RFK Jr announces $100m in grants to address homelessness and substance use

"Robert F Kennedy Jr announced on Monday $100m in new grants for a pilot program aimed at addressing homelessness and substance use recovery in eight cities, building on an executive order Donald Trump signed last week related to addiction. The funds will be distributed as part of the Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Supports (Streets) program, which will be managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Samhsa) within the Department of Health and Human Services."

"Last month, the Trump administration abruptly canceled $2bn in Samhsa grant funding for addiction and mental health programs. Following a bipartisan backlash in Congress, the funds were reinstated within 24 hours. And over the last year, around a third of Samhsa's 900 employees have been laid off, creating an environment of uncertainty, fear and logistical challenges for mental health and substance abuse treatment providers around the country."

"Kennedy announced the new program at a Samhsa event marking Prevention Day. During his speech, he said funding for homelessness and addiction treatment must be aligned in order to address the setbacks that prevent long-term recovery. The current system, Kennedy said, encourages people with severe mental illness and addiction to cycle endlessly between sidewalks, emergency room visits, jails, and mental hospitals and shelters."

A $100m grant program will pilot homelessness and substance use recovery efforts in eight cities through the STREETS initiative. The program will be managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services. The initiative will prioritize early intervention and build integrated care systems for people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health challenges, linking services to provide sober housing and employment. Recent abrupt cancellation and rapid reinstatement of $2bn in SAMHSA grant funding, plus layoffs of about a third of staff, have created uncertainty and logistical challenges for providers. The current service system often fails to provide sustained responsibility for long-term recovery.

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