All housing and service providers who receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Continuum of Care (CoC) or Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) are required to participate in the Coordinated Entry system. The Coordinated Entry system is a proven national best practice and all housing and service providers in the county are encouraged to participate. When implemented effectively, coordinated assessment can minimize the time and frustration consumers who are in crisis may face when trying to access services and also:
- Reduce new entries into homelessness through a coordinated system of diversion and prevention efforts;
- Prevent people experiencing homelessness from entering into multiple programs before having their needs met
- Reduce or erase the need for individual provider wait lists
- Foster increased collaboration between homelessness assistance providers
- Improve the community’s ability to perform well on Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) outcomes, and progress the goal of ending homelessness.
- Ensure that agencies are providing housing to the most vulnerable populations