The pilot program would combine home renovation, workforce development, and affordable housing.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new, grassroots approach to addressing Fayetteville’s housing crisis could soon become a reality.
On Tuesday night, the City Council voted to approve applying for a $60,000 National League of Cities (NLC) Southern Cities Economic Initiative (SCEI) grant that would help launch a community-developed pilot program aimed at expanding affordable housing.
The proposed initiative, known as Development Squared, was born from a two-day community workshop held last month by city representatives in partnership with Circles NWA.
The event invited residents to brainstorm solutions to Fayetteville’s ongoing housing issues. The workshop concluded with a pitch contest, and Development Squared emerged as the winning idea.
“A lot of the roots of our work are really listening to those who are affected by a challenge, and then hearing their solutions,” said Ana Hurley, director of advocacy for Circles NWA. “I think absolutely we got some innovative and unique ideas, and the winning idea really tackled both workforce development and the lack of affordable housing.”
According to Circles NWA, if funded, the pilot program would identify underused or vacant properties in Fayetteville and renovate them through a workforce training program.
Once completed, the homes would be rented or sold at affordable rates, with the goal of increasing housing options for low to moderate income families.
According to documents submitted for council to review, the proposal “aims to provide residents with sustainable career opportunities while activating vacant residential properties.”
Hurley said the program’s strength lies in its comprehensive, community-oriented approach that addresses more than just housing.
“There are houses that are perfectly good, just sitting there,” Hurley said. “Let’s figure out as a city how to get the owners mobilized to use them for the betterment of the community. It’s a win-win-win… affordable housing, workforce development, and potential income for the property owner.”
Last year, the city of Fayetteville declared a housing crisis. In recent months, Mayor Molly Rawn has taken several steps to address the issue, including creating a Chief Housing Officer position as well as establishing a task force to address homelessness.
“We need to hear from all different kinds of community members. We had renters, developers, and city council members. We had such a mixture of people and roles in our city, as well as socio-economic backgrounds,” Hurley said. “Then these truly innovative, community-driven solutions come to the forefront, and then what we see is a lot of excitement and action around them.”
According to the legislation text, if funded, city staff from multiple departments will launch the pilot program alongside community partners in January 2026.