U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced more than $700 million in new funding to treat drug addiction, mental illness and homelessness on Wednesday, including access for faith-based organizations, which previous administrations “actively discouraged.”

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In announcing the new funding at the Easterseals MORC treatment center in Clinton Township, Michigan, Kennedy said it was part of President Donald Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative. He also framed drug addiction and homelessness as interconnected issues that come with an “enormous human toll.”

“Since 2000, drug-related deaths have claimed more than a million American lives. On any given night, more than 770,000 Americans are experiencing homelessness in communities across our country. These challenges are deeply connected,” he said. “Addiction destroys health, destabilizes families, fuels homelessness, and leaves too many Americans trapped in crisis.”

Kennedy said the HHS would invest $96 million in the Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support program known as STREETS. He also revealed an additional $612 million in funding for behavioral health programs, touting the Trump administration’s inclusion of faith-based organizations.

“Today, HHS is announcing more than $700 million in funding opportunities to expand treatment, to strengthen behavioral health services, and help people move from crisis to recovery. At the center of this effort is our new STREETS initiative, Safety Through Recovery Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support,” he said.

“One of the features of our STREETS program is opening up funding once again for faith-based organizations,” he continued. “The Biden administration actively discouraged funding to faith-based organizations for recovery. We think that they’re critical. President Trump considers them critical.”

Kennedy said former President Joe Biden’s administration focused on harm reduction, “which was needle exchanges on safe sites for injections.”

“This led to this proliferation of open-air drug markets around the country, and they actively discouraged the states from supporting faith-based organizations,” he added.

Monty Burks, director of HHS’ Faith Center and senior adviser for the Great American Recovery, praised the initiative for including faith communities as “being part of a healing equation.”

“There are 350,000 different faith-based communities across the United States of America. Over 160 million people attend some type of congregational service each week,” he said.

“We have a huge population of people who need addiction recovery support services. We are proud to announce and encourage our faith communities to be a part of the Great American Recovery initiative,” he added. “We want to make sure that barriers are removed, opportunities are available, and their voices are heard.”

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This article was originally published at The Christian Post. Photo Credit: Department of Health and Human Services.