Through the Community Development Block Grant, the Community Development Department is able to focus efforts on homelessness within the City of Fort Smith. Beneficiaries of this grant such as Next Step Homeless Services and Riverview Hope Campus have received block grant funds to address the needs for food, shelter, and case management support through their facilities as well as Next Step’s transitional housing program.

The Old Fort Homeless Coalition (OFHC) is recognized as a Continuum of Care in Fort Smith, uniting city agencies as well as those within the counties of Sebastian, Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Polk, and Scott. OFHC also performs an annual Point in Time (PIT) count to verify those homeless in the area in order to effectively provide services and address needs that are more specific to the area.