NWCoC Resources

The Northwest Minnesota Continuum of Care (NWCoC) is launching the 2025 Local Program Competition in alignment with the FY 2025 HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) NOFO. HUD has made approximately $3.9 billion available nationwide, with a hard application deadline of January 14, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET. This federal competition emphasizes reducing unsheltered homelessness, supporting treatment and recovery, decreasing returns to homelessness, and increasing participants’ earned income.

As part of this process, the NWCoC is now accepting Intent to Apply forms for both new and renewal projects for the 2025 Annual Program Competition.

If you are interested in applying for a new project under this competition, please fill out the Intent to Apply form by December 1, 2025.  If you have questions, please contact: Barbara Johnson, NWCoC Coordinator Email: barbaraj@nwmf.org

You may also contact Barbara to be added to the NWCoC email list. CoC staff are available to meet with prospective applicants to discuss project ideas and provide more information about the CoC Program Competition.

Additional background on the federal CoC Program is available at:

HUD CoC Program Competition webpage

HUD CoC Program Virtual Binder

Step 1: Intent to Apply-DUE in by December 1, 2025

• Agencies interested in applying must submit an Intent to Apply Form to the NWCoC by the published deadline found on the NWCoC webpage.

• All required documents must be submitted to the CoC by the identified deadlines.
• Organizations will be notified via email whether their project meets the minimum threshold requirements to proceed to a full project application.

Intent to apply form

Step 2: Project Application – DUE in by December 15th, 2025

Agencies invited to submit a full application (new and renewal projects) will:

• Complete the NWCoC project application and required supplemental documents.

• Submit all materials via email to: Barbara Johnson, NWCoC Coordinator – barbaraj@nwmf.org

• Refer to the NWCoC NOFO page for the full application timeline, forms, and guidance materials – coming soon!

All eligible projects will be scored and ranked by the NWCoC Ranking & Review Committee, using scoring and ranking criteria approved by the NWCoC Board. The Committee’s recommended project priority listing will be brought to the NWCoC Board for approval prior to submission in the federal CoC application.

Archived, information available upon request.

Archived, information available upon request.

Archived, information available upon request.

• Northwest Region map
• 2025 NWCoC Calendar

• NWCoC Governance Charter
• ESG and CoC Administration Policies
• NWCoC CES Policy Manual

Archived, information available upon request.

Archived, information available upon request.

The Northwest Coordinated Entry System (CES) is not a program, but a way of providing service. Utilizing progressive engagement, CES provides multiple points for access and assessment, while maintaining standardized processes and tools to improve linkage to mainstream and homeless services.

In HUD’s vision, the coordinated entry process is an approach to coordination and management of a crisis response system’s resources that allows users to make consistent decisions from available information to efficiently and effectively connect people to interventions that will rapidly end their homelessness.

CES will help our CoC better identify, document and evaluate system needs, as well as prioritize limited resources, assuring those who are most in need of services are prioritized for services. The CES in the NWCoC serves at the Homelessness Response System to accomplish the goals of the NWCoC to end homelessness.

Coordinated entry is . . .

• A client centered and uniform process for improving system-wide entry and referrals.
• An intervention designed to provide more rapid and simplified access to housing.
• A system which prioritizes limited resources to those who need it most.
• A system using real-time and region-wide data to inform current and future services.

• Access, Assessment & Housing Sites in Northwest Minnesota

• HMIS Release of Information
• HMIS Release of Information (HIPPA)
• NWCoC Coordinated Entry Receipt and ROI

This section is under construction, more information coming soon.

Approved Policy

• NWCoC CES Policy Manual

NWCoC CES Procedure Manual

• NWCoC CES Procedure Manual

Agency & Staff Agreements

• CES Inter-Agency Data Sharing Agreement
• Coordinated Entry Participation Agreement

This section is under construction, more information coming soon.

HMIS CES webpage:  https://www.hmismn.org/

This section is under construction, more information coming soon.

Wilder Research has conducted a statewide study of homelessness since 1991.

The study is a point-in-time survey of people throughout the state who meet the federal definition of homelessness. It includes counts and estimates of the number of people who are homeless, and a survey of homeless people. The survey is conducted every three years on the last Thursday in October at emergency shelters, domestic violence shelters, transitional housing programs, social service agencies, encampments and abandoned buildings. About two-thirds of the interviews take place in the Twin Cities area.

The information gathered from the survey is the primary source of descriptive data on the causes and circumstances of people who become homeless and is the only source of data on homeless people not in some type of shelter. Findings are used to provide an accurate picture of homelessness in Minnesota and to promote efforts to create permanent, affordable housing for all Minnesotans.

The statewide survey grew out of a survey of homelessness first conducted in Saint Paul in 1984. Since its inception, the study has relied on the efforts of service providers, homeless advocates, government agency workers, and volunteers to successfully plan and conduct the face-to-face interviews. It is funded by a private-public partnership including the State of Minnesota and private foundations. We also receive help from corporations, who provide volunteers and in-kind donations.

A companion study is conducted on Minnesota’s American Indian reservations in partnership with several Minnesota tribes.

• Volunteer Interview Training
• Visit the Wilder Website

Archived, information available upon request.