Housing and Urban Development published the 2009 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Availability for Homeless Assistance Grants on Sept. 25. Of the approximately $1.43 billion in funding available for homeless assistance grants across the country, homeless providers in 20 counties in southeastern and south central Minnesota can apply for approximately $1.2 million.

The funding is awarded through a competitive process, the Continuum of Care. In the counties of Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, LeSueur, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan and Winona, the River Valleys CoC coordinates the regional application. Anyone interested in applying for these funds which can provide housing and/or services to people who are homeless must participate in the process.

The next meeting of the Continuum of Care will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, at RPU, 4000 East River Rd., Rochester. For more information, contact Mary Ulland Evans at (507) 732-8555.