The Purpose of the Continuum of Care:

It is a strategic plan to address the use of HUD resources and their interface with other funding sources, developed through a community-based process to address homelessness based on the identified needs of homeless individuals and families; the availability and accessibility of existing housing and services; and the opportunities for linkages with non-homeless mainstream housing and services resources. Through the Continuum of Care planning process, a community can: Identify the size and scope of the homeless problem; Inventory the resources available in the community to address the problem of homelessness, including both homeless resources and non-homeless targeted housing and service resources (referred to as “mainstream” resources); Rank the community’s needs in order of priority; Strategically plan the range of services and housing that should be implemented to address homelessness, and Identify available leveraging resources that can be used to address homelessness. 

It is an application to HUD for McKinney Homeless Assistance resources. These resources are invaluable in providing housing and supportive services for people who are homeless. These funds are made available through a national competition announced each year in HUD’s Notice of Funding Availability. The Central Minnesota CoC has secured $14,828,796 in funding since 1997 through this application.

Who is Involved in the Continuum of Care?

Government officials, local public housing authorities, county officials and service providers from 13 counties and the St. Cloud Area.

The Central CoC is divided into 3 regions, Northern, Central, and Eastern.

Northern Region: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, and Todd Counties

Central Region: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright Counties

Eastern Region: Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties

HUD Releases the 2018 AHAR Part 2 with Updated Data on Homelessness