LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Central Arkansas nonprofit The Van is moving forward with an ambitious plan to build a permanent emergency shelter to serve the region’s homeless population. After years of temporary solutions and significant community support, the organization announced it has secured land for the project and is actively raising funds to complete construction.

In a social media post Friday, The Van revealed that it has already raised more than $256,000 toward the new facility and has placed 10 acres of unrestricted land under contract for the build. The property lies just outside the Little Rock city limits, a strategic move that will allow for more flexibility in development and zoning.

“We put 10 unrestricted acres outside city limits under contract today for the construction of a 15k sq ft permanent winter weather emergency shelter and year-round thrift store / farm stand,” the organization said in its post.

The shelter will serve as a vital resource during inclement weather and provide services year-round through an integrated thrift store and farm stand operation, allowing the nonprofit to maintain ongoing community engagement and self-sustaining revenue.

To help bridge the funding gap, The Van has launched a GoFundMe campaign and is calling on supporters to take advantage of a limited-time donation matching opportunity. According to the fundraiser, “If we can raise $4,200, the donor will match up to $16,400, meaning The Van would receive $20,600.00.”

This latest push comes after a rollercoaster few months for the organization. In December, executive director Aaron Reddin announced that The Van had raised over $125,000 for a separate 8,000 to 10,000-square-foot building intended for a similar shelter-and-store concept. However, that deal fell through in January under unexpected and frustrating circumstances.

Reddin explained that while The Van believed it had the building under contract with the rightful owner, it turned out the individual they were working with did not own the property.

“We identified the building and put it under contract with the person that we thought was the building owner, but it was not,” Reddin said.

The setback forced The Van to regroup and re-evaluate its options, ultimately leading to the decision to pursue the newly contracted 10-acre site.

Despite the earlier disappointment, community support has remained strong. When the nonprofit first shared its need for funding to secure the new site, supporters donated over $50,000 overnight, demonstrating the high level of trust and goodwill The Van has built in the region.

The Van is known throughout Arkansas for its hands-on outreach approach to supporting unsheltered individuals. Rather than operating from a fixed location, the team has historically used a mobile model—delivering supplies, food, and assistance directly to people living on the streets. The new shelter will be The Van’s first permanent facility, signaling a major shift in its strategy while keeping its core mission intact.

“This is about more than just a building,” Reddin said in a previous statement. “It’s about creating a space where people can come in from the cold, get the help they need, and not be turned away.”

As the organization works to bring the new facility to life, it’s encouraging those interested in supporting the mission to visit ItsTheVan.org for more information or to contribute to the fundraiser.

Originally reported by Brandon Ringo in Kark.