Arkansas Community Action Agencies — Find Yours and See What's Available
Arkansas has nonprofit community action agencies that reach every county in the state. They aren't a single organization — each one is independently run, focused on a specific region, and funded through a mix of federal, state, and local sources. That structure is important to understand for anyone trying to get help: what your local agency actually offers depends on where you live. A directory is further down this page to help you find what you agency does and how to contact them.
What Arkansas community action agencies generally do
The ACAAA describes community action this way: ask each of the agencies what they do, and you'd get different answers. That's intentional. The network was designed to respond to what each community actually needs, not to deliver identical services everywhere. That said, some programs are widespread enough across the state to describe reliably.
Energy assistance — LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps qualifying low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. Payments go directly to your utility provider, not to you. Most agencies run two tracks: regular assistance provides a fixed annual benefit based on household size and income; crisis assistance is available to households already facing disconnection or who have lost service. Intake typically opens seasonally and closes when funds run out — call your local agency to ask whether HEAP is currently accepting applications and whether an appointment is required.
Weatherization
Several of Arkansas's agencies operate the Weatherization Assistance Program — and those six collectively cover the entire state. Trained crews perform on-site energy audits and can provide insulation, weather-stripping, storm windows, furnace retrofitting, and other improvements at no cost to qualifying households. Priority typically goes to elderly residents, people with disabilities, and households with young children. Your local agency can tell you whether they run weatherization directly or refer to another agency covering your county.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Arkansas community action agencies administer more than 125 Head Start schools statewide. Early Head Start serves infants from six weeks; Head Start serves children through age five. Both programs are free to qualifying families and include early education, health screenings, meals, and family support services. Enrollment is handled by the agency running the school in your area — contact your local CAA to ask about slots and eligibility.
Senior services
The network operates roughly 40 senior activity and wellness centers across Arkansas. What's offered varies by location, but common services include congregate meals, transportation, health and wellness programming, and connections to other community resources. Some agencies provide home-delivered meals and participate in Elder Choices programs that help older adults remain in their homes. If you're looking for senior services specifically, it's worth calling your local agency and asking what they run directly versus what they can refer you to.
Food assistance
Many Arkansas agencies operate food pantries, distribute USDA commodity foods to qualifying households, and coordinate summer food programs for children during school breaks. The network distributes millions of pounds of food annually. Availability varies significantly by county — ask your local agency what food resources they run or partner with in your area.
Housing and homebuying help
Housing assistance takes several forms across the network: pre-purchase education, credit counseling, down payment assistance, closing cost loans, individual development accounts (IDAs that can be used toward a home purchase, education, or a small business), and home rehabilitation. Some agencies manage low-income rental housing. Not every agency offers every one of these — ask what your local one runs directly.
Workforce, financial coaching, and case management
Most agencies offer some combination of employment services, income and debt counseling, financial literacy workshops, and free tax preparation through the IRS VITA program. General case management — connecting low-income families to federal and state programs they may qualify for — is a core function of the network statewide. Several agencies serving areas with large immigrant populations, particularly in Northwest Arkansas, also provide adult education and ESL classes.
What to expect when you call
Agencies handle intake differently — some require appointments for most programs, some have walk-in availability for certain services. For most programs, you'll need to bring proof of identity, proof of address, and documentation of household income. For LIHEAP specifically, a recent utility bill is typically required. Call ahead and ask what the intake process looks like for the specific program you're seeking; it saves time and avoids a wasted trip.
The Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA)
ACAAA is the statewide membership organization for the various agencies. It doesn't provide direct services to individuals, but its website (acaaa.org) is the best place to find current contact information for your local agency, and their locator page ( https://www.acaaa.org/local-community-action-agencies/) is updated when agencies move, merge, or change phone numbers. You can also reach 211 by dialing 2-1-1 anywhere in Arkansas — operators can connect you to your local agency and other community resources depending on what you need.
ACAAA also coordinates a few statewide initiatives — including a college savings program for children of Entergy customers called Kids to College. For questions about that program specifically, contact ACAAA directly at (501) 372-0807.
Locations of Arkansas community action agencies
The directory below has been updated against ACAAA's current member list. Several agencies have changed addresses, phone numbers, or county coverage since this page was originally published — those changes are noted. Apply at or call the agency that covers your county.
Arkansas River Valley Area Council, Inc. (ARVAC)
Physical: 227 SR 333, Russellville, AR 72802 | Mailing: P.O. Box 808, Dardanelle, AR 72834. Phone: (479) 219-5292 | Web: https://www.arvacinc.org/
Counties: Conway, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Perry, Polk, Pope, Scott, Yell
ARVAC covers a large swath of central and western Arkansas. Services include HEAP energy assistance, senior meals and transportation, and emergency food. See the NHPB rkansas River Valley Area Council page.
Black River Area Development Corporation (BRAD)
1403 Hospital Drive, Pocahontas, AR 72455
Phone: (870) 892-4547 | Web: https://bradcorp.org/
Counties: Clay, Lawrence, Randolph
Central Arkansas Development Council, Inc. (CADC)
Mailing: P.O. Box 580, Benton, AR 72018
Phone: (501) 315-1121 | Web: https://www.cadc.com/
Counties: Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Pulaski, Saline, Sevier, Union
This is now one of the largest service territories in the state. Families in the former SWADC counties (Texarkana area through the southwest) should contact CADC directly. See the NHPB CADC page.
Central Delta Community Action Agency (CDCAA)
Physical: 200 Main Street, Rison, AR 71665 | Mailing: P.O. Box 506, Rison, AR 71665
Phone: (870) 536-0046
Counties: Arkansas, Cleveland, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln
Community Action Program for Central Arkansas, Inc. (CAPCA)
707 Robins Street, Ste. 118, Conway, AR 72034
Phone: (501) 329-3891 | Web: https://capcainc.org/
Counties: Cleburne, Faulkner, White. See guide to Community Action Program for Central Arkansas.
Community Services Office, Inc. (CSO)
Physical: 2254 Albert Pike Street, Hot Springs, AR 71913 | Mailing: P.O. Box 1175, Hot Springs, AR 71902
Phone: (501) 624-5724
County: Garland
See the Garland community action page.
Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council, Inc. (C-SCDC)
Physical: 1617 South Zero Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901 | Mailing: P.O. Box 180070, Fort Smith, AR 72908
Phone: (479) 785-2303 | Web: https://www.cscdc.net/
Counties: Crawford, Sebastian
See the C-SCDC page.
Crowley's Ridge Development Council, Inc. (CRDC)
Physical: 2401 Fox Meadow Lane, Jonesboro, AR 72403 | Mailing: P.O. Box 16720, Jonesboro, AR 72403
Phone: (870) 802-7100 |
Counties: Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Poinsett, St. Francis, Woodruff
Crowley's Ridge serves a large stretch of northeastern Arkansas. Services include HEAP energy assistance, food pantries, low-income housing, and transportation through NEAT. See the guide to CRDC
Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County (EOAWC)
614 E. Emma St., Ste. M401, Springdale, AR 72764
Phone: (479) 872-7479 | Web: eoawc.org
County: Washington
Washington County's agency, based in Springdale, serves one of the largest Latino populations in the state alongside the county's broader low-income population. Programs include HEAP, Head Start (with multiple locations in Fayetteville and Springdale), TEFAP food distribution, and child care assistance. Children's House, administered by EOAWC, is noted as the nation's largest long-term center for early childhood abuse prevention and treatment. See the EOAWC page.
Mid-Delta Community Services, Inc. (MDCS)
Physical: 610 South Biscoe Street, Helena, AR 72342 | Mailing: P.O. Box 745, Helena, AR 72342
Phone: (870) 338-6406 |
Counties: Lee, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie
Mississippi County Arkansas Economic Opportunity Commission, Inc. (MCAEOC)
1400 North Division, Blytheville, AR 72315
Phone: (870) 776-1054 |
County: Mississippi
Northcentral Arkansas Development Council, Inc. (NADC)
1900 Lyon Street, Batesville, AR 72501
Phone: (870) 793-5765 | Web: https://www.nadcinc.org/
Counties: Fulton, Independence, Izard, Sharp, Stone
Office of Human Concern, Inc. (OHC)
506 E. Spruce St., Rogers, AR 72756
Phone: (479) 636-7301 |
Counties: Benton, Carroll, Madison
OHC serves Northwest Arkansas's Benton, Carroll, and Madison counties, including significant senior services such as Meals on Wheels and senior activity centers. See the Office of Human Concern guide.
Ozark Opportunities, Inc. (OOI)
Physical: 701 E. Prospect Ave., Harrison, AR 72602 | Mailing: P.O. Box 1400, Harrison, AR 72602
Phone: (870) 741-9406 | Web: https://ozarkopp.org/
Counties: Baxter, Boone, Marion, Newton, Searcy, Van Buren
See Ozark Opportunity community action guide.
Southeast Arkansas Community Action Corporation (SEACAC)
1208 North Myrtle Street, Warren, AR 71671
Phone: (870) 226-5512 | Web: https://seacac.my-free.website/
Counties: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, Drew
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