NWCoC Resources

The Northwest Minnesota Continuum of Care (NWCoC) is re-opening the FY24-25 Local Program Competition in alignment with the FY 24-25 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 February 9, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET. This federal competition emphasizes quickly rehousing individuals and families experiencing homelessness, persons experiencing trauma or a lack of safety related to fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and youth experiencing homelessness while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families, and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness. 

Under the FY24–25 NOFO:

Projects that were funded in FY24 and are eligible for renewal do not have to reapply (please refer to NWCoC Local NOFO Project Application Process).

As HUD is now operating under the original FY2024–2025 CoC NOFO, which was designed primarily to renew existing programs, not to create new ones, to our knowledge, there is no new federal funding being added for new projects at this time.

If you have questions, please contact: Barbara Johnson, NWCoC Coordinator, email: barbaraj@nwmf.org

Additional background on the federal CoC Program is available at:

HUD CoC Program Competition webpage

HUD CoC Program Virtual Binder

Key Dates

• NOFO opens: January 9, 2026
• If not intending to renew, contact Barbara: February 16, 2026
• e-snaps opens: January 16, 2026
• Application deadline: February 9, 2026
• Awards expected: March 2026

What this means for CoC project applicants:

Projects Eligible for Renewal based on FY24 Priority Listing: 

• FY25 GIW

Renewal projects

If your project is renewing as-is (not being reallocated or replaced):

• You do NOT need to submit a full renewal application
• You DO need to make sure your required grant materials are up to date, including:
  • APRs
  • Audit reports
  • Any other HUD-required documents

This helps prevent delays once HUD is allowed to release funds.

If you plan to renew

Most projects already told us they plan to renew when you submitted your Letter of Intent in December.

• If you still plan to renew, you do not need to do anything right now
• If you have changed your mind and will NOT renew, please email me by Friday, January 16, 2026.

New Projects

HUD is now operating under the original FY2024–2025 CoC NOFO, which was designed primarily to renew existing programs, not to create new ones.  To our knowledge, there is no new federal funding being added for new project this year.

The titles for the links below may be listed now, but will be linked prior to February 9th.

​Northwest MN CoC Reallocation Policy​ – coming soon!

​NWCoC NOFO  Appeal Process​ – coming soon!

2024 Renewal Project Applicant Scorecard​ – coming soon!

2024 HMIS & CE Applicant Scorecard​ – coming soon!

2024 New Project Applicant Scorecard​ – coming soon!

e-snaps website

Grants.gov – RFP and all related documents

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.