Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announces $700 Million U.S. Plan to Tackle Addiction, Homelessness and Mental Health

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on June 17, 2026 a federal investment of $700 million to expand behavioral‑health and addiction‑recovery programs across the United States. The funding includes a $96 million Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence‑based Treatment and Support (STREETS) program that will grant up to $3 million annually to eight communities for integrated housing, treatment and outreach services for homeless individuals with substance‑use disorders and serious mental illness. Additional allocations are earmarked for a national suicide‑prevention lifeline ($239 million), community behavioral‑health clinics ($223 million) and other treatment initiatives totaling roughly $600 million.

The plan restores eligibility for faith‑based recovery organizations to receive federal grants, reversing a previous administration policy. It is part of President Donald Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative and was unveiled at the Easterseals MORC treatment center in Clinton Township, Michigan. Kennedy emphasized a shift from harm‑reduction approaches toward treatment, recovery and accountability.