RFK Jr. Unveils a $100 Million Plan Targeting Homelessness and Addiction

Advanced | February 15, 2026

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RFK Jr homelessness program: A Big Announcement From HHS

In the RFK Jr homelessness program announcement, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a new $100 million federal effort aimed at helping people who are experiencing homelessness and also struggling with addiction (and often mental health challenges). The announcement came February 2, 2026, and it’s framed as a key part of the Trump administration’s broader “Great American Recovery” push. (HHS Press Release, AP News)

What the Program Is Called (And What It Funds)

The pilot program is called STREETS—short for Safety Through Recovery, Engagement and Evidence-Based Treatment and Supports. According to HHS, STREETS will fund targeted outreach, psychiatric care, medical stabilization, and crisis intervention, and then connect people to stable housing with an explicit focus on long-term recovery and independence. In business terms, it’s trying to stop the “revolving door” cycle by building a full pathway—not just a quick fix. (HHS Press Release, Fierce Healthcare)

Where the Money Goes: Eight Pilot Cities

Reporting said the funding would focus on eight U.S. cities as pilot locations. The idea is to test an integrated model—outreach + treatment + stabilization + a real bridge to housing and work—then expand what works. That “pilot first” approach can be smart… but only if the program collects clear results and doesn’t bury the metrics in a drawer. (AP News, PBS NewsHour)

The Philosophy: Recovery, Work, and “Reconnection”

A big theme of the RFK Jr homelessness program is that treatment shouldn’t be isolated from daily life. Kennedy emphasized recovery and self-sufficiency—getting people stable enough to rebuild routines, reconnect socially, and move toward employment. Some coverage also highlighted a role for faith-based organizations, with the administration making them eligible for certain addiction-related grants. Supporters see this as expanding capacity; critics worry it may crowd out other providers depending on how grants are awarded. (AP News, The Guardian)

Another Piece: A Court-Ordered Treatment Pilot

Separate from the $100 million STREETS plan, coverage of the rollout noted an additional $10 million effort tied to Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)—a form of civil, court-ordered outpatient mental health treatment for adults with serious mental illness. Kennedy said AOT can reduce hospitalizations and lower incarceration and homelessness, but some experts have questioned the evidence base and warned about potential civil-liberty concerns. That tension—help vs. coercion—is likely to be one of the hottest debates around this initiative. (Fierce Healthcare, Washington Post)

Why This Story Matters (Even for English Learners)

Homelessness and addiction are hard problems—part health, part economics, part community breakdown. A $100 million pilot won’t solve everything, but it can signal a real policy pivot: What kind of approach gets funded? “Housing-first”? “Harm reduction”? “Abstinence-focused recovery”? The answer affects city budgets, hospitals, law enforcement, and the most important “stakeholders” of all: the people trying to survive and rebuild.

Vocabulary

Pilot (noun) – a small test program used before a bigger rollout.
Example: The government will pilot the program in eight cities before expanding it.
Stabilization (noun) – making a crisis situation safe and under control.
Example: Medical stabilization can be the first step before long-term treatment.
Outreach (noun) – efforts to contact and support people who may not seek help.
Example: Street outreach teams try to connect people to services.
Self-sufficiency (noun) – being able to support yourself without constant assistance.
Example: The program emphasizes self-sufficiency through recovery and work.
Eligibility (noun) – meeting the requirements to receive something.
Example: Faith-based groups became eligible for certain grants under the plan.
Grant (noun) – money given (usually by government) for a specific purpose.
Example: Cities can apply for grants to fund local recovery services.
Coercion (noun) – forcing someone to do something, often through pressure or power.
Example: Some critics worry court-ordered treatment can lead to coercion.
Integrated care (noun phrase) – treatment that combines multiple services (health, housing, counseling).
Example: Integrated care can reduce gaps between clinics and housing services.
Metric (noun) – a measurement used to track results.
Example: Clear metrics help prove whether a pilot program works.
Stakeholder (noun) – a person or group affected by a decision.
Example: Patients, families, and communities are all stakeholders in recovery policy.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What is the STREETS program, and what services will it fund?
Why did the government choose a pilot program in eight cities instead of a nationwide rollout?
What does “long-term recovery and independence” mean in practical terms?
Why is court-ordered outpatient treatment (AOT) controversial?
What metrics would you use to judge whether this program is successful?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Which approach do you think works better: housing-first, harm reduction, or abstinence-focused recovery? Why?
Should recovery programs require people to work or participate in job training? Why or why not?
How should governments balance public safety with personal freedom in mental health and addiction policy?
What role should local communities and private charities play compared to the federal government?
What do you think is the biggest root cause of homelessness in modern cities?

Related Idiom / Phrase

“A step in the right direction” – an action that helps, even if it doesn’t solve everything.

Example: Supporters call the new funding a step in the right direction—if it leads to real, measurable recovery.

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This article was inspired by: The Epoch Times (Feb. 3, 2026), the official HHS Press Release, and additional reporting from AP News, PBS NewsHour, Fierce Healthcare, and The Guardian.