Arkansas rent relief programs are easy to find if you know where to look! We’ve scoured the web to find all of the rental assistance programs available to residents of this state.
Statewide Arkansas Rent Relief Program
There are several statewide Arkansas rent relief programs that may be able to assist you. Some will even help with your past-due utilities!
Arkansas Rent Relief Program
This Arkansas Rent Relief Program offers financial assistance to low income Arkansas renters who were financially hurt by the pandemic. This program has been extended into 2022!
The Arkansas Rent Relief Program can help you pay past-due and future rent and utilities. The program can also help with up to 5% of late fees dating back to April 1, 2020! In total, up to 15 months worth of rent may be covered by this program.
In order to be eligible for the Arkansas Rent Relief program, you must meet the following requirements;
- You must have someone in your home who was financially impacted by the pandemic. This includes someone who qualifies for unemployment benefits, experienced a decrease in income during the pandemic, or suffered financial hardship such as reduced hours, lost job or had significant medical costs.
- You must meet household income limits based on the area median income for your county and household size.
During the application process, you will be expected to provide some documentation, including:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Proof of rental (such as a lease)
- Proof of housing instability (such as a late notice or eviction notice)
- Proof of income for everyone in the home who files taxes
- Proof of financial hardship
- Landlord’s contact information
You can apply online through the official Arkansas Department of Human Services portal.
Emergency Solutions Grant Program
Additional COVID-19 rental assistance is available through the Emergency Solutions Grant Program. This funding is different than the Arkansas Rent Relief Program described above. This program has several categories for funding.
- Street Outreach serves those who are homeless and not staying in a shelter.
- Homelessness Prevention offers rental assistance and support for those who need help staying in their homes.
- Rapid Re-Housing helps those who are homeless transition to housing stability.
In order to apply for this assistance, you will need to contact your local agency.
United Way COVID-19 Assistance Fund
The United Way of the Ouachitas has a COVID-19 assistance fund that may assist with rent, utilities, food, medical expenses and more. This particular branch serves residents of Clark, Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery, Pine, Polk, and Saline Counties.
It is unclear whether other United Way locations offer a similar service but it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Arkansas Fresh Start
The Arkansas Fresh Start program is not related to COVID-19 pandemic assistance. This is a program administered by the state’s 15 Community Action Agencies. This program will pay up to the amount of one month’s rent for a security deposit and up to 1.5 months of actual rent.
The agencies that administer this program may periodically stop accepting applications while they work through the applications they have already received. For that reason, it is important to apply as soon as you are eligible.
In order to apply for this program, you can use the AR Fresh Start website or contact your local Community Action Council. The councils that serve Arkansas are listed below.
- Our Healthy Communities serves Benton, Carroll and Madison Counties.
- Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County serves Washington County.
- Ozark Opportunities Inc. serves Baxter, Boone, Marion, Newton, Searcy, and Van Buren Counties.
- North Central Arkansas Development Council Inc. serves Fulton, Independence, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties.
- Black River Area Development Corp. serves Clay, Lawrence and Randolph counties.
- Crowley’s Ridge Development Council Inc. serves Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Poinsett, St. Francis and Woodruff counties.
- Mississippi County Arkansas Economic Opportunity Commission Inc. serves Mississippi County.
- Community Action Program for Central Arkansas Inc. serves Cleburne, Faulkner and White Counties.
- Arkansas River Valley Area Council Inc. serves Conway, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Perry, Polk, Pope, Scott and Yell Counties.
- Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council serves Crawford and Sebastian Counties.
- Community Services Office serves Garland County.
- Central Arkansas Development Council serves Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Pulaski, Saline, Sevier and Union Counties.
- Mid-Delta Community Services serves Lee, Monroe, Phillips, and Prairie Counties.
- Central Delta Community Action Agency serves Arkansas, Cleveland, Grant, Jefferson and Lincoln Counties.
- Southeast Arkansas Community Action Corp. serves Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha and Drew counties.
Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese
Marshallese residents of Arkansas may be able to receive assistance with rent through the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese. This organization serves the Marshallese community with many supports, including help getting medical care, help gathering documents, financial literacy classes, cultural preservation and more. Some resources report that they also operate an Arkansas rent relief program for eligible Marshallese residents.
Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation
The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation has funds to help Native American renter households with rent payments. The funds can be used for security deposits, past due and future rent. the program will remain open until funds run out or until June 1, 2022. In order to be eligible, at least one member of your household must be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and your household income must not exceed 80% of the Area Median Income.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army office in El Dorado is listed as providing rent payment assistance. Many Salvation Army chapters offer this service. It is often listed as homelessness prevention. Please reach out to your local Salvation Army office for details.
Section 8 Program
Although the Section 8 Program is not one of the emergency Arkansas rent relief programs, it can provide a more long-term solution to your housing needs. This program often has a long wait list so you should apply as soon as you are eligible. Once you are approved, you will be able to receive assistance with your rent every month as long as you abide by the terms and policies of the program.
Nationwide Rent Relief Programs
We have found many nationwide programs that may be able to help you pay your rent in Arkansas. These include grant programs for people who meet specific guidelines. If you need help with your housing costs, please look here as well!
Local Arkansas Rent Relief Programs
Of course, some of the Arkansas rent relief programs we found only help people in certain cities, counties or zip codes. These local programs may be able to assist you. We’ve organized this local list alphabetically by county for your convenience.
Benton County
HARK by Excellerate Foundation
HARK is a community resource connection service that can help you find Arkansas rent relief programs. Through this resource center, Excellerate Foundation has been able to help thousands of people with referrals to services that can help.
Second Street Pantry Missions
According to their website, Second Street Pantry Missions aims to “help make a difference in the lives of those experiencing…poverty by providing food, personal care goods, financial assistance and education.” They can provide assistance with food, rent assistance, utility assistance, gas for your vehicle and more.
St. Stephen Catholic Church
As a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the St. Stephen Catholic Church offers limited financial assistance. They assist individuals and families who live in the Bentonville, Bella Vista and Centerton areas with food, limited financial assistance and spiritual support.
Boone County
Harrison House of Hope
The House of Hope is a day center for homeless people in Boone County. They offer assistance with basic needs, emergencies, help obtaining identification and more. According to their website, this includes restroom facilities, showers and toiletry items, laundry services, clothing, mailing address services, meals, diapers, life skills training, transportation and more. It appears that they also offer housing expense assistance when funds are available.
Carroll County
HARK by Excellerate Foundation
HARK is a community resource connection service that can help you find Arkansas rent relief programs. Through this resource center, Excellerate Foundation has been able to help thousands of people with referrals to services that can help.
Garland County
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church offers several community outreach ministries. They provide rent and utility assistance, as well as a shower ministry, clothing closet, job assistance, medication assistance, help replacing lost or stolen documents, and more.
Johnson County
Help Network Inc.
Help Network Inc. provides rent assistance, life skills training and other resources to residents of Pope, Johnson and Yell Counties. This is a faith-friendly community non-profit that focuses on homelessness prevention, rent and utility assistance and employment services.
Madison County
HARK by Excellerate Foundation
HARK is a community resource connection service that can help you find Arkansas rent relief programs. Through this resource center, Excellerate Foundation has been able to help thousands of people with referrals to services that can help.
Pope County
Help Network Inc.
Help Network Inc. provides rent assistance, life skills training and other resources to residents of Pope, Johnson and Yell Counties. This is a faith-friendly community non-profit that focuses on homelessness prevention, rent and utility assistance and employment services.
Sebastian County
Riverview HOPE Campus
HOPE Campus is an adult-only homeless shelter that also provides meals, showers, laundry services, mental health services, skills classes, dog kennels and more. They also offer rent and utility assistance, as well as rapid re-housing services.
Washington County
First Church United Methodist
The First Church United Methodist in Springdale offers several ministries that may be able to help you. The His Helping Hands ministry offers a clothing bank and other donated items. They also offer food and limited emergency financial assistance through their Bread of Life ministry. The funds are limited to $350 maximum, no more than once every three years. You must live in Springdale and have an eviction notice or utility disconnection notice in order to receive assistance.
HARK by Excellerate Foundation
HARK is a community resource connection service that can help you find Arkansas rent relief programs. Through this resource center, Excellerate Foundation has been able to help thousands of people with referrals to services that can help.
Hope Cancer Resources
Hope Cancer Resources provides assistance to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. In order to receive assistance from this agency, you must have a cancer diagnosis and live in (or be treated in) Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington Counties.
If you qualify, you may be able to receive assistance with emotional support, transportation to medical appointments, and financial assistance. The financial assistance funds can be used to help with prescriptions, dental care, travel expenses, rent, mortgage payments, homeowners insurance, car payments, gas cards, utilities, and other everyday living expenses.
Yell County
Help Network Inc.
Help Network Inc. provides rent assistance, life skills training and other resources to residents of Pope, Johnson and Yell Counties. This is a faith-friendly community non-profit that focuses on homelessness prevention, rent and utility assistance and employment services.
Nicole Thelin
Have too much month at the end of your money? Me too - and that's how Low Income Relief got started. I have over 20 years of professional research and writing experience. Over the years, I've worked as a novelist, journalist, ghostwriter and content creator. My work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, eHow.com, Livestrong.com, Legal Beagle, The Daily Herald (Provo, Utah), The Chronicle (Centralia, WA) and others. At Low Income Relief, I use my professional research and reporting experience to help low income families save money and make ends meet. It's been my full-time job since 2016, and it's truly an honor to serve you.
