Fort Smith, ARK – Legal Aid of Arkansas, a nonprofit organization based in Springdale, has been awarded a substantial grant of $2,194,731 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the newly established Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP). The funding is part of a broader initiative, totaling $40 million, aimed at supporting housing stability and preventing evictions and homelessness across the country.
The EPGP is a first-of-its-kind federal program designed to enhance access to legal services for tenants at risk of eviction. Legal Aid of Arkansas, which provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals in civil cases, will use the funds to help residents facing eviction and landlord-tenant disputes. The organization’s priority areas include housing issues, and it has a longstanding commitment to ensuring that vulnerable populations in Arkansas have access to legal representation in these matters.
The federal funding will help Legal Aid of Arkansas expand its reach, providing critical support to tenants who may be at risk of losing their homes. HUD’s funding is expected to bolster efforts to address the housing crisis, helping individuals and families mitigate the negative consequences of eviction.
In a statement, HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman highlighted the program’s success, noting that over 44,000 households had already benefitted from similar initiatives. “This latest round of funding builds on this program’s success in helping over 44,000 households mitigate the negative consequences of eviction,” Todman said. “Legal experts supported by this funding help provide housing stability across the country.”
Legal Aid of Arkansas is one of nearly two dozen organizations nationwide selected to receive a share of the $40 million in grants, which aim to address the growing need for legal services in the housing sector. With this support, Legal Aid of Arkansas will continue to serve as a vital resource for low-income tenants, offering them a fighting chance against eviction and contributing to overall housing stability in the state.