Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has announced a sweeping plan to address addiction, homelessness, and public safety challenges across the country.
The initiative—part of President Trump’s Great American Recovery effort—directs $100 million toward expanding treatment, strengthening prevention, and helping people reconnect with stable housing and long‑term recovery supports.
Speaking at Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Prevention Day, the nation’s largest government‑sponsored gathering focused on substance‑use prevention, Kennedy emphasized the importance of rebuilding community and support for those struggling with addiction. “Addiction begins in isolation and ends in reconnection,” he said.
The Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence‑based Treatment and Supports (STREETS) Initiative will use the new funding to expand outreach, psychiatric care, crisis intervention, and medical stabilization. It will also help connect individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction with stable housing while prioritizing independence and long‑term recovery.
The announcement comes as substance use disorder rates continue to climb. Among people ages 12 and older, prevalence rose from 7.4 percent in 2019 to 16.8 percent in 2024, according to SAMHSA survey data. Nearly 8 in 10 individuals with substance use disorder did not receive treatment in 2024.
Secretary Kennedy also unveiled a $10 million grant program to expand Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). This civil court‑ordered program supports adults with serious mental illness who are unable to engage consistently in traditional outpatient care. The goal is to reduce homelessness, avoid interaction with the criminal justice system, and keep individuals safe in the community.
The new initiatives align with SAMHSA’s 2026 block grant allocations—$794 million in total—to support community mental health care and substance‑use treatment nationwide. This includes $319 million for mental‑health services and $475 million for prevention, treatment, and recovery support.
To keep families together and prevent children from entering foster care due to parental addiction, HHS’ Administration for Children and Families has added three FDA‑approved medications for opioid use disorder—buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone—to the list of federally funded prevention services. States and tribes can now receive a 50 percent federal match to provide these treatments to parents whose children are at risk of removal.