Financial assistance for low-income, older, and disabled homeowners and renters
22 programs listed · 17 verified against the program's own website
Arkansas delivers most of this help either through the Department of Human Services (for Medicaid and aging services) or through the Arkansas Energy Office at the Department of Energy and Environment (for weatherization and energy bills), with property tax relief handled by county assessors and collectors. The practical first calls are the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435 for in-home supports and aging questions, your local community action agency / community-based organization for weatherization and LIHEAP (statewide line 1-888-233-0326), and your county assessor for property tax relief. Note two important gaps up front: Arkansas has no FAIR plan for last-resort home insurance, and its utilities offer no permanent low-income rate discount (only crisis help).
Everything below, in one file you can print or take to an appointment.
Home modification and aging in place
ARChoices in Homecare (Medicaid HCBS waiver) - home modifications
stateNot confirmed
We could not open this program's own website to
check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call
or visit the program before relying on anything here.
Who it is for
Homeowners (or renter with landlord permission)
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Arkansas Dept. of Human Services, Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS) / Division of Medical Services
What you get
Home modifications for safety and accessibility (grab bars, wheelchair ramps), plus personal care, attendant care, and personal emergency response, as authorized in the care plan
Who qualifies
65+, or adults 21-64 with a physical disability
Income limit
Medicaid long-term care limits (2026: ~$2,982/mo individual income cap; $2,000 asset limit; home equity limit ~$752,000)
How to apply
Apply through Access Arkansas, your local DHS county office, or the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435; requires an intermediate nursing-facility level-of-care determination
If you share your home:
this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.
We could not open this program's own website to
check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call
or visit the program before relying on anything here.
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
What you get
Free assistive technology device demonstration, short-term device loan, a reuse/reutilization program, and funding-source information; devices range from simple aids to computerized speech and mobility equipment
Who qualifies
any
Income limit
none (free to any Arkansan with a disability or health condition regardless of age, disability type, income, or geography)
How to apply
Contact ICAN at 1-800-330-0632 or 501-296-1600, or visit ar-ican.org
If you share your home:
this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.
Area Agencies on Aging / Choices in Living Resource Center (information, referral, in-home supports)
stateOwners or rentersNot confirmed
We could not open this program's own website to
check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call
or visit the program before relying on anything here.
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Arkansas DHS, DAABHS, via eight regional Area Agencies on Aging
What you get
Free information, options counseling, and referral to in-home services (personal care, homemaker/chore, meals-on-wheels, transportation); some AAAs coordinate minor home repair and accessibility work through grants and volunteers
Who qualifies
60+ (information/referral for any age)
Income limit
none for information and referral (specific services may be income-tested by the local AAA)
How to apply
Call the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435, or find your regional AAA via the DHS map; central Arkansas is served by CareLink at 501-372-5300
If you share your home:
this program does not clearly say how it treats another adult in the home. Confirm with the program before anyone moves in.
We could not open this program's own website to
check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call
or visit the program before relying on anything here.
Type of help
loan and grant
Who runs it
USDA Rural Development (Arkansas State Office and area offices)
What you get
Loan up to $40,000 at 1% fixed for 20 years; grant up to $10,000 (age 62+); combined up to $50,000 ($15,000 grant / $55,000 combined in declared disaster areas)
Who qualifies
any for the loan; 62+ for the grant
Income limit
Very-low income (at or below 50% of area median income; county-specific limits via the USDA eligibility site, 2026)
How to apply
Contact your Arkansas USDA Rural Development area office (Harrison 870-741-8600 x4; Jonesboro 870-972-4671 x4; Forrest City 870-633-3055 x4; Monticello 870-367-8400 x4; Pine Bluff 870-534-3200 x4; Hope 870-777-8800 x4; Russellville 479-968-3497 x4); confirm the property is in an eligible rural area
If you share your home:
a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.
State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - housing rehabilitation
state
Who it is for
Homeowners (renters can benefit from locally administered rehab)
Type of help
grant
Who runs it
Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), Arkansas Dept. of Commerce
What you get
Grants of $75,000 to $500,000 to non-entitlement cities and counties; local governments may use funds for housing rehabilitation and related activities that benefit low-to-moderate-income residents
Who qualifies
any
Income limit
Household must be low-to-moderate income (at or below 80% of area median income); set by the local grantee
How to apply
You cannot apply directly; assistance flows through a city or county that receives a State CDBG award. Ask your city/county about active rehab programs. AEDC Grants Management: Jean Noble, 501-682-7389
If you share your home:
a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.
Arkansas has no single statewide home-repair or healthy-homes grant. Home repair help is assembled from USDA Section 504 (rural), local CDBG/HOME rehab, Area Agency on Aging referrals, and nonprofits such as Rebuilding Together affiliates and the Nehemiah Project.
Weatherization and energy efficiency
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
state
Who it is for
Owners or renters (renters eligible with landlord permission)
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), Arkansas Dept. of Energy and Environment, via local community action agencies / community-based organizations
What you get
Free energy audit, air sealing, insulation, HVAC repair/replacement, and health-and-safety measures (CO and smoke detectors); average of about $5,000 in improvements per home
Who qualifies
any (households with SSI or LIHEAP recipients are categorically eligible)
Income limit
At or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (2026)
How to apply
Apply through your local community action agency / CBO; statewide info at the Arkansas Energy Office, 1-888-233-0326 or 501-682-0744 (ee.help.energy@arkansas.gov)
If you share your home:
a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.
Owners or renters (single-family, apartments, and manufactured homes; owners and renters)
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Entergy Arkansas (utility efficiency program, delivered by authorized trade allies)
What you get
Free home energy assessment and no-cost weatherization plus health-and-safety upgrades: air sealing, duct sealing, ceiling insulation, AC tune-ups, and direct-install measures (efficient showerheads, aerators, advanced power strips)
Who qualifies
head of household 65+ qualifies (or any LIHEAP-eligible household)
Income limit
LIHEAP-eligible (at or below the LIHEAP threshold) OR head of household age 65+
How to apply
Call 1-866-627-9177 or find a trade ally at entergyartradeally.com
If you share your home:
a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.
Arkansas has no additional state-funded weatherization program. Weatherization is delivered through the federal WAP (Arkansas Energy Office), LIHEAP-funded weatherization, and utility efficiency programs.
Utility bill assistance and discounts
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - regular and crisis
federal-in-stateOwners or renters
Type of help
grant
Who runs it
Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), Arkansas Dept. of Energy and Environment, via community-based organizations in all 75 counties
What you get
Regular benefit (fixed, based on income, household size, and energy source) toward winter heating and summer cooling; crisis benefit up to a policy maximum to prevent disconnection or restore service
Who qualifies
any
Income limit
Set by the annual Arkansas LIHEAP Income Eligibility Chart (2026); generally at or below 60% of state median income / 200% FPG
How to apply
Apply through your local CBO (do NOT send applications to the state office); find your CBO via the Arkansas Energy Office, 1-888-233-0326 or 501-682-0744 (aeoliheap@arkansas.gov)
If you share your home:
a home seeker's income counts toward this program's income test, so it can change what you qualify for.
Arkansas investor-owned utilities offer no permanent income-qualified rate discount. Entergy Arkansas's help is limited to crisis assistance (Power to Care), LIHEAP, deferred payment arrangements, and level/average billing. The same is true for other Arkansas utilities.
Property tax relief
Homestead Property Tax Credit (Amendment 79)
stateHomeowners
Type of help
credit
Who runs it
Arkansas Dept. of Finance and Administration, Assessment Coordination Division (apply through county assessor)
What you get
Flat credit against property tax on a principal residence: up to $500 (through 2025) increasing to up to $600 beginning with 2026 tax bills
Who qualifies
any (must own and occupy the home as a principal residence)
Income limit
none
How to apply
Apply once with your county assessor's office; the credit then renews automatically
If you share your home:
this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.
Assessed Value Freeze for homeowners 65+ or disabled (Amendment 79)
stateHomeowners
Type of help
freeze
Who runs it
Arkansas Dept. of Finance and Administration, Assessment Coordination Division (apply through county assessor)
What you get
Freezes the taxable assessed value of the homestead at its value on the assessment date after the owner turns 65 or becomes disabled (or buys the home), shielding it from future reappraisal increases
Who qualifies
65+ (or any age if disabled)
Income limit
none
How to apply
Apply for the freeze with your county assessor's office
If you share your home:
this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.
We could not open this program's own website to
check these details, so they may be out of date or incomplete. Please call
or visit the program before relying on anything here.
Type of help
exemption
Who runs it
Arkansas Dept. of Veterans Affairs / county collector; authorized under Ark. Code 26-3-306
What you get
Full exemption from all state property taxes on the homestead and personal property of a qualifying veteran (or eligible surviving spouse / dependent minor children)
Who qualifies
any
Income limit
none
How to apply
Submit your VA Summary of Benefits letter (and rating decision) to your county collector; surviving spouses provide a DIC/affidavit. Re-verify annually (some counties set an Oct 15 deadline)
If you share your home:
this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.
Arkansas has no property tax deferral program (no lien-based delay of taxes). Its relief for older adults and people with disabilities is the assessed-value freeze plus the flat Homestead Credit, and for veterans a full exemption.
Insurance-related help
Arkansas does not operate a FAIR Plan or state last-resort property insurance pool. Homeowners declined in the standard market must use the surplus-lines / excess market through a licensed agent. Contact the Arkansas Insurance Department consumer line (1-800-282-9134) for help finding coverage.
SHIIP - Senior Health Insurance Information Program (Medicare counseling)
stateOwners or renters
Type of help
service
Who runs it
Arkansas Insurance Department, Arkansas Dept. of Commerce
What you get
Free, unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling, plan comparison, and screening for Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs
Who qualifies
Medicare-eligible (65+ or disabled)
Income limit
none (screening can connect low-income beneficiaries to premium help)
How to apply
Call 1-800-224-6330 (or 501-371-2782) to reach a local SHIIP counselor
If you share your home:
this program does not count a home seeker's income, so sharing your home does not affect it.
Arkansas has no state-run homeowners insurance premium assistance or discount program. Premium savings come from private-insurer discounts (age 55+/retiree, security systems, bundling).
HomeShare-relevant extras
No dedicated homeshare/shared-housing matching program was identified in Arkansas.
Arkansas has no statewide law requiring cities to permit accessory dwelling units. ADU eligibility is set locally by each city/county zoning code, and rules vary widely. There is no statewide ADU construction grant.
Arkansas has no statewide renter property tax credit or rebate. Home seekers who rent can still qualify for LIHEAP energy assistance, WAP/Entergy weatherization (with landlord permission), and the Entergy age-65 efficiency pathway. Rental subsidy programs (Housing Choice Vouchers, HOME) run through the Arkansas Development Finance Authority and local housing authorities.
Programs that work the same in every state
Some of the biggest sources of help are federal and work much the same everywhere, including USDA Section 504 home repair, LIHEAP energy assistance, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and VA housing grants. They are described once, in detail, on our federal programs page, and the entries above give you the Arkansas contacts.
One more option
Sharing your home is not on this list, but it belongs beside it.
Every program here helps you afford the home you have. Home sharing does something different: it turns a spare room into steady income and company. It is worth considering before you sell, before you move, and before things get harder to manage alone.