Fort Smith Housing Authority
Waiting Lists
Learn more about Fort Smith Housing Authority.
Open: Fort Smith Housing Authority Section 8 HCV
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
The Fort Smith Housing Authority (FSHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open. This waiting list is open indefinitely.
Please note: This waiting list has preferences. This means that applicants who qualify for these preferences will receive assistance before applicants who do not. Because of these preferences, applicants who do not qualify may have a longer wait to receive assistance.
There are two ways to apply:
- Download and print the application online here.
- Visit the FSHA office to request an application, located at 2100 North 31st Street, Fort Smith, AR 72904, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm CT.
Once the application has been completed, it must be hand delivered to the FSHA office, located at 2100 North 31st Street, Fort Smith, AR 72904, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Working family, elderly, disabled, terminated from HCV program due to insufficient funding, victim of domestic violence, victim of natural disaster, homeless.
Selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list by date and time of application submission, by order of preferences.
When an applicant's name reaches the top of the waiting list, the FSHA will send a letter by mail with the required eligibility interview date and time.
The average wait time to receive a Housing Choice Voucher is 1-4 years.
Important note: Applicants who have been placed on the waiting list must inform the housing authority immediately if your application information changes (such as contact information, income, and household members). In the case that the office sends a notice that does not get returned, or if application information is out of date, your name may be terminated from the waiting list. Contact the housing authority to find out how to update application information.
For more information, visit the FSHA website, or call the office at (479) 782-4991.
The Fort Smith Housing Authority (FSHA) is currently accepting Section 8 Project-Based Voucher applications.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is NOT the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. The Section 8 Project-Based Voucher program operates similarly to Public Housing, in which tenants must live in a specific unit to receive housing assistance. For HCV information, please scroll up above the PBV section.
To apply, download and print the application online here.
Once the application has been completed, it must must be:
- Emailed to jchambers@fortsmithha.com.
- Mailed to North Pointe/Clayton Heights Leasing Office, 3408 N. 6th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72904.
- Hand delivered to the address above.
- Faxed to (479) 494-7803.
Important note: Applicants who have been placed on the waiting list must inform the housing authority immediately if your application information changes (such as contact information, income, and household members). In the case that the office sends a notice that does not get returned, or if application information is out of date, your name may be terminated from the waiting list. Contact the housing authority to find out how to update application information.
For more information, visit the FSHA website, or call the office at (479) 782-4991.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via 4797824991.
Next Steps
Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.
Last Updated on 07/14/2017.
Open: Fort Smith Housing Authority Public Housing
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
As of July 2017, the Fort Smith Housing Authority (FSHA) is currently accepting Scattered Site pre-applications.
Please note: The FSHA does not offer a Public Housing program.
There are two ways to apply:
- Visit the FSHA office to pick up a pre-application, located at 2100 N 31st St., Fort Smith, AR 72904 during normal office hours.
- Download a pre-application online here, then print and complete.
Once the pre-application has been completed, it can be mailed or hand delivered to the address listed above.
No documents are needed at this time.
The following preferences have been identified: Working family, elderly, disabled, terminated from HCV program due to insufficient funding, victim of domestic violence, victim of natural disaster, homeless.
For more information, visit the FSHA website, or call the office at (479) 782-4991.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via 4797824991.
Next Steps
Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.
Last Updated on 07/10/2017.
About Fort Smith Housing Authority
2100 North 31st Street, Fort Smith, AR | Visit Website | (479) 782-4991
Fort Smith Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 1,749 low and moderate income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing programs..
Housing Authority Jurisdiction
Low-income housing managed by Fort Smith Housing Authority is located in Sebastian County, AR.
Households with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher managed by this housing authority must rent within its jurisdiction.
About the Fort Smith Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Fort Smith Housing Authority manages 1,513 active Housing Choice Vouchers.
The following table summarizes types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2021:
| Standard | Tenant Protection | Ported Out | VASH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vouchers | 1,194 | 3 | 6 | 39 |
| Monthly Cost Per Voucher | $407 | $256 | $1,028 | $293 |
| Monthly Cost | $486,048 | $769 | $6,169 | $11,415 |
Waiting List and Tenancy
According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 13% having issued approximately 115 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 4 years and 7 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 5 months on the waiting list1.
Income Characteristics
According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 1.9 persons and has a household income of $11,447 per year. 93% of households were very low income (VLI) and 60% were extremely low income (ELI). 18% of households had wages as a major source of income, 1% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 81% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.
Heads of Household Characteristics
3% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 48% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 25% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 24% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 1% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.
32% of households included children, 2% of which had two adults in the household. 30% of households with children have a female head of household. 73% of all households were headed by a female.
42% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 32% of all heads of households being Black and 0% being Hispanic.
Of all households participating in the Fort Smith Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher program, 33% include at least one person with a disability. 63% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 48% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.
Bedroom Size and Overhousing
45% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 29% with 2 bedrooms and 27% with 3 or more bedrooms. 17% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.
Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances
The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Fort Smith Housing Authority voucher holders in 2016 was $283 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $468. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $124.
1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.
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