The Recommendations

Our recommendation is a feasibility study exploring the renovation of Catawba Hospital, in order to address the housing/bed shortage and to establish a comprehensive recovery facility. The Catawba Hospital is one of 8 state-run behavioral health facilities in the commonwealth. In 1908, Virginia purchased the 770-acre property to establish its first Tuberculosis Sanatorium. It is located 20 minutes west of the city of Roanoke. We have set in motion two potential paths to securing a feasibility study. First, as part of our “You Write the Bill” workshop, Delegate Rasoul submitted our proposal for legislation authorizing a feasibility study to the Division of Legislative Services for official drafting. Second, several of our key informants expressed interest in helping to fund such a study, including New River Valley Community Service Board, VT-Carilion School of Medicine, and Roanoke Valley Collective Response.

Today, of more than 22 buildings on the Catawba Hospital campus, most are in need of renovation to return the facility to a safe and comfortable environment. The main hospital building, shown below in navy blue, has such basic needs as new windows and flooring. Engineering work is needed to determine which remaining buildings are candidates for renovation. The buildings coded black on this diagram have deteriorated so completely that they are slated for demolition. These sites or the many open fields on the property could host new buildings for SUD recovery services and housing.

The Catawba Hospital be expanded because the campus is uniquely positioned to draw on regional expertise via Virginia Tech and Roanoke in order to fill a gap for our portion of Appalachia. The site already is home to existing state-owned infrastructure, including greenhouses, a gym, and tennis and basketball courts for therapeutic use, in a park-like setting with charming old buildings. It is close enough for access from Roanoke and other population-dense portions of Southwest Virginia, but far enough from the hustle and distractions of city life. The campus is located on the edge of the Jefferson National Forest and the Appalachian Trail system, enabling access to the benefits of Wilderness/Adventure therapy for mental health patients. The facilities are also an important economic driver within the community.

Being in the NRV area, we are uniquely positioned to enact impactful change against the SUD crisis. The feasibility study would explore how we can work with VT’s School of Medicine, and FBRI, a leading research institute, alongside local CSBs and a large medical system. We can work on identifying and addressing targeted behavioral health and SUD needs based on strong community and scientific input, and determine accurate funding needed. Being in close proximity to potential funding sponsors, we are primed to begin work instantly.