About New Beginnings
The New Beginnings initiative is a low-barrier bridge housing community for people in need of shelter.

Social Change + Individual Support =
A New Beginning
Our Mission
We operate a bridge housing community to help Northwest Arkansas end homelessness. We welcome people who have experienced long-term homelessness or face complex barriers to regaining housing into our safe, supportive living environment. In our program we promote physical, mental, spiritual well-being and provide housing-focused support to help each person move into a place of their own. In our community, we advocate for the expansion of supportive housing options and join efforts that promote housing justice.
Our Vision
We see a future where every person has a safe, appropriate home—including people who face complex barriers to maintaining stable housing. We connect our daily work of providing shelter and support to the deeper work for housing justice in our society.
Board of Directors

Aaron Marshall
Board President

Kevin Fitzpatrick, PhD
Board Vice President

Brock Gearhart
Board Member

Danyelle Musselman
Board Member

Greg Primm
Board Treasurer

Ben Kirksey
Board Secretary

Becca Jackson
Board Member

Mike Rusch
Board Member
Staff

Solomon Burchfield
Program Director

Egypt Tramble
Housing Specialist

Linda Griffin
Community Engagement

Lenora Warner
Support Specialist

Misty Smith
Support Specialist

Lazerick Hall
Support Specialist

Tamikka Burks
Support Specialist

Megan Thomas
Support Specialist

Brandon Pigeon
Support Specialist

Sarah Bryan
Support Specialist
The Background on New Beginnings
New Beginnings is seeking to improve the conditions of unsheltered homeless people living in Fayetteville. The conditions that the majority of homeless persons living outside experience are unsanitary, unsafe, unsupported, and uncontrolled – creating both public health and personal safety hazards. This working group believes we have a solution that could immediately improve their living conditions and enrich many lives in the process.
Inspired by communities, now sprouting up across the United States like SquareOne Villages in Eugene, Oregon, have been shown to have a lasting effect on addressing the complex emergency shelter needs of the homeless population. By providing shelter to our most vulnerable neighbors, we would be able to help them enter a pathway toward receiving comprehensive case management while addressing the root causes of their homeless circumstances.
This is a “Housing First” approach to quickly and successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements. Once individuals are in safe, secure, and clean environments, we will work with community partners to provide the appropriate services to work toward permanent housing solutions.


Our Values
Dignity:
We recognize each person has inherent worth and is entitled to respect, equal treatment, and the freedom to make their own choices.
Empathy:
We are open to the experiences of others and accept others without judgment.
Empowerment:
We recognize each person has strengths and abilities and our role is to support and empower them to exercise those abilities to achieve their goals.
Accountability:
We all expect to live up to our commitments and take responsibility for our actions. We accept the natural consequences of decisions we make and grow from them.
Interdependence:
We believe people thrive when they live in reciprocal, meaningful,
relationships. This means healthy interdependence is the ideal goal, not merely independence.
Service:
We identify as a service institution. From the board of directors to staff to how we engage the community in our mission, we strive to demonstrate that it is a privilege to serve our fellow human beings.
Aaron’s Story
Aaron Marshall, Board of Directors
How You Can Get Involved
Volunteer
Learn more about the volunteer opportunities through our regional community initiatives, Laundry Love Fayetteville and Art in the Park.
Community Sponsorship
It’s not just a new beginning for the individuals, but a new beginning for the community. Please contact us for more information on what it looks like to partner with New Beginnings.
Donate
New Beginnings is a registered 501c3 nonprofit located in Northwest Arkansas (EIN: 56-2648165). All donations are 100% tax-deductible and will be used towards operational costs at New Beginnings and it's volunteer programs within the community.