Where we are going
For more than 20 years, Next Step has been a leader in homeless services in the Fort Smith community. From a single day room for the homeless to a resource center to transitional and permanent homes for veterans, families, and individuals, Next Step has continually responded to the everchanging homeless population in our community.
Now, Next Step is evolving again, and the focus of the organization is shifting more heavily toward supportive housing and helping people get ready for and into transitional and long-term housing.
This will be done through the creation of and move to a bridge housing neighborhood located at I and South 6th Streets.
The Impact We Made in 2025
We had 155 housing clients during the year, including 50 veterans, and we provided housing for 18 different families through our six single family homes. Throughout the year, 48 individuals successfully exited our transitional housing program and moved on to permanent housing.
83%
Moved on to Permanent Housing
155
Housing Clients
50
Veterans
18
Families
48
Completed Program
We served 1,436 individuals in our day room, and we provided them with nearly 202,000 services including 57,000 meals, 25,000 hygiene products, 17,000 mail pickups, and 16,500 clothing items.
Our Supportive Homes
Our transitional housing has been purposefully placed in neighborhoods throughout Fort Smith, allowing our residents to live a normal life within a community. Our houses include (click for more info on each one):
Serving our military veterans
For women & women with children
Helping single men
Designed for single families with children
Designed for single families with children
Designed for veterans and their families.
Designed for single families with children
Designed for veterans and their families.
Designed for single families with children
Transitional housing for unhoused adults
Next Step currently provides transitional supportive housing to an average of 40 men, women and children a night as well as individual case management and supportive services to more than 400 individuals a month.
We are the only homeless services organization in the area with an exclusive partnership with the Veterans Administration, allowing us to uniquely serve homeless veterans.
We currently provide housing through nine Next Step-owned community properties and four apartments provided by a local church.
We offer a housing program, not low barrier or emergency shelter. Applicants must commit to being drug and alcohol free and will undergo a drug screen during the application process. We also have minimal requirements including income source and case management meetings to enter into our housing program.
We offer supportive services to our housing clients and through our day room. Supportive services include
- meals
- hygiene products
- food pantry bags
- assistance with applications
- replacement ID’s and birth certificates
- health services
- case management
- clothing
- blankets
