BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a $3.3 million competitive grant to North Dakota’s Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) to support the work of nonprofit providers, public housing authorities and government agencies that provide housing and support services to people experiencing homelessness.

“North Dakota is fortunate to have, through our Homeless Continuum of Care, a coordinated effort led by local agencies and government partners committed to not only providing shelter but that have a real focus on addressing the issues that cause homelessness,” said North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) Executive Director Dave Flohr.

The HUD grant supports:

• Twenty-one projects that provide housing and services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including seven projects at domestic violence agencies, and seven projects for youth under the age of 25.
• A Homeless Management Information System used to collect housing and services data to help guide CoC efficacy.
• Funding for CoC planning to support coordination and system development as well as administrative activities.

“While homelessness is a complex challenge with various contributing factors, housing is the essential first step,” said ND CoC Coordinator, Shawnel Willer. “Thanks to these grant dollars, agencies can continue their tireless efforts to meet the immediate needs of our unhoused neighbors, while also strengthening long-term housing solutions. These essential federal resources enable our local initiatives to thrive, ensuring that more people have the support they need to succeed.”

HUD requires CoCs to rank projects into tiers. Ranking is based on capacity, quality, priorities, and performance. The tiered approach prioritizes funds based on local needs and funding gaps. Higher ranked projects are assigned to Tier 1 and lower ranked projects are assigned to Tier 2. All of ND CoC’s Tier 1 projects were funded; no Tier 2 projects received funding. HUD’s funding notice, the CoC’s collaborative application, priority listing and funding results are available online.

The goal of HUD’s CoC program is to promote a communitywide commitment to ending homelessness. The program provides funding to support efforts to end homelessness, promotes access to and effective utilization of programs, and optimizes the self-sufficiency of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

ND CoC’s geographic area encompasses all 53 of North Dakota’s counties, its cities, towns, and unincorporated areas, as well as the state’s five federally recognized tribes. More information about the CoC and the state’s homeless service providers is available on the continuum’s website. Individuals and families in immediate need of assistance should call FirstLink’s 2-1-1 helpline.

A self-supporting and mission-driven state agency, NDHFA is dedicated to making housing affordable for all North Dakotans. The agency staffs the CoC and is the collaborative applicant, developing the grant application on the CoC’s behalf. The North Dakota Industrial Commission, consisting of Governor Kelly Armstrong as chairman, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Drew H. Wrigley, oversees NDHFA.