Rural Outreach & Navigation 

Facing rural homelessness 

Experiencing homelessness in rural areas is as difficult and complex ​as experiencing homelessness in large urban areas, but it often goes unrecognized.

​In 2023, 30% of households identified as being without shelter in the River Valleys Co region were located in rural-designated areas. These 30%, or 156 households, were looking for housing while staying in cars, tents, parks, and abandoned buildings year-round. Almost one in four households included children.  

CoC response 

​With funding received through the HUD Special NOFO to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness, the CoC is expanding access to shelter and housing in rural-designated areas of the region.

​Key services include shelter and transportation assistance, as well as locally-hosted CoC Coordinated Entry Housing Navigators to boost rural capacity and connections to regional housing resources. 

Getting involved

  • ​Join the CoC staff team! Visit the Staff page for details on open positions.  
  • Invite CoC staff to share information on rural homelessness response with your agency or group. Contact Jennifer P. 
  • Host a Navigator in your community! We are seeking partner sites for Navigators across the rural-designated areas shown in the map below. 
< Download the flyer for details or 
Map of counties in the River Valleys CoC region, with the counties eligible for the rural initiative highlighted in blue (Brown, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Martin, Mower, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona counties).
Map of eligible rural project areas (blue)