GO Grant Eligibility Checker
Check Your GO Grant Eligibility
Determine if your organization qualifies for Arkansas's General Obligation Grant program. This tool checks against key eligibility requirements.
The GO Grant in Arkansas isn’t a statewide program you can apply to as an individual. It’s a state-funded grant program run by the Arkansas Department of Human Services that gives money directly to local organizations - like homeless shelters, food banks, and transitional housing programs - to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. If you’re running a shelter in Little Rock, Fort Smith, or anywhere else in Arkansas, this grant could be your biggest source of operating cash.
How the GO Grant Actually Works
The GO Grant stands for General Obligation Grant. It’s not a loan. It doesn’t need to be paid back. The state allocates funds each year based on need, and local nonprofits apply for it through a competitive process. In 2024, Arkansas distributed over $12 million through the GO Grant program, with about 65% of that going to emergency housing and homeless services.
Here’s how it breaks down: a shelter in Pine Bluff might get $85,000 to cover rent for 15 transitional housing units. A food pantry in Hot Springs might get $30,000 to buy groceries for families sleeping in cars. A domestic violence shelter in Jonesboro might use $50,000 to hire case managers who help survivors find jobs and permanent housing.
The key thing to understand: you don’t apply as a person. You apply as an organization. And you have to be a registered nonprofit or a government entity. Private individuals or unincorporated groups can’t get GO Grant money directly.
Who Gets the Money?
The GO Grant prioritizes organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness, especially those who fall through the cracks of federal programs. That includes:
- Emergency shelters that provide overnight beds
- Transitional housing programs that help people stay housed for 6-24 months
- Street outreach teams that find unsheltered people and connect them to services
- Domestic violence shelters that offer safe housing for women and children
- Programs that help people get IDs, birth certificates, or Medicaid cards - things you need to get a job or housing
Organizations that only serve food or provide temporary showers usually don’t qualify unless they’re part of a larger housing strategy. The state wants to see a clear path from emergency help to stable housing.
What Can the Money Be Used For?
The GO Grant isn’t for fancy renovations or new vans. It’s for direct, essential services. Approved uses include:
- Rent and utilities for housing units
- Staff salaries for case workers, counselors, and intake specialists
- Transportation costs to take clients to job interviews or medical appointments
- Basic supplies like hygiene kits, laundry detergent, or baby formula
- Emergency financial assistance - like paying a security deposit so someone can move out of a motel
What’s not allowed? Buying furniture, paying off old debt, funding events or fundraisers, or giving cash directly to individuals. The state tracks every dollar. If you spend it on something outside the rules, you have to pay it back.
How Do You Apply?
Applications open every fall - usually in September - and close by November 15. The Arkansas Department of Human Services releases a Request for Proposals (RFP) on their website. You’ll need:
- Your organization’s 501(c)(3) status documentation
- Proof of service in Arkansas for at least one year
- A detailed budget showing how you’ll spend the money
- Performance metrics - like how many people you housed last year, or how many got jobs
- Letters of support from local government or other nonprofits
It’s not a quick form. Most successful applicants spend 3-6 weeks preparing. They talk to people they’ve served. They pull data from their case management system. They show real numbers, not promises.
One shelter in Fayetteville won $110,000 in 2023 because they showed that 78% of clients who stayed 90 days or longer found permanent housing - compared to 42% at other shelters in the region. That kind of proof makes a difference.
What Happens After You Get the Grant?
Getting the money is just the start. You’ll have to report every three months on how you used it. The state checks:
- Did you hire the staff you said you would?
- Did you house the number of people you promised?
- Did you use the funds only for approved expenses?
They don’t just ask for reports - they do site visits. A team from the Department of Human Services might show up unannounced to talk to clients and look at your records. If something doesn’t add up, your funding can be cut.
But if you’re honest and organized, the GO Grant can be life-changing. One shelter in North Little Rock used their 2024 grant to hire two full-time job coaches. Within six months, 43 residents got jobs. That’s not just housing - that’s stability.
What If You Don’t Get It?
Not everyone gets approved. In 2024, about 40% of applicants were turned down. Common reasons include:
- Not having enough data to prove your impact
- Applying for too much money without a clear plan
- Being a new organization without a track record
- Using vague language like “helping the homeless” instead of showing specific outcomes
If you’re rejected, don’t give up. Ask for feedback. The state will tell you exactly where your application fell short. Use that to improve. Many shelters get funded on their second or third try.
You can also look at other options: the federal Continuum of Care program, local United Way grants, or private foundations like the Walton Family Foundation, which supports housing initiatives in Arkansas.
Real Impact: Stories Behind the Numbers
Behind every dollar of the GO Grant is a person. Maria, 52, lost her job after a stroke. She slept in her car for three months until a shelter in Rogers used GO Grant funds to pay her first month’s rent. Now she’s in a one-bedroom apartment, getting physical therapy, and volunteering at the same shelter.
James, 19, aged out of foster care with no family and no income. A transitional housing program in Little Rock used GO Grant money to pay his deposit and give him a case manager. He’s now in community college, working part-time, and plans to become a social worker.
These aren’t rare cases. In 2024, Arkansas GO Grant programs helped over 11,000 people move out of homelessness. That’s 11,000 people who didn’t sleep on the street, in a car, or under a bridge.
Where to Find More Info
The official source is the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Community Services. Their website has the current RFP, past awardees, and application templates. You can also call their office in Little Rock - they have staff who help nonprofits through the process.
Don’t wait until November to start. Start now. Talk to the people you serve. Gather your data. Write your budget. The next application cycle is coming. And if you’re ready, the GO Grant can change your organization - and the lives of the people you help.
Is the GO Grant the same as Section 8 housing?
No. Section 8 is a federal housing voucher program that pays part of your rent directly to landlords. The GO Grant gives money to nonprofits to run shelters and housing programs. You can’t apply for a GO Grant as a tenant. It’s for organizations, not individuals.
Can a church start a homeless shelter and get a GO Grant?
Yes, but only if the church creates a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The church itself can’t receive the grant. The nonprofit must be legally independent, with its own board, bylaws, and financial records. Many churches do this successfully - they provide the space and volunteers, and the nonprofit handles the grant.
How long does the GO Grant funding last?
The grant is awarded for one year. Organizations must reapply every year. Some get it consistently if they show strong results. Others lose funding if their outcomes drop or if they don’t apply on time. It’s not a permanent guarantee.
Do I need to be in Arkansas to apply for the GO Grant?
Yes. The grant is only for organizations that operate within Arkansas and serve Arkansans. If your shelter is in Missouri but helps people from Arkansas, you’re not eligible. The money is for services delivered inside the state.
Can the GO Grant pay for mental health services?
Yes - but only if they’re part of a housing support plan. You can hire a counselor who helps clients with trauma, addiction, or mental illness, as long as the goal is helping them stay housed. You can’t use GO Grant money just to run a standalone mental health clinic.
If you’re running a shelter in Arkansas and you’re not already applying for the GO Grant, you’re leaving money on the table - money that could keep your doors open, your staff paid, and your clients housed. The process isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Start now. The next deadline won’t wait.