The Trump administration is encouraging community leaders and state-based groups to pursue a “treatment first” strategy when it comes to tackling the joint problem of addiction and homelessness across the country.Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner on Wednesday released a 40-page tool kit for federal, state, and local organizations and private sector groups to incorporate addiction recovery as a foundational part of anti-homelessness programs.The “treatment first” approach differs from the more ubiquitous “housing first” or “housing only” models of addressing the homelessness crisis, which emphasize establishing permanent housing before or without drug treatment.
Kennedy said in a press release that the new Best Practices Toolkit for addressing homelessness and addiction “gives communities practical, evidence-based strategies to expand treatment, support lasting recovery, and help people reclaim their independence.”“Treatment must come first,” Kennedy said. “Recovery begins when we connect people with effective care, not leave them trapped in addiction and homelessness.”
.@DrugCzar47: “We believe that treatment MUST come first with housing. It places a premium on evidence-based treatment that promotes sustained recovery, accountability, self-sufficiency, social connectedness, as well as family and community reintegration.” pic.twitter.com/KYbLh7e8kU— HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) August 12, 2026
