Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an announcement addressing mental health and addiction initiatives in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 2, 2026. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Kennedy said the initiative represents a shift away from previous federal approaches that failed to stem rising addiction, homelessness and crime.
"Addiction begins in isolation and ends in reconnection," Kennedy said in a statement. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we are bringing Americans suffering from addiction out of the shadows and back into community."
In addition to the STREETS Initiative, Kennedy announced a $10 million Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) grant program to support adults with serious mental illness. The court-ordered, community-based treatment program is designed for individuals who are unable to engage in traditional outpatient care and are unlikely to live safely in their communities without structured support.
According to HHS, assisted outpatient treatment has been shown to reduce hospitalizations, lower incarceration and homelessness rates, and improve public safety outcomes.
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This Aug. 15, 2017, file photo shows an arrangement of pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen, also known as Percocet, in New York. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)
"That approach has failed," he said. "We funded fragments instead of pathways. We waited for people to ask for help after they had already lost their health, their jobs, their families, their lives."
Kennedy said the administration is now prioritizing prevention and evidence-based policy.
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"We’re using evidence and not ideology," he said. "Stopping addiction before it starts is the most effective intervention."
Kennedy said the administration is also encouraging faith-based organizations to fully participate in federal recovery and treatment programs, emphasizing that such groups will be welcomed to compete for grants and funding opportunities if they meet evidence-based standards.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rfk-jr-unveils-100m-effort-tackle-addiction-homelessness-mental-illness