This story was reported and written by our media partner Williamsburg Watch.
What would normally be a routine bureaucratic exercise – voting on a special use permit – became an emotional event at the June 10 James City County Board of Supervisors meeting, underscoring the broad reach of substance abuse across society.
When it was over, the supervisors unanimously approved a permit to let Evolution House operate a transition center for up to 24 men at their existing facility in Toano.
Berkeley District member Ruth Larson cried as she shared that her sister died of a drug overdose in 2006.
“We have so many people who need help and they don’t know where to go,” said Stonehouse member Barbara E. Null. “You’ve got me up here crying.”
Powhatan member Michael J. Hipple added one of his relatives had fought hard against substance abuse, and the facility was needed.
Statistics cited by spokesmen for Evolution were grim: last year Virginia had 920 traffic deaths, and 2,440 deaths from drug overdoses.
In reviewing the special use permit at the county planning commission last month, commissioner Jay Everson said his own grandson died of an overdose several years ago after relapsing from treatment, adding “I wish we’d known” about the program.
Evolution House helps recovering addicts transition from their initial treatment back into society. They often have no jobs, no credit rating, and no place to live. The organization creates a home-like atmosphere where the clients hold each other accountable, get jobs and get help finding a place to live.
The organization says its residents are there voluntarily, are tested for drugs three times a week under a zero-tolerance policy, and are transported by van to jobs, therapy, churches and recreation. The typical stay is 90 days.
The decision was a good ending for a bad start to Evolution House, which had been violating county codes for several years by housing more than the eight residents allowed by right at a home they rent at 2010 Richmond Road.
Spokesmen for the organization, which operates four other homes in James City County and one in the lower Peninsula, blamed the misstep on ignorance on the part of the founders, Jeffrey Carver and Ryan Whatley.
The two received a license from the state in October of 2023 and did not know to check the county’s own specific requirements, Chief Executive Officer Eric Rhodes told Williamsburg Watch. He said they were trying to handle the process on their own at first but eventually brought on an engineer and the Kaufman & Canoles law firm to help.
The two founders were former addicts themselves, Rhodes said, and when they left treatment they had “no place to live, no real means to get a job.” That experience led them to found Evolution House.
Rhodes said he joined the organization late last year and began coordinating the process to conform to county code.
The county’s permit sets a series of requirements for the halfway house and the means to police them. No sex offenders are allowed, there must be stringent screening of applicants with felony convictions, and they must provide annual reports to the police chief on residents and the zoning administrator on occupancy.
Evolution brought in several former clients to testify about how the program helped them, as well as a mother whose son was helped by the home.
Local businessman Chris Henderson also spoke up, saying he has three former residents working for his businesses.
“I have seen the recovery of some really broken people,” he said.
