On February 2, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $100 million federal investment to address addiction and homelessness. This marks a significant step by the Trump administration to expand treatment and recovery services nationwide. Furthermore, the announcement arrives as recent HHS policy decisions have created uncertainty across the behavioral health space, raising concerns among providers and patient advocates alike.
What Is the STREETS Program?
The new funding supports an initiative called Safety Through Recovery, Engagement and Evidence-based Treatment and Supports — better known as STREETS. The program targets outreach, psychiatric care, medical stabilization, and crisis intervention for individuals experiencing both homelessness and substance use disorders. In addition, STREETS aims to connect participants with stable housing and build sustainable paths toward long-term recovery and independence.
HHS structured STREETS as an outcomes-based program. Consequently, providers must demonstrate measurable results to receive and retain funding. The initiative will first launch in eight communities. Then, through partnerships with local governments and community organizations, federal officials plan to expand its reach significantly.
Faith-Based Groups Join Federal Recovery Push
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. frames STREETS as part of the broader Great American Recovery Initiative. This initiative coordinates federal agencies, healthcare providers, and community groups to collectively address addiction and homelessness. Notably, faith-based organizations may participate in the federally funded program. Kennedy championed this inclusion publicly, arguing that recovery must address spiritual dimensions alongside medical ones.
Executive Order Drives Policy Direction
STREETS directly responds to the President’s Executive Order on Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets, issued on July 24, 2025. This order directs federal agencies to prioritize law enforcement, civil commitment expansion, and institutional treatment. It also attaches stricter conditions to federal grants for states and cities that enforce anti-camping and anti-drug-use laws.
However, public health experts have voiced serious concerns. Critics argue that the policy over-relies on punitive measures and involuntary institutionalization. Moreover, it largely overlooks root causes of homelessness, such as the acute shortage of affordable housing. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health described it as a punitive approach that bypasses proven public health solutions.
How Digital Health Supports Addiction Treatment
Telehealth’s Role Since the Pandemic
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has become a critical tool for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Clinicians now use virtual counseling, remote medication management, and online consultations to reach patients who face barriers to in-person care. Federal guidance from SAMHSA confirms that telehealth effectively supports screening, therapy, and medication-assisted treatment. Patients can also maintain continuity of care from home — a key benefit for those dealing with housing instability or transportation challenges.
DEA Prescribing Rules and the 2026 Deadline
One factor shapes the future of telehealth-based addiction treatment more than any other: DEA prescribing rules. Currently, telehealth clinicians can prescribe controlled substances without requiring an initial in-person visit. The DEA extended its COVID-era flexibility through December 31, 2026. However, the agency has not yet finalized permanent rules. Clinicians and patients must watch this deadline carefully. Any policy shift could significantly disrupt access to medication-assisted treatment delivered via telehealth.
What This Means for Telehealth Clinicians
The Trump administration continues to emphasize digital health integration and outcome-driven care. The STREETS program aligns clearly with that focus. Federal agencies now coordinate a national SUD response through expanded treatment capacity, stronger recovery support, and better collaboration among federal, state, and local stakeholders.
Telehealth providers have an important role to play in this growing ecosystem. Virtual tools can extend access to addiction treatment — especially for individuals who cannot attend in-person appointments due to stigma, housing instability, or transportation barriers. Therefore, clinicians offering SUD telehealth services should stay closely informed about two things: the DEA’s upcoming prescribing decisions and any new funding opportunities tied to initiatives like STREETS.
