The extent of homelessness can be an indicator of a community's ability to provide stable jobs that pay a living wage as well as measures of support for the unemployed and access to affordable housing and health care. Homelessness is related to larger issues such as poverty, employment, mental health, substance abuse, and family violence. The way a community cares for its more vulnerable citizens is a marker of collaboration and its social support systems.

In 2024, Arkansas counted almost 2,800 homeless individuals, for a rate of 9 per 10,000 residents. That was similar to the rate in 2015, but a decline of 33% from 2007. Arkansas was 13th lowest in the nation for this indicator, including the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Homelessness was higher among males than females, with men making up nearly 1,650 of the homeless individuals. Among racial and ethnic groups, rates were higher for Black or African American individuals at 4.4 per 10,000 residents, compared Whites and Asians (both at 2.4 per 10,000 residents) and 1.6 for Hispanics.

The inequity of homelessness is a result of long-standing historical and systemic racism that continues to perpetuate disparities in critical areas that impact rates of homelessness such as employment, poverty, housing discrimination and segregation, incarceration, and access to quality mental and physical health care.

Figures represent point-in-time counts. A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. HUD asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.