Arkansas has approximately 2,500 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, with Little Rock accounting for the largest concentration. Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro have smaller but active homeless service systems. The state’s rural Delta counties in the east — among the poorest communities in the United States — and the Ozarks in the northwest have very limited formal emergency housing resources, making local churches and community organizations the primary safety net.
This guide from House for Homeless covers how to find emergency hotel or motel assistance anywhere in Arkansas tonight.
Need a hotel voucher in Arkansas tonight? Call 211 immediately — Arkansas 211 is available 24 hours across all 75 counties. Tell the operator your city or county and that you need emergency hotel or motel assistance. Veterans call 877-424-3838.
How Emergency Hotel Vouchers Work in Arkansas
Arkansas does not have a single statewide hotel voucher program. Emergency hotel and motel assistance is funded and administered locally through:
- Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) — state-level social services through county offices
- County DHS offices — Arkansas’s county-level welfare access points, one in every county
- Community Action Agencies — Arkansas’s CAA network covers all 75 counties
- Continuums of Care — Arkansas has multiple CoC regions
- Nonprofits and faith-based organizations
County DHS offices administer TEA (Transitional Employment Assistance) — Arkansas’s TANF program — and emergency funds that can sometimes authorize hotel placements for families in acute crisis. The Arkansas Delta has significant poverty but limited formal services, making faith communities especially important in that region.
Always call 211 first.
Arkansas State Programs Supporting Hotel Assistance
Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS)
DHS administers emergency assistance programs through county offices statewide. The Emergency Services Program and TEA can sometimes authorize emergency hotel placements for families with children in crisis.
DHS contact: 1-800-482-8988 Website: dhs.arkansas.gov
Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA)
ADFA distributes federal ESG funds and state housing resources to local organizations providing emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and hotel assistance statewide.
ADFA contact: 501-682-5900 Website: adfa.arkansas.gov
Who Provides Hotel Vouchers in Arkansas by Region
Little Rock and Central Arkansas (Pulaski County)
Little Rock has the largest and most developed homeless services infrastructure in Arkansas.
Little Rock CoC / Our House Lead CoC partner and comprehensive homeless services provider in Little Rock.
- Phone: 501-374-7383
- Address: 302 E Roosevelt Rd, Little Rock, AR 72206
- Website: ourhouseshelter.org
- Intake: Call for current hours and program availability
- Who they serve: Men, women, and families — full continuum from emergency shelter to permanent housing
Salvation Army of Little Rock Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers for individuals and families.
- Phone: 501-374-9296
- Address: 1111 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Catholic Charities of Arkansas Emergency assistance including housing help for anyone in need.
- Phone: 501-664-0340
- Website: catholiccharitiesarkansas.org
The Jericho Way Resource Center Day services and emergency housing referrals for people experiencing homelessness in Little Rock.
- Phone: 501-907-1230
- Website: jerichowaycenter.org
- Hours: Daily — call for current hours
YWCA of Central Arkansas (DV survivors) Emergency housing for domestic violence survivors in Little Rock.
- Phone: 501-375-9922
- Website: ywcaofcentralarkansas.org
Pulaski County DHS County emergency housing assistance through TEA and emergency funds.
- Phone: 501-682-8877
Fort Smith and Western Arkansas (Sebastian County)
River Valley CoC / Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center Coordinates homeless services in the Fort Smith area.
- Phone: 479-782-1961
Salvation Army Fort Smith Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 479-782-1167
- Address: 1020 N 11th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
Catholic Charities Fort Smith Emergency assistance including housing help.
- Phone: 479-783-9701
Sebastian County DHS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 479-484-5100
Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas (Washington, Benton counties)
Northwest Arkansas has grown rapidly due to the presence of Walmart, Tyson Foods, and related industries — housing costs have risen sharply, increasing housing instability.
Northwest Arkansas CoC / Fayetteville Underground Coordinates homeless services in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas.
7Hills Homeless Center Primary homeless services provider in Fayetteville serving individuals and families.
- Phone: 479-695-7133
- Address: 3 W 4th St, Fayetteville, AR 72701
- Website: 7hillsnwa.org
- Intake: Daily — call for current hours
Salvation Army Fayetteville Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 479-521-8333
Compassion Center (Springdale) Emergency assistance for Northwest Arkansas residents.
- Phone: 479-751-1200
- Website: compassioncenter.net
Washington County DHS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 479-521-2740
Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas (Craighead County)
Northeast Arkansas CoC / Community Services Inc. Coordinates homeless services in Northeast Arkansas.
- Phone: 870-935-7050
Salvation Army Jonesboro Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 870-932-4762
- Address: 1215 W Washington Ave, Jonesboro, AR 72401
Craighead County DHS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 870-933-6300
The Arkansas Delta
The Delta counties — Chicot, Desha, Drew, Phillips, Monroe, and surrounding areas — are among the most economically distressed communities in the United States. Formal hotel voucher programs are nearly nonexistent. Primary resources:
- Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC): 870-338-6471 — Community Action Agency for Delta counties
- Local churches — the primary and often only emergency resource across the Delta
- Your county DHS office — find at dhs.arkansas.gov
- 211 — always call first
Rural Arkansas — Ozarks and South
- Your county DHS office — every Arkansas county has one; find at dhs.arkansas.gov
- Community Action Agencies — call 211 for your nearest CAA
- Local churches — primary emergency resource throughout rural Arkansas
- 211 — always call first
Who Qualifies for Hotel Vouchers in Arkansas
| Priority Group | Arkansas-Specific Notes |
|---|---|
| People sleeping outside or in vehicles | Highest priority statewide |
| Families with children | Top priority; DHS TEA can sometimes authorize placements |
| Domestic violence survivors | Arkansas DV Hotline: 1-800-332-4443 |
| Veterans | VA resources in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Roots |
| Seniors (60+) | Priority in most county programs |
| Delta residents | DAEOC and local churches primary resources |
| Northwest AR workers | 7Hills and Compassion Center serve growing NWA region |
| Couples | Hotel placements address gender-separated shelter barriers |
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Arkansas — Step by Step
Step 1: Call 211 — available 24 hours across all 75 Arkansas counties.
Step 2: If you are in Little Rock, call Our House at 501-374-7383 or the Salvation Army at 501-374-9296.
Step 3: If you are in Fort Smith, call the Salvation Army at 479-782-1167.
Step 4: If you are in Fayetteville/Northwest Arkansas, call 7Hills Homeless Center at 479-695-7133.
Step 5: If you are in Jonesboro, call the Salvation Army at 870-932-4762.
Step 6: Contact your county DHS office and ask about TEA emergency hotel assistance.
Step 7: If you are a veteran, call 877-424-3838 immediately.
What to Do During Your Arkansas Hotel Placement
Apply for food assistance immediately: Apply for Arkansas SNAP at dhs.arkansas.gov or call 1-800-482-8988. With zero income you qualify for the maximum food stamp benefit and expedited 7-day processing.
Apply for Arkansas Medicaid: Apply at dhs.arkansas.gov for Arkansas Medicaid — covering healthcare, mental health, and substance use treatment. Arkansas expanded Medicaid in 2014 under the Private Option, now called Arkansas Works, which covers many low-income adults.
Enter coordinated entry: In Little Rock, contact Our House or call 211. In Northwest Arkansas, contact your local CoC through 211. Coordinated entry is your pathway to rapid rehousing and longer-term housing stability. Knowing what types of housing assistance exist in Arkansas before your first appointment helps you ask the right questions.
Pursue rental assistance: Ask 211 about emergency rent assistance in your county. Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas both have active programs, and availability changes with funding cycles.
Apply for Section 8: Contact your local Arkansas PHA. Little Rock Housing Authority: 501-340-4930. Waitlists are long across Arkansas — apply now and also explore other housing voucher programs that may be faster. Understanding how the Housing Choice Voucher program works will save you time when the call comes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a free hotel voucher for homeless in Arkansas?
Call 211 from anywhere in Arkansas — available 24 hours across all 75 counties. In Little Rock, call Our House at 501-374-7383 or the Salvation Army at 501-374-9296. In Fayetteville, call 7Hills Homeless Center at 479-695-7133. In Fort Smith, call the Salvation Army at 479-782-1167. Your county DHS office is also a key resource through the TEA emergency program.
What is Arkansas’s TEA program?
TEA — Transitional Employment Assistance — is Arkansas’s TANF program, administered through county DHS offices. In housing crisis situations, TEA emergency funds can sometimes cover emergency hotel placements for families with children. Contact your county DHS office at dhs.arkansas.gov and ask specifically about TEA emergency housing assistance.
Does Arkansas have a statewide hotel voucher program?
No. Arkansas does not have a single statewide hotel voucher program. Emergency hotel assistance is funded and administered locally through county DHS offices, Community Action Agencies, CoCs, and nonprofits. Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas have the most resources — Delta counties have very few. Call 211 for what is available in your specific county.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless families in Arkansas?
Yes. Families with children are the top priority. County DHS offices can sometimes authorize emergency hotel placements through TEA for families in crisis. Call 211 and specify that you have children. Our House in Little Rock serves families comprehensively. Families who stabilize in a hotel may also qualify for rental assistance to move toward permanent housing.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Arkansas?
Yes — veterans should call 877-424-3838 rather than general 211 lines. Arkansas has VA resources in Little Rock (John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital), North Little Rock (Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center), and Fayetteville (Fayetteville VA Medical Center) with dedicated homeless veteran programs including HUD-VASH and SSVF rapid rehousing.
What if I am homeless in the Arkansas Delta?
The Delta is one of the most economically distressed regions in the United States with very limited formal hotel voucher programs. Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC) at 870-338-6471 is the primary Community Action Agency. Local churches — particularly Baptist and AME congregations — are often the only emergency resource in many Delta communities. Call 211 — operators know resources not publicly listed.
Can I get a hotel voucher in Arkansas without ID?
Many Arkansas programs serve people without identification. Our House in Little Rock and Jericho Way operate low-barrier programs. Do not let lack of ID prevent you from calling 211. Free Arkansas ID programs are available through the Arkansas DFA — ask 211 or your county DHS office for ID assistance resources.
How long do hotel vouchers last in Arkansas?
Most Arkansas emergency placements last 1–7 nights, with possible extensions while longer-term housing is arranged. Little Rock programs sometimes offer longer placements for families. Connect with a case manager on Day 1 and enter coordinated entry immediately.