There are many resources for people facing eviction in Arkansas. However, there is widespread confusion about what resources are available and how to access them.

The main sources of rental assistance are the Arkansas Rent Relief Program and Arkansas Fresh Start. There are many other resources available that I will describe below.

What resources are available?

- Rental assistance: There is money for people to get caught up on rent called “rental assistance.” This can sometimes apply to future rent as well.

- Rehousing: There are programs to help people move who are at risk of homelessness. I will call these “rehousing programs.” They can help with deposits, the first month’s rent, and other expenses related to moving.

- Legal help: There is free legal help for tenants facing eviction. Low-income landlords can also get free legal advice online.

- Income-based housing: There is income-based housing. It is good to apply for this even if you think you will be on a long waiting list. You may get in faster than you think. It can help you have a stable home—and life—for many years.

- Case Management: There are “case managers” or professionals that can help you navigate these resources in some places. This is mainly for families with minor children.

Rental Assistance

There are many programs giving out rental assistance in Arkansas. In general, rental assistance is money to help people get caught up on their rent. Some programs may pay up to 3 months of future rent at a time. Amounts and rules vary significantly by county and program.

- Benton County: Apply for rental assistance from the county and Arkansas Fresh Start. These are separate programs. If the county has run out of its funding, then apply for the Arkansas Rent Relief Program instead.

- Pulaski County: Apply for rental assistance from the county and Arkansas Fresh Start. These are separate programs. If the county has run out of its funding, then apply for the Arkansas Rent Relief Program instead.

- Washington County: Apply for rental assistance from the county and Arkansas Fresh Start. These are separate programs. If the county has run out of its funding, then apply for the Arkansas Rent Relief Program instead.

- Everywhere else in Arkansas: Apply for rental assistance from the Arkansas Rent Relief Program and Arkansas Fresh Start. These are separate programs.

Some of these agencies may have other rental assistance as well if they are listed as providing “homelessness prevention” services.

Arkansas should have money available for homeowners—including people buying “rent-to-own" and other seller-financed homes—available soon through the Arkansas Housing Assistance Fund.

Rapid Rehousing

Some programs cover the cost of moving for families facing eviction and homelessness. This is a good option for people who want to move or whose landlords refuse to accept money from rental assistance programs. Tenants are normally still responsible for finding their own place to move to.

Rehousing funding may be available from the Arkansas Fresh Start Program, these agencies (if listed as having “rapid rehousing” funding), and the People Trust Loan Fund. Pulaski County residents can apply for rapid rehousing funding from the Pulaski County Community Services Department over the phone at (501) 340-8399.

Legal Aid

There is some free legal help for low-income landlords and tenants in Arkansas.

Tenants facing eviction can apply for free legal aid from the Center for Arkansas Legal Services or Legal Aid of Arkansas. We strongly encourage tenants to call us for help rather than try to represent themselves in court. This area of law is more complicated than you might think. You may struggle to present your case in court even if you have a defense. Most landlords have attorneys in eviction cases, while most tenants do not.

Low-income landlords and tenants can obtain free legal advice online from Arkansas Free Legal Answers.

Income-Based Housing

One of the best things you can do if you are struggling to pay rent is to find a long-term housing situation that you can afford. There is housing where your portion of the rent is based on your income. Many programs will push you up on the waiting list if you are homeless, fleeing domestic abuse, or working.

You should apply for income-based housing through your local public housing agency or “housing authority.” There are other types of housing where you apply directly at the complex rather than through a housing authority.

You should look up affordable housing near you on this map from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”).

Apply through housing city or county housing authority for:

- Public housing (the yellow dots on the map); and

- Section 8 vouchers.

You should call the complex directly for:

- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Properties (the purple dots);

- USDA Rural Housing (the green dots); and

- Other multi-family housing (the orange dots).

Case Management

These resources can be hard to keep track of--even for people who do this for a living. It may help to have a “case manager” or professional to help you access the services you need. A case manager is like a social worker, but case managers are not licensed therapists or counselors. Case managers are experts in local services for people in crisis.

The 100 Families program provides case management to families with minor children in Crawford, Pulaski, Sebastian, and White counties. The Central Arkansas Family Stability Institute at Our House provides case management to families with minor children in Central Arkansas.

Many homeless shelters provide case management as well.

AUTHOR: KENDALL LEWELLEN, STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE CENTER FOR ARKANSAS LEGAL SERVICES