If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in Arkansas tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. Arkansas has a network of government agencies, nonprofits, and emergency assistance programs that can place you in a safe motel or hotel room while you work toward stable housing.
This guide covers every Arkansas-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Arkansas — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in Arkansas through the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), local Community Action Agencies, the Salvation Army, and other nonprofits. The fastest way to access one is to dial 211, which connects you to local emergency housing resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who Provides Hotel Vouchers in Arkansas?
Several organizations in Arkansas can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) — Arkansas’s primary social services agency manages emergency assistance programs that can cover short-term motel stays for eligible individuals and families. Contact your local DHS county office or visit dhs.arkansas.gov.
Arkansas 211 — Dialing 211 connects you with a trained operator who can identify the nearest hotel voucher program with available funds in your specific county or city.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Arkansas has Community Action Agencies serving counties across the state. These federally funded organizations are among the most reliable providers of emergency hotel and motel vouchers. Find your nearest agency at communityactionpartnership.com.
Salvation Army Arkansas — The Salvation Army operates locations in Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, and other cities and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities of Arkansas — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, with offices in Little Rock and serving communities statewide.
Arkansas Interfaith Conference — A network of faith-based organizations across Arkansas that maintain emergency assistance funds including hotel vouchers for people in need.
American Red Cross Arkansas — If your housing crisis results from a fire, tornado, flood, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — Many Arkansas churches — especially in rural communities — maintain emergency funds specifically for hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in Arkansas?
Eligibility varies by program, but most Arkansas hotel voucher programs give priority to:
- Individuals and families who are currently homeless (sleeping outside, in a vehicle, or in an unsafe location)
- People facing imminent eviction within 24–72 hours
- Families with children — prioritized by most Arkansas programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most Arkansas programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by tornadoes, floods, or severe storms
Arkansas sits in Tornado Alley and experiences frequent severe weather. Many programs and county emergency management offices prioritize individuals displaced by natural disasters. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in Arkansas, though having one speeds things up. If you’ve lost your ID, Arkansas DHS offices and many nonprofits can help you obtain emergency identification.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Arkansas (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Call 211
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone — it’s free. Tell the operator: “I need emergency shelter or a hotel voucher tonight in Arkansas.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county.
Step 2: Contact Your Local Arkansas DHS Office
The Arkansas Department of Human Services has county offices across the state. DHS administers emergency assistance programs including the Arkansas TEA (Transitional Employment Assistance) and can connect you with temporary housing funds for qualifying individuals and families.
Contact: dhs.arkansas.gov | 1-800-482-8988
Step 3: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
Arkansas’s Community Action Agencies serve counties across the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Community Action Program for Central Arkansas (CAPCA) — Little Rock and surrounding counties
- Western Arkansas Community Action Agency — Fort Smith and western Arkansas
- Arkansas Community Action Agency Association (ACAAA) — Statewide network
- East Arkansas Planning & Development District — Eastern Arkansas counties
- South Central Arkansas Planning & Development District — Southern Arkansas counties
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 4: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations throughout Arkansas and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Little Rock: 501-244-0440
- Fort Smith: 479-782-1167
- Fayetteville: 479-521-4604
- Jonesboro: 870-932-6494
- Hot Springs: 501-623-1668
- Texarkana: 870-772-4811
Step 5: Contact Catholic Charities of Arkansas
Catholic Charities provides emergency housing assistance to anyone in need regardless of faith. Their caseworkers can arrange hotel stays or connect you with voucher programs near you.
Contact: 501-664-0340 | catholiccharitiesarkansas.org
Step 6: Reach Out to Local Churches
In Arkansas’s many rural communities, local churches are often the fastest and most accessible source of emergency hotel funds. Call several congregations in your area — most will do everything they can to help.
Arkansas Government Programs for Emergency Housing
Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) — Emergency Assistance
DHS administers several programs that can help with short-term emergency housing including temporary motel stays. DHS also manages TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) emergency funds, which some counties can use for hotel vouchers for eligible families with children.
Contact: dhs.arkansas.gov | 1-800-482-8988
Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA)
ADFA manages Arkansas’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits and homeless service providers. They fund emergency shelter programs — including hotel and motel stays — statewide.
Contact: adfa.arkansas.gov | 501-682-5900
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — Arkansas
Arkansas receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through ADFA to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter space is unavailable.
Contact: ADFA at adfa.arkansas.gov
HUD Continuum of Care — Arkansas CoC Programs
Arkansas’s CoC programs manage local homeless service networks and can connect you with emergency hotel vouchers, rapid re-housing, and transitional housing.
Key Arkansas CoCs include:
- Little Rock/Central Arkansas CoC
- Northwest Arkansas CoC (Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville)
- Balance of State Arkansas CoC (all remaining counties)
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in Arkansas — such as a tornado, flood, or severe storm — FEMA’s TSA program can place you in a participating hotel or motel at no cost.
Apply: disasterassistance.gov | 1-800-621-3362
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) — Arkansas
Homeless Arkansas veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. The HUD-VASH program combines housing vouchers with VA supportive services. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
Arkansas VA Locations:
- John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital (Little Rock): 501-257-1000
- Fayetteville VA Medical Center: 479-443-4301
- Fort Smith VA Clinic: 479-709-6300
- Jonesboro VA Clinic: 870-972-0018
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in Arkansas
Salvation Army Arkansas
With locations in Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Hot Springs, and Texarkana, the Salvation Army is one of Arkansas’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Charities of Arkansas
Serves anyone in need regardless of faith. Their Little Rock office provides emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals across the state.
Contact: 501-664-0340 | catholiccharitiesarkansas.org
Our House — Little Rock
Our House is one of Little Rock’s leading homeless service providers, offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, job training, and case management. They can connect individuals with hotel voucher programs when shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: 501-374-7383 | ourhouseshelter.org
Dorcas House — Little Rock
Dorcas House provides emergency shelter and transitional housing specifically for women and children in the Little Rock area and can connect families with hotel voucher assistance.
Contact: 501-372-3595
7Hills Homeless Center — Fayetteville
7Hills is Northwest Arkansas’s primary homeless service provider, offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and case management. They can connect individuals in the Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers area with hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 479-695-7659 | 7hillsnwa.org
LifeSource International — Fort Smith
LifeSource provides emergency assistance including temporary housing help in the Fort Smith area and western Arkansas.
Contact: 479-434-5433
Arkansas Foodbank & Partner Network
While primarily focused on food assistance, the Arkansas Foodbank’s partner network of nonprofits across the state can often connect individuals with emergency housing resources including hotel vouchers.
Contact: 501-565-8121 | arkansasfoodbank.org
American Red Cross — Arkansas
The Red Cross assists people displaced by Arkansas’s frequent tornadoes, floods, and severe storms. If your homelessness stems from a disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations.
Contact: 1-800-733-2767 | redcross.org
Emergency Housing Help by City in Arkansas
Little Rock / Central Arkansas
Little Rock has Arkansas’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Little Rock 211: Dial 211
- Our House: 501-374-7383
- Dorcas House (women/children): 501-372-3595
- Salvation Army Little Rock: 501-244-0440
- Catholic Charities Arkansas: 501-664-0340
- CAPCA Community Action: 501-374-1103
- Arkansas DHS Little Rock: 501-682-8650
Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville / Springdale / Rogers / Bentonville)
- NWA 211: Dial 211
- 7Hills Homeless Center: 479-695-7659
- Salvation Army Fayetteville: 479-521-4604
- Community Clinic (also assists with housing): 479-751-6129
- Ozark Guidance (mental health/housing): 479-750-2020
- Washington County DHS: 479-521-6220
Fort Smith / Western Arkansas
- Fort Smith 211: Dial 211
- LifeSource International: 479-434-5433
- Salvation Army Fort Smith: 479-782-1167
- Western Arkansas Community Action Agency: 479-785-2303
- Sebastian County DHS: 479-784-1050
Jonesboro / Northeast Arkansas
- Jonesboro 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Jonesboro: 870-932-6494
- Safe Haven (DV/emergency housing): 870-933-9000
- Crowley’s Ridge Development Council: 870-972-0515
- Craighead County DHS: 870-972-0800
Hot Springs / Garland County
- Hot Springs 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Hot Springs: 501-623-1668
- Ouachita Children’s Center: 501-623-5591
- Garland County DHS: 501-760-3600
Texarkana / Southwest Arkansas
- Texarkana 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Texarkana: 870-772-4811
- Four States Community Action (Miller County): 870-774-6011
- Miller County DHS: 870-779-3000
What to Do After Your Hotel Voucher Runs Out
A hotel voucher is a bridge — not a permanent solution. While you have temporary shelter, take these steps toward stable housing:
Connect with a case manager. Ask the organization that gave you the voucher to assign you a case manager. Case managers in Arkansas can help you navigate housing programs, benefits, and resources specific to your county.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in Arkansas. RRH programs provide short-term rental assistance and support to help you move from homelessness into housing quickly. Contact your local CoC or dial 211 to find RRH programs available in your Arkansas county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) or your local public housing authority to apply. Waitlists can be long — apply as early as possible.
Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact ADFA at adfa.arkansas.gov or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your county.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like Our House, 7Hills, and the Salvation Army offer transitional housing programs in Arkansas with support services to help you build long-term stability.
Apply for benefits you may qualify for. If you haven’t already, apply for SNAP food assistance, Medicaid (Arkansas Medicaid), and TANF at your local DHS office or at benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in Arkansas tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your Arkansas county. You can also contact your local Salvation Army or DHS office directly.
Does Arkansas DHS provide hotel vouchers?
Yes, Arkansas DHS can provide emergency housing assistance including temporary motel stays in some situations, particularly for families with children. Contact your local county DHS office directly to ask about available emergency funds.
Are hotel vouchers available in rural Arkansas counties?
Yes. Community Action Agencies and the Balance of State Arkansas CoC serve rural counties throughout the state. Dial 211 to find the Community Action Agency for your specific county.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in Arkansas?
Many programs will still help you without a photo ID, though having one speeds up the process. If you’ve lost your ID, ask your caseworker or local DHS office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Arkansas?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or your nearest Arkansas VA facility. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in Arkansas?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or contact Safe Haven in Jonesboro (870-933-9000) or your nearest local DV shelter for immediate safe housing assistance.
Are there emergency hotel vouchers after tornadoes in Arkansas?
Yes. If a tornado or severe storm has displaced you, FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program can place you in a hotel at no cost after a presidentially declared disaster. Apply at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. The Red Cross also responds immediately to disaster-related housing needs.
What if there are no hotel vouchers available in my area?
If vouchers are unavailable, ask about shelter beds or contact the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-466-4782 for additional options. In rural areas, local churches are often the most accessible backup resource.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in Arkansas tonight, your first call should be to 211. From there, operators can connect you with the nearest available program — whether that’s a Community Action Agency, the Salvation Army, Arkansas DHS, or a local organization like Our House or 7Hills.
Arkansas has resources for you. Don’t wait to reach out — that’s exactly what these programs are here for.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Arkansas DHS, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army Arkansas
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.