Coordinated Entry

1. Coordinated Entry Presented by - CARES, Inc. August 17, 2017

2. Discussion Goal • Define Coordinated Entry (CE) • Define the four core elements: • Access • Assessment • Prioritization • Referral • The Importance of CE • Next Steps

3. What is Coordinated Entry: The Coordinated Entry System is an approach to coordination and management of housing and supportive services that allows providers to effectively an efficiently connect people to interventions that will rapidly end their homelessness.

4. Goals of a CE System: • Effective • Inclusive • Prioritizes • Person Centered • Low Barrier • Informs System change • Community agreement on how to triage based on a households needs • “No Wrong Door”

5. Four Core Elements • Access • Assessment • Prioritization • Referral

6. Access Access refers to how people experiencing a housing crisis learn that Coordinated Entry exists and access crisis response services.

7. Access • Full Coverage - CoC must ensure that Crisis Response system is accessible throughout entire geographic area • CoC funded street outreach programs must be linked to the CE process • CE process must allow for people to access emergency services with as few barriers as possible • CE process must use same assessment tool at all access points • CoC and ESG funded programs and support services are well marketed to eligible persons • CE process must ensure safety of persons fleeing Domestic Violence • CE process must ensure privacy protections are extended to all participants from access through referral

8. Assessment Assessment is the process of gathering information about a person presenting to the crisis response system. Assessment includes documenting information about the barriers the person faces to being rapidly housed and any characteristics that might make him or her more vulnerable while homeless.

9. Assessment • Assessment tool should be: • Tested, Valid and appropriate • Comprehensive (provide access to all services within the CoC) • Person-centered • User friendly • Housing first oriented • Sensitive to lived experiences • Collect Relative information for potential options for housing and supportive services

10. Prioritization Prioritization must be based on specific and definable set of criteria that are made publicly available through the CoC’s written prioritization standards and must be applied consistently throughout the CoC.

11. Prioritization • Prioritization may include the following: • Significant health or behavioral health challenges or functional impairments • High use of crisis or emergency services (emergency rooms, jails, and psychiatric facilities) • Vulnerability to illness or death • Risk of continued homelessness • Vulnerability to victimization, including physical assault, trafficking, or sex work • Other factors determined by the community and based on severity of needs

12. Referral • In referral, the group of persons with the highest priority is offered housing and supportive services first. • As required by the Coordinated Entry Notice, that referral process must be guided by an intentional protocol that follows the CoC’s prioritization standards as documented in its written policies and procedures.

13. Referral Goals • The Coordinated Entry notice establishes several requirements for the referral process: • Lowering barriers/Housing First- The CE process and participating projects must strive to identify and lower barriers to project entry • Referral process will apply to all housing and support services projects funded by CoC and ESG as well as un-funded projects • Referral process must take into account how enrollment in a certain program may affect person’s eligibility for future assistance • Referral process should be aware of wait times, be person centered and comply with Fair Housing laws.

14. Key Participants: • CoC Funded programs- Required to participate • ESG Funded programs- Required to Participate • Non-CoC or ESG Funded homeless assistance programs • Not Required but Key to Success

15. Benefits of coordinated Entry: • Persons experiencing housing crisis are: • able to locate housing faster • be referred to only projects eligible for • get access to projects referred to • and appeal rejections through a transparent process

16. Additional Benefits • Housing and supportive services are able to avoid inappropriate referrals, better manage participants through a centralized prioritization list and comply with CoC and ESG program requirements • Public and private funders are able to be confident that the most vulnerable are being served and have access to better data for improved reporting and planning • Coordinated Entry can help ensure that the resources in the homeless system are used as effectively as possible

17. Next Steps • Meet all new requirements put forth by HUD for January 28th, 2018 • More guidance to come on: • Data Management • Four Core Elements • Engaging Community Partners

18. Coordinated Entry: What to Expect • Coordinated Entry is an evolving practice • New research, models and assessment tools are constantly being created • A CoC Coordinated Entry process must be flexible and responsive as new information is released from HUD • CE must incorporate changes and improvements recommended through annual evaluation and consider additional guidance from public and private funders

19. Link(s) to important hUD Documents • CE Core Elements Guidebook:  https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Coordinated-Entry-Core-Elements.pdf • CE Self Assessment: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/coordinated-entry-self-assessment.pdf • HUD CE Policy Brief: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Coordinated-Entry-Policy-Brief.pdf • CPD-17-01 Notice establishing additional requirements for COC: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Notice-CPD-17-01-Establishing-Additional-Requirements-or-a-Continuum-of-Care-Centralized-or-Coordinated-Assessment-System.pdf