Women & Children First (WCF) is the largest and longest-operating domestic violence emergency shelter in Arkansas, providing safe housing, crisis intervention, and support services for women and children escaping domestic violence. To support unmet demand and expand its impact, WCF is using NMTC financing to develop and construct a new 41,345 sq. ft. Family Peace Center in Little Rock, replacing its outdated facility with a modern, trauma-informed campus designed to offer comprehensive, wraparound services for survivors.

The new center will include 132 private bedrooms with baths, a 24-hour crisis hotline center, on-site healthcare, legal advocacy, counseling spaces, a children’s enrichment center, and a pet kennel. The facility will also introduce Arkansas’ first Family Peace Center model, a best-practice, multi-agency approach where survivors can access law enforcement, legal aid, mental health services, and workforce development support—all in one location.

Services Provided by Classic Lake:

• New Markets Tax Credit Advisory

Community and Economic Impacts

• 60 construction jobs

• 25 new full-time jobs and 17 retained jobs​

• Provides safe housing and trauma-informed services to over 8,000 individuals annually​