What Housing Programs Arkansas Offers

Arkansas runs several housing programs through its Department of Human Services and local housing authorities, but they operate separately and have different rules. The largest is the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8), which lets you rent from a private landlord while the program pays part of your rent. Arkansas also has Public Housing — apartments owned and managed directly by local housing authorities — and Project-Based Rental information, where the subsidy stays with a specific building rather than following you. A smaller program called HOME helps with down payments and closing costs for homebuyers with low incomes.

Each program has its own waiting list, its own income limits, and its own timeline. You do not automatically move from one to another. If you are on a Section 8 waiting list for two years and then get approved for Public Housing, you still have to wait for Public Housing separately. The programs do not talk to each other about your process status.

Key Takeaways

  • Arkansas has four main housing programs: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Public Housing, Project-Based Rental information, and HOME homebuyer information.
  • Each program has its own waiting list and income limits; being on one list does not move you up on another.
  • Housing Choice Vouchers let you choose your own rental unit, while Public Housing means living in a property owned by the housing authority.
  • You can contact your local housing authority directly to ask about current waiting list status and whether they are accepting new names.
  • Income limits vary by family size and program, and they change each year based on federal guidelines.

Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) in Arkansas

The Housing Choice Voucher program is the largest rental information program in Arkansas. You receive a voucher that covers a portion of your rent — usually the difference between 30 percent of your income and the program's payment standard for your area. You then find a rental unit on the private market, and the landlord must agree to accept the voucher. The housing authority pays the landlord directly each month.

Income limits for Section 8 in Arkansas depend on your family size and the county where you want to live. A single person in Pulaski County (Little Rock) has a different limit than a single person in a rural county. The program also looks at your assets: if you have more than $5,000 in liquid assets (cash, savings accounts, stocks), you may be over the limit. The housing authority will ask for recent pay stubs, tax returns, and a list of all bank accounts.

Waiting lists for Section 8 in Arkansas are long and often closed. Some housing authorities have not opened their lists in years. Contact your local housing authority directly — not a state office — to find out whether they are accepting new names. If the list is closed, ask when they expect to reopen it. Some authorities reopen for a few weeks each year; others open only when funding becomes available.

Public Housing and Project-Based Rental information

Public Housing means renting an apartment or house owned by your local housing authority. The authority sets the rent based on your income — usually 30 percent of what you earn — and you pay that amount directly to the authority. You do not choose the unit; the authority assigns you to available housing. The advantage is that rent is always tied to your income, so if your income drops, your rent drops too.

Project-Based Rental information is different: the subsidy is attached to a specific building, not to you. You explore to live in that building, and if you are approved, your rent is subsidized there. If you move, you lose the subsidy. These units are scattered across Arkansas in various towns and cities, often run by nonprofit organizations or private owners under contract with the state.

Both programs have waiting lists, and both have income limits. Public Housing waiting lists tend to move faster than Section 8 in some areas, but that varies by housing authority. Project-Based units fill as they become available, so there is no single waiting list — you explore to individual buildings or programs.

Income Limits and Household Composition Rules

Arkansas uses federal income limits set each year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The limits are based on the area median income for your county. In 2024, the limit for a family of four in Pulaski County was roughly 60 percent of the area median income, but that number changes yearly and varies by county. You must contact your local housing authority to learn the exact limit for your family size and location.

Household composition matters because the income limit changes with family size. A single person has a lower limit than a couple, which has a lower limit than a family of four. If you have a child, a dependent adult, or a live-in caregiver, they count as part of your household and affect your limit. The housing authority will ask for birth certificates, custody papers, or proof of guardianship to verify who lives with you.

Income includes wages, self-employment earnings, Social Security, disability payments, unemployment benefits, child support, and alimony. It does not include food stamps, Medicaid, or most one-time payments. If you receive irregular income — seasonal work, freelance pay, or gig work — the housing authority will average it over the past 12 months. If you are unemployed, they may count zero income or use your most recent job's earnings, depending on the program.

What Documents You Need to Bring

When you contact a housing authority to get on a waiting list or explore for a program, have these documents ready: a photo ID (driver's license or state ID), proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, Social Security statement, or benefit letter), last year's tax return, and a list of all bank accounts with current balances. If you are self-employed, bring two years of tax returns and a profit-and-loss statement. If you receive benefits, bring the most recent award letter from Social Security, Veterans Affairs, or the benefit program.

You will also need proof of citizenship or may be able to access immigration status. U.S. citizens need a birth certificate or passport. Non-citizens need a green card, work permit, or other document showing they are lawfully present. Some programs have restrictions on which immigration statuses may have access to; ask the housing authority directly.

For Section 8 and Public Housing, the authority will also run a background check and verify your rental history. They will contact previous landlords to ask whether you paid rent on time and kept the unit in good condition. If you have an eviction on your record, you may still be approved, but it depends on how long ago it happened and the reason. A recent eviction for non-payment is harder to overcome than an old one or one caused by a landlord's failure to maintain the unit.

How Long the Process Takes and What Happens Next

Getting on a waiting list is fast — usually one phone call or one visit to the housing authority office. You fill out an process, provide documents, and you are added to the list. But moving from the list to actually receiving housing takes much longer. For Section 8, the wait can be years in large cities like Little Rock and months in smaller towns. For Public Housing, the timeline varies widely by authority and by how many units are available.

Once you reach the top of the waiting list, the housing authority will contact you and ask you to come in for an interview. They will verify your information again, explain the program rules, and tell you what to expect. If you are approved, you will sign a lease or housing information agreement. For Section 8, you then have a set amount of time — usually 60 to 120 days — to find a rental unit. For Public Housing, the authority will offer you an available unit, and you can accept or decline it. If you decline, you may go back to the bottom of the list.

Once you move in, you pay your portion of rent each month and the program pays its portion. If your income changes, you must report it to the housing authority. Your rent may go up or down depending on the new income. The housing authority will do an annual review of your income and household composition to make sure you still meet the program rules.

What Can Disqualify You or Delay Your Approval

Criminal history does not automatically disqualify you, but certain convictions do. Convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine or for sex offenses against children are permanent bars — you cannot be approved. Other drug convictions, violent felonies, and crimes involving fraud may disqualify you depending on how long ago they happened and the specific program. Some housing authorities have policies that allow approval if the conviction was more than five or seven years ago; others are stricter. Ask the housing authority about their specific policy.

Eviction history is reviewed but not automatic grounds for rejection. If you were evicted for non-payment, the housing authority will look at when it happened and whether you have paid rent on time since. If you were evicted for lease violations — noise, damage, or other conduct — they will consider the severity and how long ago it was. An eviction from five years ago is viewed differently than one from six months ago.

Failure to report income changes, damage to a previous housing authority unit, or owing money to a housing authority can also block approval. If you owe back rent or damages from a previous Section 8 or Public Housing tenancy, you must pay it before you can be approved for a new program. Some housing authorities will work out a payment plan; others require full payment upfront.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be on multiple waiting lists at the same time?

Yes. You can be on the Section 8 waiting list, the Public Housing waiting list, and the Project-Based waiting list all at the same time. There is no rule against it. However, each list is separate, and being approved for one program does not affect the others. If you get approved for Public Housing while waiting for Section 8, you can accept the Public Housing and stay on the Section 8 list, or you can decline Public Housing and keep waiting for Section 8.

What if I have bad credit or owe money to other creditors?

Housing programs do not check your credit score. They do not care if you owe credit card companies or medical bills. They only care about housing-related debt: evictions, unpaid rent, or money owed to a previous housing authority. If you have no housing-related debt, bad credit will not block you.

Can I use a Section 8 voucher to rent from a family member?

No. You cannot use a Section 8 voucher to rent from a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. The landlord must be unrelated to you. This rule exists to prevent fraud and to make sure the subsidy actually goes to a third party, not just within your family.

What happens if my income goes up after I am approved?

Your rent will increase. Most programs require you to pay 30 percent of your income as rent. If your income rises, your share rises too. The program's payment to the landlord may decrease or stay the same, depending on the payment standard for your area. You must report income increases to the housing authority within 30 days of when they happen.

How do I find my local housing authority?

Search online for "[your city or county] housing authority" or call your city or county government office and ask for the housing authority phone number. You can also call 211 (dial 2-1-1 from any phone) and ask for housing resources in your area. The 211 service can tell you which housing authorities are accepting new names and may have information about current waiting list status.