Please allow this to serve as an open invitation to join the Arkansas Balance of State and participate in its efforts to decrease homelessness and increase housing stability in Arkansas.
As a Continuum of Care, we want to ensure that we are inclusive and providing equitable opportunities for everyone to have a seat at our table in the fight against homelessness. The continuum invites members of the following groups to join our efforts, but this is not an extensive list as we are happy to have anyone at the table:
1. Homeless or formerly homeless individuals and families
2. Non-profit organizations representing Veterans and individuals with disabilities
3. Victim Service Providers
4. Faith-based organizations
5. Public Housing Agencies
6. Advocates
7. Mental Health Agencies
8. School Districts
9. Hospitals
10. Universities
11. Affordable Housing Developers
12. Law Enforcement
13. Representatives of business and financial institutions
14. Representatives of private foundations and funding organizations
15. Social Service Providers
16. State and Local Government Providers
17. Representatives from communities who are underserved or overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness such as Black, Asian, Latinx, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous Populations; People who identify as LGBTQIA+; People who have been incarcerated; Youth; and Seniors
Information regarding Balance of State and Local Homeless Coalitions:
The Arkansas Balance of State Continuum of Care is an inclusive, community-based group that plans for and manages homeless assistance resources and programs efficiently and effectively with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness in Arkansas. The Continuum facilitates a coordinated effort of planning, integration of mainstream resources, and implementation of programs targeted at reducing homeless and improving housing stability in the 46 counties it serves which are:
Baxter, Boone, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Fulton, Garland, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Little River, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Pope, Randolph, Searcy, Sevier, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone, Van Buren, White, Woodruff, and Yell.
Local Homeless Coalitions (LHCs) are the core organizing and implementation entities for local delivery of housing and service initiatives intended to help end homelessness. The LHCs bring local providers and stakeholders together to collaboratively address homelessness and plan for housing and services in their region. Their responsibilities include recruiting members, performing needs assessments, and conducting the Point-In-Time (PIT) Count. Each LHC will have two voting members representing them on the Arkansas Balance of State Continuum of Care.
We hope you will consider joining our efforts to combat homelessness in our state! Please email Sue Legal at slegal@occnet.org for more information on connecting with your local homeless coalition.
