US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to allocate over $700 million (€610mn) to address mental illness “that fuels homelessness across America,” he said on Wednesday.
A chunk of this — $96 million (€83.8mn) — will be distributed to eight communities over four years to secure care for homeless people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and serious mental health illnesses.
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The program, according to the US Health Department, focuses on rapid, comprehensive and coordinated street-based engagement, treatment and recovery support services, bringing together local governments, healthcare and housing providers, law enforcement agencies and courts.
The remaining $612 million (€533.5mn) will fund a range of behavioural health programmes aimed at expanding access to mental health and addiction treatment, strengthening the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, supporting rural healthcare services, improving prevention and recovery programmes for people affected by addictions and boosting mental health support for children, young people and Indigenous communities.
“These investments will help move people from the streets into treatment and recovery, strengthen families, save lives, and make communities safer," Kennedy said in a press release.
