Arkansas lawmakers considered a proposal last week to expand behavioral health services as a strategy for addressing homelessness, with local leaders from Fort Smith sharing how the issue plays out on the ground.
The proposal, presented to the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Health Committee, focuses on increasing access to mental health and addiction treatment programs. Lawmakers heard testimony about the connection between untreated behavioral health conditions and housing instability — a dynamic that service providers across Northwest Arkansas say they see daily.
Fort Smith Mayor George Bunch and city administrator Jarrod Smith traveled to Little Rock to speak on behalf of their city, where a growing homeless population has strained local resources. Bunch described the lack of long-term psychiatric care options as a critical gap, particularly for individuals cycling through emergency departments or the criminal justice system without stable housing.
“We’re seeing the same people over and over,” Bunch said during his testimony. “Without intervention that addresses root causes, we’re just moving problems around instead of solving them.”
The city’s experience mirrors challenges in other parts of Benton County, where organizations like Feed Northwest Arkansas and the Benton County Court Diversion Program have emphasized the need for coordinated support between housing, health, and law enforcement. In Springdale, for example, outreach workers reported that nearly 40% of clients experiencing homelessness also struggle with substance use disorders or serious mental illness.
State Rep. Becky Williams, R-Rogers, who serves on the Health Committee, said the proposal under discussion would not create new programs from scratch but instead direct state agencies to better coordinate existing services. That could mean aligning funding streams or streamlining referral pathways between hospitals, community mental health centers, and housing authorities.
“It’s about making sure no one falls through the cracks,” Williams said. “If someone is in crisis and needs both housing and treatment, our systems should be able to respond to that need together.”
The conversation comes as Arkansas faces a broader shortage of behavioral health beds and long-term residential treatment facilities. According to the Arkansas Department of Health, the state ranks below the national average in access to mental health services, especially in rural areas. Urban centers like Fort Smith and Fayetteville are not immune — both cities have seen an uptick in demand for crisis intervention teams and mobile mental health units over the past two years.
In Rogers, the city partnered with local nonprofits last year to launch a rapid rehousing program that includes case management and short-term rental assistance. Early data shows that clients connected to behavioral health services were more likely to maintain housing after three months. Similar models are being explored in Bentonville and Springdale, though funding remains a persistent challenge.
Dr. Sarah Johnson, director of community health at Washington Regional Medical Center, told lawmakers that integrated care models have proven effective in other states. She cited a pilot program in Missouri where co-locating mental health clinicians in homeless shelters led to a 30% reduction in emergency room visits among participants.
“We know what works,” Johnson said. “The question is whether we can scale it here.”
The legislative council is expected to vote on the proposal in early October. If approved, it would task the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Department of Health with submitting a joint plan by January 2026.
For now, local advocates say any progress will depend on sustained investment — not just from the state, but from communities ready to rethink how they respond to complex social issues.
Source: 5News KFSM
