In December of 2025, School Districts in the Toadsuck Service Area* reported 2,103 homeless children in their schools.
While there are a few emergency shelters available for children in Little Rock, there are zero in Faulkner County. The City of Conway opened an emergency shelter in 2024, but will not provide shelter for families with children.
*Service area includes Faulkner, Perry, and Conway Counties.
A story of renewal
Meet Brittney
“I’m a 31-year-old mother to five beautiful children. I have struggled most of my adult life with addiction and, as a result, I was living in poverty. In November 2021, my best friend lost her battle with addiction. It hit me hard. I decided it was time to get clean to better my kids’ lives and mine.
The Conway Ministry Center staff were so very kind and welcomed us with open arms. They provided housing for me and my five kids from December 1st to January 13th. That gave me the time I needed to regroup without having to live in my vehicle.
If it wasn’t for this ministry, I don’t know what we would have done. They helped us find a home and, on January 13th, we moved into the most beautiful house we could ever dream of. I’m forever grateful for Conway Ministry Center and the good Lord putting such amazing people in our lives.”
— Brittany
What Brittany didn’t know at the time was that God wasn’t just rescuing her family—He was writing a much bigger story.
In 2023, Brittany and her children became the very first “test pilot” family to enter into the Refuge emergency shelter program. Before there were success stories, before there was a roadmap for what this ministry could become, there was Brittany—a mother fighting for her children, choosing recovery, and believing there could still be something beautiful ahead.
The same ministry that once stepped in to help carry her family through crisis became the very place where healing, stability, and purpose began taking root.
And now, only God could write the next chapter this way.
Today, Brittany serves as the lead Case Manager at the Refuge.
The very first family to walk through the doors of the Refuge is now helping lead families through theirs.
That truth is not lost on us.
There is something so deeply moving about watching God bring a story full circle like this. The woman who once needed refuge is now helping provide refuge for others. The mother who once needed someone to remind her that hope still existed now spends her days reminding other families that their story is not over either.
Every hallway of the Refuge carries pieces of stories like Brittany’s, but hers will always hold a special place in our hearts because it reminds us why this ministry exists in the first place. The Refuge was never just about shelter—it was about restoration. It was about believing that God can take what feels broken beyond repair and redeem it completely.
And if we’re honest, we can think of no greater testimony to the faithfulness of God than this:
the first family of the Refuge is now part of the team helping others find their way home again.
“...He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” — Psalm 40:2
You can be a part of helping families find permanent housing.
Ways to Get Involved!
1: come take a tour
2: invite us to come SPEAK AT YOUR CHURCH, ETC.
3: VOLUNTEER
4: SUPPORT FINANCIALLY
5: host a fundraiser
6: check our needs list
For more information, contact Jarett Wilson, Shelter Manager, at Jarett@ministrycenter.org
Will you step in the gap with us?
We have such a beautifully clear biblical model for pursuing children and the sick. We see time and again our Jesus calling little children to his lap, touching the untouchable, and healing the sick. We believe we are called to step into this gap that exists in our community and care for “the least of these.”
We believe that God has prepared us in advance through relationships with the Church and our community to fully embrace this calling. We believe the time is now.
–Spring Hunter, Board Chair
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FAQS
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When a homeless patient is ready to leave the hospital, the hospital submits a form to CMC for discharge to our recuperative care shelter. The form includes details about the patient's diagnosis, follow-up care, medications, insurance, care needs, and expected recovery time. Hospitals may commit to a daily fee for recovery days.
CMC reviews the request, interviews the patient, and approves them for a recuperative care bed. During their stay, a CMC case manager works on permanent housing solutions and can extend the stay based on the client’s case. While we don't provide medical care, our overnight staff helps with basic needs and medication regimens.
CMC case managers offer social services, helping clients apply for SNAP, disability, social security, obtain documents, fill prescriptions, connect to ongoing healthcare, and apply for low-income housing and home health services.
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We've learned from shelters in other states that families with kids and recovering individuals can live together successfully. CMC offers special support for each group through personalized case management, addressing their unique needs.
Both recuperative care residents and families need similar services, like:
Medical care
Counseling
Help for addiction
Therapy (physical, occupational, and/or speech)
Budgeting assistance
Cooking and meal planning
Job readiness support
Church connections
By connecting residents of all ages and abilities to these services, we make sure they continue to get care even after leaving the shelter. In shelters that house both recovering individuals and families, we make sure to keep the groups separate while providing the attention they need.
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When someone in recovery gets well enough to leave our care, we'll help them move to the city's emergency shelter quickly. We can't keep beds occupied by those who are fully healed. These beds are needed for others in Central Arkansas. If someone has a permanent disability, they might get more time based on their progress and the case manager's advice. Some people will go to other programs, and some will go home.
Families with kids who need more help will wait for spots in transitional family shelters in Conway and Little Rock. They'll stay until they find their own home or move to other housing programs. Our goal is to guide everyone to the right next steps and keep providing emergency shelter in Central Arkansas.
Sign up for the latest Refuge updates!
We’ll share our shelter progress and current needs with you each month.