Big news out of Washington this month. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just opened the door to a brand new pot of money aimed at helping people who are homeless and struggling with addiction or serious mental illness. It’s called the STREETS program, and if your organization works in this space, this one is worth your attention.
Here’s the breakdown.
What is the STREETS program?
The STREETS program stands for Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-Based Treatment and Support.
Its main goal is to help communities bring care directly to people living on the streets.
That can include:
- Mental health treatment
- Substance use treatment
- Recovery support
- Help connecting people to housing, care, and other services
Think of it as a way to build a stronger local response team, where health care, housing, local government, courts, and law enforcement can work together.
Who is eligible and who can apply for the STREETS program funding?
Eligibility is limited to:
- Cities
- Counties
- Other political subdivisions of states
- Tribal organizations
- Tribal organizations
Private businesses do not appear to be eligible as direct applicants based on the posted funding details.
What does the STREETS program fund?
The funding supports programs that provide direct, street-based help for people facing homelessness, mental illness, addiction, or both.
Examples may include:
- Outreach teams
- Treatment services
- Recovery support services
- Care coordination
- Community partnerships
- Systems that connect people to longer-term help
The focus is on getting help to people where they are, instead of waiting for them to walk through the front door of a clinic.
What are the conditions of the STREETS program?
The program has a few important conditions:
- Funded programs must use evidence-based treatment and support.
- Services should be fast, coordinated, and community-wide.
- Local government, health providers, housing partners, law enforcement, and courts may be involved.
- Programs may not use housing-first approaches.
- Programs may not use prohibited harm reduction services.
- There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed.
How much funding is available?
The STREETS program will provide:
- Up to $24 million per year
- Up to $96 million over 4 years
- 8 expected awards
- Up to $3 million per award, per year
- Funding through a cooperative agreement
Does the funding support mobile medical units?
The current public listing focuses on street-based care, treatment, and recovery support. It does not clearly say that mobile medical units are approved costs.
That said, communities planning mobile outreach may want to review the full funding notice or contact SAMHSA to ask if a vehicle can be included as part of the service model. A mobile medical unit could make sense for street outreach, but applicants should confirm that before building it into a budget.
Deadline dates to know
- Posted date: June 17, 2026
- Application closing date: July 17, 2026
- Archive date: August 16, 2026
Ready to apply for the STREET program?
The STREETS program could be a strong fit for communities looking to bring mental health care, addiction treatment, and recovery support directly to people who need help most.
If your community is exploring mobile outreach, mobile medical care as part of a street-based program, it may be worth reviewing this funding opportunity closely.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to click the button below to talk to one of our mobility experts.
Note: AVAN Mobility is not the funding provider and cannot assist with applications. The information shared here comes directly from the funding opportunity. To learn more, visit the STREET program page. This content is meant to raise awareness of funding or grant opportunities.
