Statement from SAMHSA PDAS Dr. Art Kleinschmidt on $2M Award for Pilot Program to Help Homeless People with Mental Illness and SUDs get into Treatment

Today, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded $2 million in supplemental funding to Merakey Philadelphia to launch a pilot program expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic services to the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. This targeted investment will provide vital resources to assist homeless individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. The initiative is designed to expand treatment and recovery supports, so that individuals can transition off the streets and into care that addresses their behavioral health needs.

In June, I had the opportunity to visit Merakey and witness firsthand the dedicated work they are undertaking. We also visited Kensington, where, on a random weekday afternoon, we saw a man nearly lose his life to an overdose on the sidewalk. That experience was a stark reminder of the devastating realities this community faces each day and reinforced the urgent need for expanded services and resources. As a clinician, I have treated a number of people who had spent time in Kensington in active addiction and know it has been a place where people with the illness of addiction get sicker.

This pilot program exemplifies SAMHSA's work to advance President Trump's Executive Order on Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets by providing direct support to communities in need that are confronting the challenges of addiction and homelessness head on. It represents an important step forward in fulfilling the Administration's commitment to addressing substance use, mental illness, and homelessness nationwide. Through the direct delivery of resources to Kensington, we are supporting a community that has shown remarkable resilience and could be a model for other communities facing similar challenges.

I and my SAMHSA team remain committed to working in partnership with local providers, state and community leaders, and the public to ensure access to effective treatment and recovery supports, reduce overdose deaths, and improve the health and well-being of individuals and families nationwide.