Housing Assistance for Single Mothers in Arkansas

Where to start

Choose the step that matches the problem you have right now. You can work on more than one path at the same time.

For broader Arkansas benefit help, the ASMOM Arkansas help page can help you connect housing with food, health care, child care, and cash aid.

Quick reference: which office to contact

Emergency rent, shelter, and rapid rehousing

The Emergency Solutions Grant is one of the main public funding paths for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Arkansas. The program can support shelter, street outreach, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, and related services through local organizations. ADFA also lists a homelessness page that points people to Continuum of Care contacts and related programs.

Ask for the exact local provider, not just the program name. You can say, “Which agency handles ESG homelessness prevention for my county?” Some agencies may only help people with a court notice, a written lease, a documented loss of income, or proof they can keep paying rent after short-term help. Others may focus on people already homeless.

Also ask about HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance. ADFA says HOME TBRA can help eligible low-income households with rent, utility deposits, and security deposits through local agencies. It is not a walk-in cash program, but it can be useful when a local nonprofit or public agency has an active award.

For a broader planning guide, see ASMOM rent help before you call agencies.

Section 8 and public housing in Arkansas

Housing Choice Vouchers, often called Section 8, are run by local public housing agencies. HUD describes the voucher page as a major rental help program for very low-income families. In most cases, the household pays a share of rent and utilities based on income, while the housing authority pays the approved subsidy to the landlord.

Arkansas does not have one statewide Section 8 waiting list for every area. You may need to apply to several housing authorities. Use the HUD PHA tool, then ask each office these questions: Is the voucher list open? Is the public housing list open? Do you have project-based vouchers? Do you have a preference for local residents, homelessness, disability, veterans, or working families?

Public housing is different from a voucher. Public housing is tied to a housing authority property. Project-based rental assistance is tied to a specific apartment. A voucher can move with you after the housing authority rules are met. If you are new to vouchers, the ASMOM Section 8 guide explains the basics.

Affordable apartments and local housing lists

Do not wait for one voucher list if you need cheaper rent. HUD’s Resource Locator can show subsidized apartments, public housing, low-income tax credit properties, and local housing contacts. HUD warns that the locator does not show live vacancy or waiting-list status, so you still must contact each property.

ADFA also keeps an ADFA Apartment Finder by county. This can help you build a call list for Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Pine Bluff, Jonesboro, rural counties, and smaller towns. Ask each property whether it has income limits, a waitlist, application fees, accessible units, and any rules about past evictions or criminal history.

When you call, ask for the tenant selection plan. This document explains how the property screens applicants. If you were denied because of old debt, eviction history, or credit, ask whether you can give proof of changed circumstances or a reasonable accommodation if a disability is involved.

Utility help and weatherization

LIHEAP helps with heating and cooling costs for households that qualify. The Arkansas Energy Office says people must apply through the community-based organization that serves their county. It also says Arkansas LIHEAP does not charge application or service fees.

Use the CBO county map to find the office for your county. Bring the documents the Arkansas LIHEAP page lists: photo ID, Social Security information, recent utility bills, proof of income, and proof of residency. If utilities are included in your rent, the 2026 eligibility chart says you may need a lease to show an energy burden.

Check the full income chart before you apply because larger households and special rules can change the answer. For general utility help planning, ASMOM has a utility bill help guide.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is different from LIHEAP. The Arkansas weatherization page says it can lower energy use through work such as air sealing, insulation, heating and cooling repair, safety items, and related minor repairs. To apply, use the WAP providers page and choose the provider for your county.

Legal help, fair housing, and safety

This guide is not legal advice. If you receive an eviction notice, court paper, lockout threat, utility shutoff tied to housing, or a housing discrimination problem, contact legal aid quickly. AR Law Help lists Arkansas housing topics, including landlord-tenant issues, evictions, renting, fair housing, and utility assistance.

You can also apply through the Legal Aid application. Legal aid may not be able to take every case, but it can tell you what to do next, what deadlines matter, and whether a self-help form or court kiosk is available. ASMOM also has a legal safety guide for related family and safety issues.

If a landlord refuses to rent to you because you have children, are pregnant, have a disability, need a reasonable accommodation, or belong to another protected class, ask legal aid or HUD about fair housing options. Keep dates, texts, emails, ads, voicemails, and names.

If abuse is involved, housing steps may need to be safer and more private. A local domestic violence advocate can help you think through shelter, protective orders, documents, and safer communication. ASMOM has a domestic violence guide that covers national safety paths.

Buying or keeping a home

Homebuyer programs are not emergency rent help. They can matter if your rent is stable enough for you to plan ahead. ADFA says its ADFA DPA page offers down payment and closing cost help from $1,000 to $15,000 for qualifying buyers using an ADFA StartSmart or Move-Up first mortgage. You must work with a participating lender.

USDA Rural Development may also help low- and very-low-income buyers in eligible rural areas. The Arkansas USDA direct loans page says the Section 502 Direct Loan program can offer payment assistance, usually no down payment, and year-round applications through Rural Development, subject to eligibility and funding.

Before you sign a mortgage, rent-to-own contract, or seller-financed deal, talk with a HUD-approved housing counselor. The CFPB housing counselor tool can help you find approved agencies that advise on buying, renting, credit, defaults, and foreclosure.

Documents to gather before you apply

Missing paperwork is one of the most common reasons help slows down. Make a paper folder, a phone photo folder, and a backup email folder if you can. The ASMOM documents checklist can help you stay organized.