We see each person’s inherent value and worth and that’s why New Beginnings is a resident-guided community. We empower residents to make their own choices and share control over their shared living spaces. The people who live at New Beginnings select their own council of resident leaders. They write their own community manual with the rules that govern visitors, pets, quiet hours, etc. Residents take turns staffing the front desk and organize cleaning teams to care for the facilities and grounds. With staff support, resident council leaders host a weekly community-wide meeting to discuss community issues and organize activities.

The staff person onsite does intervene to ensure the community’s safety rules are followed, to help resolve conflict and promote peaceful relations between residents, and offers support to help residents to fulfill the responsibilities they signed up for. But our staff understands that we are there to create a safe, supportive environment not to take charge over other people’s lives.

The resident-guided model encourages people into the routine of being a good steward of their living environment, being accountable to their neighbors for their behavior, and being responsible to show up for tasks and appointments they’ve committed to.

The resident-guided approach is part of our commitment to center people who have first-hand homeless experience in the solutions to homelessness in Northwest Arkansas.