ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A new report shows Minnesota's strengthening metro housing market may be making it more difficult for homeless people to find permanent housing.

The semiannual report by the Minnesota Housing Partnership found a decline in rental vacancies and statewide eviction filings have caused an increase in rental rates. It determined the average rent in the Twin Cities now tops $1,000 a month.

The director of research and communications for the housing partnership says that expensive rent and a lack of high-paying jobs makes it hard for homeless people to find permanent housing.

According to the report, an average of 372 homeless families stayed at Hennepin County shelters each month from July 2013 to September.

It also found there were nearly 4,000 homeless children across the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school districts.

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