RFK Jr unveils $100M effort to tackle addiction, homelessness and mental illness

By Fox News · Fox News

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a $100 million federal investment Monday aimed at reducing homelessness, combating opioid addiction and improving public safety through treatment-focused recovery programs. The funding is part of President Donald Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative — which coordinates federal action on addiction, serious mental illness and street homelessness — and follows an executive order signed last week targeting crime and disorder on U.S. streets. The money will fund the new STREETS Initiative — Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Supports — aimed at connecting people struggling with addiction and homelessness to treatment, housing and long-term recovery. The program will provide targeted outreach, psychiatric care, medical stabilization and crisis intervention. MARK PENN: TRUMP IS TRYING TO SAVE 100,000 AMERICAN LIVES WHILE DEMOCRATS LET CITIES SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL 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. TRUMP ADMIN DEBUTS 'FENTANYL FREE AMERICA' PLAN AS DEA TOUTS IMPACT OF CARIBBEAN BOAT ST…