History of the Gaines House

The Gaines House is a large, 2-story brick house built in 1870 and is on the National Register of Historic Homes. Although there are no private bedrooms, the bedrooms are large and spacious enough to accommodate from 2 to 4 women per room. It is beautifully decorated and has a home like atmosphere. The Gaines House can house a total of 25 women at one time.

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The Gaines House has served the residential needs of homeless women with mental, physical, or behavioral health disabilities who need a supervised environment while readjusting to community life. More than a thousand women have called the beautiful Charles Thompson-designed house at 17th and Gaines Street in Little Rock their home and the caring staff helps them transition from dependency to independent living.   

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For over fifty years, Gaines House has enabled homeless women from all 75 counties to successfully complete the psychiatric rehabilitation process and become a productive members of our community. The Gaines House is unique in Arkansas, as we offer a homelike setting to homeless women in a historic home, as they work towards a life of independence.

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Many residents have been abandoned from their families. What also sets The Gaines House apart from other shelters is residents do not have a time limit on their stay with us.  The Gaines House works to restore hope and dignity.