Community Services Block Grant Rule, 20 CAR pt. 505

Statement of Necessity The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act (42 U.S.C. § 9901 et seq.) was created, “[T]o provide assistance to States and local communities, working through a network of community action agencies and other neighborhood-based organizations, for the reduction of poverty, the revitalization of low-income communities, and the empowerment of low-income families and individuals in rural and urban areas to become fully self-sufficient…” The CSBG Act mandates certain aspects of how state CSBG offices will operate in carrying out their defined roles as administrators of CSBG but leaves significant authority and flexibility in the hands of the states. Pursuant to the Act, the Governor designates an appropriate agency to act as the lead for the administration of the Community Services Block Grant. In Arkansas, the Department of Human Services, Division of County Operations (DCO), Office of Program and Grant Management (OPGM), acts as lead agency. As part of its duties, it submits the CSBG state plan for renewal every two years. As part of the current renewal cycle, DCO updates the CSBG Rule for FY 2026 and FY 2027. The updates for this cycle reflect current processes, office names, and programs, and other technical corrections.

No public hearing was held on this rule. The period expired on August 9, 2025. The agency provided the following public comment summary: Commenter’s Name: Jacob Bright, Crowley’s Ridge Development Council, Inc. COMMENT: I respectfully propose that Arkansas DHS amends its CSBG income-eligibility threshold from 125% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) to 200% of FPL. At the current 125% level, many working low-income families lose CSBG eligibility as soon as they earn modest wages, often still well below a living wage in Arkansas. Raising the eligibility cap to 200% FPL would better align CSBG support with families’ actual cost-of-living needs and help prevent “benefits cliffs” that discourage work or force families to choose between earning enough to qualify and retaining essential supports. Rationale for 200% FPL 1. Bridging the Benefits Cliff. Many working families gain only a few dollars of net income by moving from part-time or low-wage jobs to fuller employment, yet lose eligibility for transportation, childcare, and other CSBG-funded supports. A 200% FPL cap would smooth this transition. 2. Aligning with Peer States. Several states use 175–200% FPL for comparable anti-poverty pr

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• ALC summary agenda Oct 16, 2025
• ALC agenda Oct 16, 2025
• ALC meeting video Oct 16, 2025
• Arkansas Register, November 2025