ST. CLOUD - Local providers of emergency shelter, rent and mortgage funding are about to face a major challenge. FEMA has slashed the amount of emergency housing support funding from 2.9 million dollars to 1.1 million dollars for the state of Minnesota.

Betty Schnettler is with the United Way of Central Minnesota. She says this means agencies such as Tri-Cap, Annamarie's Alliance and Place of Hope, which support people facing housing crises, will be able to assist significantly fewer people.

Schnettler says, according to federal standards, Minnesota statistically did not meet the criteria of a poverty or unemployment crisis.

Schnettler says 155 tri-county area families facing homelessness or foreclosure were helped with this money last year.

The United Way is looking into accessing state "set aside funds" and is waiting to find out if the area is eligible.

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