If you are going through the process of navigating public benefits and services, you might be wondering, what is coordinated entry? The process of accessing benefits can be complicated and cumbersome, especially if you’re doing so under the stress of trying to provide for yourself and your family with limited resources. These processes can be especially challenging if you are also experiencing homelessness, but Coordinated Entry can help make it easier.
In recent years, you might have heard the term “Coordinated Entry” in reference to applying for public assistance. This is especially likely if you are experiencing homelessness and are trying to access services. This article defines coordinated entry and provides information about ways in which this approach can make accessing housing and other services more efficient.
What is Coordinated Entry?
Coordinated entry is a centralized assessment process that makes it easier for communities to help people in need of housing and other resources. In recent years, the Department of Housing and Urban Development created guidelines to help make processes for accessing public services more efficient, and these guidelines are what the term “Coordinated Entry” refers to.
Coordinated entry processes are intended to help communities and the agencies that serve them to address the needs of homeless individuals and families in a timely manner. Coordinated entry processes are also designed to prioritize those with the greatest need.
Because all of the service agencies across the country have been required to implement Coordinated Entry systems, you are likely to have a more positive experience when applying for emergency housing or homelessness prevention. These systems allow you to apply for services in one place, with one application. Then, you are connected to the organizations and agencies in your geographic area that can help.
What is Coordinated Entry Helpful For?
There are many ways that Coordinated Entry helps. Below, we have listed several ways Coordinated Entry is helpful to individuals, families, and communities:
- Coordinated Entry can cut down on the time it takes for an individual or family experiencing homelessness to be placed in housing.
- Coordinated Entry processes help those experiencing the most hardship have their needs met first.
- Coordinated Entry processes help community agencies use their resources more efficiently.
- Coordinated Entry helps community agencies meet more of the needs that each individual or family has.
- Coordinated Entry can connect people to supportive services in addition to housing.
- Information gathered from individuals and families seeking services is used to improve processes and services in the future.
- Coordinated Entry can help with needs specific to veterans, survivors of domestic violence, LGBTQ+ individuals, people living with disabilities, and other groups.
What is Coordinated Entry Application Like?
Coordinated Entry is not a specific service that you can apply for. Rather, it is a process that community agencies have adopted, as required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
When you go to a local agency or organization that helps people in need, they will collect a lot of information from you up front, which will sit in one centralized place. In other words, you should not need to apply for services at a number of different organizations because the centralized application for services will match you with the organizations in your area that can best address your needs.
If you are experiencing homelessness, or are likely to become homeless in the near future, filling out an application for services at a local agency that works to prevent homelessness is a great place to start. With Coordinated Entry, you will be able to get the help you need more quickly and efficiently than ever.
You can read about Coordinated Entry in detail in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Policy Brief.
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Catherine Hall
Catherine Hall, LMSW is a therapist at a small group practice in New York City. She earned her master of social work degree at New York University.
Patricia
Tuesday 15th of November 2022
As a follow up to my previous long comment a few minutes ago...
The previous system that allowed my doctor to provide a letter that listed the medically necessary items necessary to treat my health issues worked well until they changed it to the current nightmare.
This was a projection of what was necessary for the coming year. It included a list with the projected costs on a monthly basis. No invoices were required. No follow up on previous years expenses. This allowed me to use the same prescription letter for several departments at different renewal times of the year. My annual doctor update appointment was mostly to adjust any protocols for the coming year. So, this form was mostly in place anyway wirh only a few additions of the costs.
It would be of enormous help if I could return to this method for annual medical deductions.
Catherine Marucci
Tuesday 15th of November 2022
That is a lot! It's difficult to know how much paperwork Coordinated Entry may help with. It's unlikely to help in all cases, but it may eventually be able to cut back on some duplicate work.
Patricia
Tuesday 15th of November 2022
I am 70 yrs old and the annual renewal paperwork is a nightmare. I have extensive medical issues with deductions around $6,000 a year or more. That is about half my Social Security which is all I have to live on.
The problem is that I have chemical allergies that require me to completely avoid pharmaceuticals and I can only use expensive organic health food and supplement protocols to treat them.
DSHS and HUD handle some things, but mostly it is done by outside 3rd parties. Medical insurance, Foodstamps, Caregivers, Rental assistance, Electric assistance, etc. All have different caseworkers in different departments with different qualifications and paperwork. They all require annual renewals at different times a year.
I take over 24 different items for my medical protocol with strict food avoidance that is directed by a doctor. The doctor will not do the paperwork because it is too intensive and detailed. Every item has to have a prescription which includes the type and brand of medicine, the daily dose, total cost of each item plus cost per day.
Invoices are required with specific information included or they will not accept it. I have to provide my bank and credit card statements that must match up with the invoices. One department will not accept the medical expense unless I can prove I already paid it. I have had large $1000 orders not qualify because they did not fall inside the 1 year time frame of that period. They require the paperwork about 3 months before the deadline so anything within that 3 months does not count toward this or next year's medical deduction. My items are purchased in bulk on a credit card a few times a year when they are on sale...not monthly. One department takes just the last 3 months and multiples by 4 to get the yearly deduction. That is not the way my protocol and budget work. Every month is different.
Also, the 1 year time frames vary with each department and are not consistent every year. That means I do this from scratch 3-4 times a year. The doctors nor my caregivers have time to do this. I get my items from dozens of different places due to frequent out of stock issues, closed sources, ingredient formula changes, etc.
Can Coordinated Entry make any of this less of a nightmare? I live month to month in fear of losing the level of health I fight daily to maintain. This includes being a Type 1 Diabetic that is allergic to insulin.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to vent. I have no support system other than my caregivers who do not involve themselves in any of this due to limited hours and the complexity of it.