LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – After years of searching, The Van — a nonprofit that supports people experiencing homelessness — is now under contract for a new building that will serve as a permanent emergency shelter.

The announcement comes after two previous attempts fell through. The most recent search ended in July 2025, and the first in December 2024, when founder Aaron Reddin learned the property he was pursuing did not have legitimate owners.

Reddin said the need for shelter in Little Rock is urgent, with thousands of people living without a roof over their heads.

“Everything closes. Everything shuts down. There’s nowhere to go,” Reddin said. “This past year, we saw seven amputations from frostbite.”

The shelter marks a major expansion from The Van’s current mobile outreach model, which pr

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