planning, and coordination with community providers. First Amendment Ordinance ORD. 2025-124

Resource Mapping: ORD. 2024-226 Builds on prior resource-mapping efforts by creating a dynamic, searchable online platform with GIS mapping to help residents and providers quickly locate up-to-date mental health, SUD treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services, with initial English and Spanish language access.  We are currently in the website development phase of this project and hope for a full public launch June 2026. 

CARITAS CPRS Training Program:  ORD. 2025-056 Supports the creation of a Peer Recovery Specialist training pipeline for Richmond residents with lived experience, embedding trained peers into CARITAS programs to provide trauma-informed, person-centered recovery support alongside clinical treatment.

Health Brigade Comprehensive SUD Program: ORD: 2025-111

This funding will enable Health Brigade to create and implement a comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program specifically designed for Richmond residents with opioid use disorders, co-occurring mental and physical health conditions, and significant risk of overdose death.

Research demonstrates that comprehensive harm reduction approaches, particularly those integrating syringe service programs with wraparound care, significantly reduce overdose deaths, infectious disease transmission, and improve treatment engagement. 

Health Brigade will deliver these evidence-based services through direct community outreach to neighborhoods experiencing the greatest burden of opioid-related harm. Their street-based teams meet people where they are, building trust and reducing barriers to care in communities that have historically faced limited access to health services.

Expansion of Peer Recovery Specialist Roles: ORD. 2024-227 Provides funding to build or expand peer recovery roles across emergency response, treatment, and post-incarceration settings to strengthen continuity of care and reduce overdose risk. Five partner organizations received funding through this grant including 

Opportunity, Alliance, and Reentry of Richmond (OAR) ORD. 2025-067

Saint Luke’s Legacy Center ORD. 2025-065

Richmond Ambulance Authority ORD. 2025-110

Atlantic Outreach Group ORD. 2025-066

McShinn Foundation ORD. 2025-064

Operation STOP! ORD. 2026-008

On July 7, 2025, the City of Richmond was awarded $619,000 through Operation STOP!, a targeted grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. This initiative directs funding to Virginia localities with elevated overdose rates among Black residents to implement urgent education and prevention strategies that reduce overdoses and overdose deaths. 

In response, our Opioid and Substance Use Response (OOSUR) team partnered with community organizations to develop a collaborative response addressing overdose-related harm in Richmond’s most impacted communities.

Health Brigade will launch a multifaceted outreach campaign—both digital and in-person—including direct street outreach and comprehensive harm reduction services to support individuals at highest risk of overdose, prioritizing geographic areas with increased rates of fatal overdose. ORD. 2026-014

Atlantic Outreach Group and Daily Planet will each manage scholarship funds to eliminate bed fees for Recovery Housing for Richmond residents with demonstrated need, removing financial barriers to accessing support. Recovery support should be immediate, responsive, and accessible to everyone. ORD. 2026-010 and ORD. 2026-012

Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation, serving as fiscal sponsor for Trauma Healing Response Network, will expand access to harm reduction materials through Community Safe Zones and deliver quarterly community-based programming on overdose prevention, harm reduction, and opioid use disorder. ORD. 2026-015

ChildSavers will provide trauma-informed clinical services to youth under 18 whose parent, caregiver, or guardian has experienced an overdose, ensuring young people impacted by this crisis receive the support they deserve. ORD. 2026-011

Daily Planet will deliver education and training to law enforcement and policymakers, strengthening Richmond's response to substance use disorder by promoting connection to evidence-based treatment and support. ORD. 2026-013

VCU's Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will conduct program evaluation to measure impact, ensure effectiveness, and provide recommendations for sustained growth. ORD. 2026-008

Collaborative Multi-Locality Projects

Hospital Liaison Initiative ORD. 2026-049

This new program is a result of the recommendations provided by research conducted by VCU Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translation Science. During the planning project, it was clear that none of the four localities were receiving referrals from hospitals as required by Virginia Code. The proposal includes hiring two registered nurses to serve as liaisons between the hospitals, community OBGYNs, DSS and the CSBs. Two RNs will provide education to those in the medical field about the requirements for referring to treatment, substance use identification, trauma informed practices, the benefits of early intervention to avoid neonatal abstinence syndrome and provide proper care for the mother. The RNs will also assist with providing warm handoffs to the community resources and to CSBs for treatment as required.

Regional Recovery Day ORD. 2026-050

Henrico County, in conjunction with Chesterfield and Hanover Counties and the City of Richmond, hosted the first annual Regional Recovery Day on September 30, 2024. Now an annual event co-hosted by the four localities, Regional Recovery Day brings together over 800 attendees across the Richmond region to provide resources and support for people in recovery and those who experience Substance Use Disorder.

Project Recover ORD. 2023-368

Project Recover currently provides five Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS) to support individuals in Chesterfield and Hanover counties and in the City of Richmond suffering with substance use disorders that result in treatment by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or contact with law enforcement.

Chesterfield Recovery Academy ORD. 2025-277

The Chesterfield Recovery Academy Outreach and Transportation project will build on what has been learned during CRA’s three years of operation to increase adolescent access to substance use treatment and interrupt the cycle of opioid and multi-substance use disorder in high school-aged students. It focuses on community outreach throughout the 15 jurisdictions served and provides additional funds to offer transportation for enrolled students.

Past Projects and Resources

2023

In 2023, the City of Richmond, in partnership with Chesterfield County, Hanover County, and Henrico County to expand the region’s Peer Recovery Specialist Program. This effort is focused on deploying Peer Recovery Specialists in emergent situations. 

In 2023, the City of Richmond also launched an additional effort, in partnership with Chesterfield County, Hanover County, and Henrico County to study the impact of opioids on pregnant, birthing, and parenting persons. This effort will provide a gap analysis and needs assessment of this population in Central Virginia.

Each project is ongoing.

2024

In 2024, the City of Richmond is launching four new projects.

1. Harm Reduction: The City will be placing three harm reduction vending machines in public spaces. These harm reduction vending machines will provide naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, and basic personal hygiene items at no cost to residents.

2. Prevention: Youth-focused opioid prevention campaign.  This campaign will draw from existing evidence-based programs tailored for the Richmond community and will rely on a multimedia communications campaign to reach the target audience of youth aged 13-24.

3. Treatment/Recovery: Integration of Peer Recovery Specialists into areas such as emergency response, detox, treatment, recovery, and other facilities to enhance the continuum of care for individuals affected by opioid use disorder.  This will be done by the release of a request for proposals (RFP) and selection of 

4. Data and Resources: Cooperative project with Henrico County and the Richmond Henrico Heath District to provide a resource mapping guide and public facing data dashboard available to the public.

The Opioid Epidemic Outlook

National Outlook: According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2023 there were 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States, and 81,083 of those deaths were opioid-related.

State Outlook: According to the Virginia Department of Health, there were approximately 2,513 drug overdose deaths in Virginia, and approximately 1,910 of those deaths involved fentanyl. These are preliminary numbers which will be finalized in July 2024.

City of Richmond Outlook: According to the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, preliminary reports in 2023 show approximately 297 overdose deaths in the City of Richmond, and 270 of those deaths from opioids.

VOAA Housing Stabilization RFA

Background and Purpose

The City of Richmond's Office of Opioid and Substance Use Response is seeking proposals from eligible organizations to increase housing stability for individuals impacted by substance use. This initiative is part of a regional collaboration among the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, and Colonial Heights. Through this approach, the cooperative partnership seeks to create sustainable pathways to housing stability for substance-impacted individuals while expanding access to housing options that are responsive to diverse recovery journeys. 

The target service area for this Request for Applications will be The City of Richmond.

Target Population

This initiative is designed to serve substance-impacted individuals who often face barriers to accessing 
traditional recovery housing or abstinence-based recovery programs. Priority populations include:

• Individuals whose recovery pathways do not involve complete abstinence from substances
• Individuals transitioning from treatment programs, recovery housing, or other structured 
  recovery environments
• Individuals experiencing housing instability as a result of substance use and related challenges 

Project Overview

The goal of this initiative is to establish a comprehensive housing stabilization program that combines 
housing navigation, supportive services, and long-term rental assistance to help participants achieve and 
maintain stable housing.

Submission and Award Notice:

•  Questions about this RFA may be directed to [email protected]
• Applications, including all required attachments, must be submitted by email to 
  [email protected] no later than 5:00 PM on Friday July 10, 2026. Late applications will not 
  be accepted. 
• Applicants that reach the finalist stage will be required to attend an interview with the multilocality Review Board as part of the application process. During this interview, Review Board and 
  applicant(s) will discuss further details on project budget and implementation timeline. 
• Therefore, budget template, budget narrative, and timeline are not required as part of the 
  written application. 
• The City expects to notify successful applicants by email no later than 5:00 PM on Monday 
  August 10, 2026. 

Project Period

• The Performance Period of this project would begin once funds are received in FY27 and commence at the end of FY32. The first year of this performance period will allow time for selected organizations to hire staff and build out necessary programmatic components. 

Funding Amount

• A total of $300,000 is available through this RFA in year one with increasing amounts to cover rental subsidies in years two through five. Program budgets will be refined with Applicant(s) that reach the finalist stage in collaboration with the Review Board.

Eligibility Threshold

• Applicants must be Virginia nonstock (nonprofit) corporations or local governmental entities authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Virginia and be in good standing with the City of Richmond.
• Applicants must be in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, and have no outstanding violations, taxes, or penalties.
• Applicants must disclose any lawsuits to which they have been a party in the past three years, as well as any lawsuits and investigations, criminal or otherwise, relating to the financial or business practices of the organization that are pending at the time of application.
• Applicants must provide all attachments listed below:
  • Proof of liability insurance
  • Federal tax-exempt certification
  • Most recent IRS Form 990 (Must be a complete 990. Form 990-N will not be accepted)
  • Current year operating budget for FY 27

Applicant Elements

1. Cover Sheet: See Attachment A
2. Narrative: The completed narrative must have the following components and should be no longer than five total pages:
   1. Organizational Background and Capacity: Briefly describe the organization's mission, history, and relevant experience in implementing an initiative of this kind. How has your program demonstrated success providing housing stabilization services in the past (what quantitative and qualitative data can you share, how many people have you helped or supported, results of your program, etc.)?
   2. Program Description: Please describe your organization’s program development process. More specific to this RFA, please address how your organization will build the infrastructure and partnerships needed for the program. Share how you will build relationships with local landlords and housing providers to ensure effective implementation of this program. Describe how you plan to identify and recruit
      participants for the program. How will you reach individuals who are not currently engaged in treatment or recovery services including People Who Use Drugs (PWUD)?
   3. Data and Reporting: How will you track your effectiveness (e.g. qualitative and quantitative data, performance measures, participant feedback)? How would you like to see VCU’s Wright Center for Clinical and Translational research support the success of this program?

Review Process

• Eligibility Screening: All applications will be screened for completeness and eligibility requirements
• Technical Review and Scoring: Eligible applications will be evaluated against the review criteria by the scoring committee of subject matter experts.
• Final Selection: The scoring committee and City leadership will together review the top scoring applications to identify 1-3 applicants for a final interview. A minimum score of 80
  will be required to advance to the final selection phase. Final applicant(s) will be notified by August 10, 2026.

Review Criteria - Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Organizational Background and Capacity (40 Points)

• Demonstrated experience and success working with populations of substance-impacted individuals
• Demonstrated ability to equitably manage housing subsidy and wrap-around funds
• Organizational stability and track record of past performance. In partnership with the City of Richmond and/or in other settings, the applicant has demonstrated the capacity to complete the proposed project
• Staffing qualifications and expertise

Program Description (40 Points)

• Potential for meaningful impact on target population
• Ability to reach populations not currently engaged in treatment or recovery resources
• Alignment with community needs and priorities
• Integration of Harm Reduction principles and Evidence Based Best Practices

Data Collection and Evaluation (20 points)

• Clear data collection plan and reporting capabilities
• Appropriate performance measures
• Ability to collaborate effectively with research partners