Housing Assistance for Single Mothers in Arkansas

Where to start

Pick the box that best matches your problem. You can work on two or more paths at the same time.

The Arkansas help guide covers other bills and family needs. Write down each office you call, the date, and what they tell you.

What has changed

• LIHEAP is closed: The Arkansas LIHEAP page now says the program is closed. The July 2026 status in the older article is no longer current. Ask your county agency about any other help or the next funding round.
• New funding year: ADFA posted a 2026–27 ESG funding notice for nonprofits and local governments. Families still ask local providers for services; they do not apply for this grant notice.

Quick reference: which office to contact

Emergency rent, shelter, and rapid rehousing

Arkansas uses local organizations to deliver most emergency housing services. ADFA funds programs, but families normally apply through a shelter, city, county, nonprofit, or Continuum of Care partner.

Emergency Solutions Grant

The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) helps fund street outreach, shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, and recordkeeping at local agencies. It is not a cash grant you can get by applying to ADFA. Ask the local provider how to be screened for services.

Rules depend on the service. You may need proof of lost housing, risk of eviction, or another covered need. The group may ask about income, family size, lease terms, and help you already get.

Ask 211 or your CoC which agency offers ESG help in your county. Funds run out, and some groups can only serve people who meet strict housing-crisis rules.

HOME tenant rental help

ADFA’s HOME tenant assistance (TBRA) can help with rent and some move-in deposits. Income must be at or below 60% of area median income. Local agencies run the help and may favor families facing homelessness or abuse. Ask which group serves your county.

Ask which local group has an active HOME rental assistance award. State funding does not mean that an agency near you has open spots.

Regional homelessness contacts

Arkansas has several CoC regions. They link families to shelter and rent help. Use Arkansas 211 or the ADFA map above to find the right contact. This table shows what to ask, not where beds are open.

If no one answers, call 211 and ask for your county’s coordinated entry contact. This group reviews housing needs. A Community Action agency may know other paths, even if it has no rent funds.

Section 8 and public housing in Arkansas

The Housing Choice Voucher program, often called Section 8, helps eligible households rent from private landlords. Public housing is tied to housing authority properties. Project-based vouchers are tied to certain apartments.

Arkansas has no single statewide housing waitlist. Find offices using HUD’s Arkansas PHA list or housing agency directory. Ask which lists are open, how to apply, and if local rules apply. Each office manages its own list.

A housing authority checks income, family size, and other rules. It may ask for Social Security numbers or proof of eligible immigration status for members seeking help. Ask which records it accepts before sending them.

In Little Rock, ask who handles your housing case. HUD HUD assumed control in May 2026. This does not mean waitlists are open.

The ASMOM Section 8 guide explains voucher rent shares, inspections, and waitlists. Getting on a list is not the same as getting a home or a voucher now.

Affordable apartments and local property lists

Search for lower-rent homes while you wait for a voucher. The HUD Resource Locator shows assisted properties, not live vacancies. Call each property to ask how to apply.

The ADFA Apartment Finder lists income-restricted properties by county. Call each property office and ask about unit size, income limits, current openings, waitlists, application fees, deposits, accessibility, and screening rules.

Ask for the tenant selection plan, if there is one. It may explain checks of rent history, debts, credit, and other records. If you have a disability, ask how to seek a reasonable accommodation. Do not share medical files unless the office explains what proof is needed.

Utility help and weatherization

LIHEAP utility help

LIHEAP may pay part of an eligible heating or cooling bill. On October 26, 2026, Arkansas lists LIHEAP as closed. The state LIHEAP page lists usual intake from January to April 30 and July to September 30, while funds last. Those months do not promise an open program.

Apply only through the agency serving your county. The LIHEAP county map shows where to call. The Arkansas Energy Office does not take family applications. If your power may be shut off now, ask that local office and your utility about any other crisis fund or payment plan.

Eligibility depends on income, family size, the bill, and state rules. A local office may ask for ID, Social Security details, a utility bill, and proof of income and residence. Arkansas charges no LIHEAP application fee. The Arkansas utility guide has more ways to seek help with bills.

Weatherization help

Arkansas’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps cut energy bills. It runs year-round. A home may qualify when income is at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, or by other program rules. Local workers check the home and may seal drafts, add insulation, or make safety fixes. Approved work is free to the household; timing and work depend on the home and provider.

Use the weatherization provider map to find the organization serving your county. Renters should ask whether the owner must give permission.

Eviction, legal help, fair housing, and safety

This article is general information, not legal advice. If you receive an eviction notice, court paper, lockout threat, or lease termination, contact legal aid right away. The Arkansas Law Help site offers housing information, an online legal-aid application, self-help tools, and a statewide helpline.

Act fast if you are served court papers. In a common Arkansas civil eviction case, called unlawful detainer, a landlord may give a 3-day notice for unpaid rent. Once court papers are served, a renter may have only 5 days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, to file a written objection. Arkansas also has a separate criminal failure-to-vacate process tied to a 10-day written notice for unpaid rent. These are different cases with different rules. Read the papers and ask legal aid about the exact deadline. Start with Arkansas eviction guidance; do not guess based on a notice type.

The Arkansas tenant rights page gives general state information. Government-assisted housing may have added federal rules, so tell legal aid if you live in public housing, have a voucher, or rent an assisted apartment.

If a landlord or housing office has treated you unfairly based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or having children, use HUD’s housing discrimination page. A Fair Housing Act complaint to HUD is generally due within one year of the act. Keep notices, ads, texts, emails, names, dates, and voice messages. Ask legal aid about your rights in your case.

The ASMOM Arkansas legal guide lists more civil legal paths. For abuse-related housing needs, use the Arkansas safety guide and avoid sharing plans on a device another person controls.

Buying a home or keeping one

Homebuyer programs are not emergency rent help. They may be useful when your current housing is stable and you are ready for a mortgage review.

The ADFA down payment program lists $1,000–$15,000 for eligible borrowers using a StartSmart or Move-Up first mortgage. This is a second mortgage with a 10-year term, not free money. Ask a participating lender about rates, fees, and the full monthly cost. The ASMOM Arkansas down payment guide covers more homebuyer questions.

The USDA Arkansas Direct Loan may help low-income buyers in eligible rural areas. No down payment is usually needed. USDA checks income, debts, housing needs, repayment ability, and available funds. A borrower may have to repay some payment aid when selling or moving. Ask your local USDA office for details.

Behind on a mortgage? Ask the servicer about ways to keep your home. HUD-approved housing counselors can help. The HUD Arkansas page lists contacts and counselors.

Documents to gather

Each program has its own list. Ask which records it needs before sending private papers. Keep a folder or safe phone copy. For housing help, these are common requests: