Available Rent Relief Funds in Arkansas

Millions of dollars available in Arkansas for renters and landlords facing hardship due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coleman Taylor and Spree Hilliard visited with Gavin Lesnick, the Deputy Communication Director for the Arkansas Department of Human Services about the Arkansas Rent Relief program to determine why so little of the state’s rent relief funds have been spent. A recent story from CBS News listed Arkansas as one of a few states that have distributed less than three percent of their funding which totaled about $200 million.

The interview with Lesnick can be seen here on the Around The Table Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=242645484422229

Governor Asa Hutchinson shared some more information on the program during his weekly COVID press conference on Tuesday. Hutchinson said he received a letter from US Representative Jim Clyburn (D) from South Carolina inquiring as to how Arkansas can get more of their money out. Hutchinson said, “What is ignored by Representative Clyburn’s letter is the fact that Arkansas did not shut down our economy. We did not reach the same unemployment rate as the rest of the nation. Some states did shut down their economy, sheltered in place, more people lost jobs, so I think his letter ignores the fact that Arkansas’ economy did keep moving during this time.”

Hutchinson acknowledged that there are some renters that lost jobs and need assistance but said, “I disagree completely that Arkansas and our Department of Human Services is not working diligently to get that money out.”

According to the data shown in the press conference Arkansas has had 13,727 applications submitted for rent relief with 2,908 households assisted and 93 denied. There are an additional 8,221 applications that are being held while awaiting more information, in Arkansas’ program there must be documentation provided by both the landlord and the tenant. There are also 2,505 applications still in processing.

As of August 30^th Arkansas has distributed $7.2 million in rent relief with $43 million pending final approval for distribution.

To apply for rent relief funds visit the Arkansas DHS website or follow this link: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/covid-19/dhs-response-to-covid-19/updates-for-clients/rental-assistance/

Note: Benton, Washington, and Pulaski Counties are excluded from the state numbers because they are large enough in population to have their own federal funding to distribute.