Additional Assistance

Arkansas Department of Human Services
DHS offers a variety of programs to help children and families thrive. SNAP, ARKids First Children’s Health Insurance, Summer Feeding Programs and Special Nutrition, to name a few. There is help for Adolescents and Young Adults, Adults and Seniors, and persons living with disabilities. Helpful related web links may also be of benefit to you.

SNAP Benefits (Food Stamps)
Please contact the Sebastian County Department of Human Services located at 616 Garrison Avenue or call (479) 785-4555.
Kim Douglas is the food bank’s SNAP Coordinator. She can also assist you with completing your SNAP application.

City of Fort Smith Utility Assistance

You may be eligible for utilities assistance under the City of Fort Smith’s Project Concern program. Download and complete the application form and take it to either the Beckman Senior Activity Center at 2100 N 31st Street or the City of Fort Smith Water Department at 623 Garrison Avenue

Citizen Action Center – City of Fort Smith
Have a problem and you don’t know where to turn? Call the Hot-Line at (479) 785-2800 to receive direction towards a solution

Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council, Inc.
The C-SCDC is a community action agency working to improve the lives of low-income individuals and families, and the communities in which they live. Our goal is to help clients achieve self-sufficient living.

  • Utility Assistance is available through the Li-HEAP program, which is designed to help low-income households in Crawford and Sebastian County with their heating and cooling bills. Participants must provide a photo id along with names, birthdates, and proof of income from the previous month or proof of non-income for all household members. A current gas and electric bill is also required. Please watch for notification of program start-up and suspension of applications. For more information contact (479) 785-2303 ext. 112 or 100.
  • Homeownershp and Asset Development helps families purchase their own home through counseling and down payment/closing cost assistance. One-on-one assistance is given with budgeting, credit review and financial literacy training.
  • The Individual Development Accounts program provides matching funds to help build towards achieving a capital goal such as a first home, attending college, starting a new business or completing home repairs.
  • The Mutual Self Help Housing Program helps families and individuals save money through “sweat equity.” With the help of a Construction Manager, about 65% of construction costs can be avoided. The program also makes available “better built homes” for purchase that save owners over the long with lower utility costs due to the homes earning an Energy Star label.
  • The C-SCDC also offers Homebuyer workshops each month, in both English and Spanish. Call (479) 784-9029 for more details. Home maintenance and Financial Fitness workshops are also offered periodically. There is no charge for these classes.
  • Weatherization Assistance helps those of low and moderate income have more energy-efficient, safe and healthy homes. A computerized energy audit and advanced diagnostic capabilities are used to determine the energy-conservation needs of a home, improving such things as door and window stripping, caulking and sealing cracks and holes, insulating attics, walls and floors; installing storm windows, switching to energy saving light bulbs, adding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, repairing furnaces and replacing certain energy wasting appliances. For more information call (479) 785-2303 ext. 110 or 111

Community Dental Clinic
Another program of the C-SCDC, Inc., the Community Dental Clinic serves the needs of those low-income residents of Sebastian and Crawford counties who are in pain and cannot afford to go to a dentist. The clinic is staffed with licensed, experienced dentists who are both paid and volunteer. Many of the patients are striving to get off welfare or the working poor. The dentists at the Community Dental Clinic perform extractions but do not fill cavities. All patients receive oral cancer screening.

The Dental Clinic also has a denture program for those who have no other choice but to have all their teeth removed. Though the waiting period is quite long, the end result is worth it.

The Tooth Fairy Program travels to places where children are present to teach them proper oral hygiene techniques.

For more information, please call (479) 782-6021.