Coordinated Entry System

Coordinated Entry is an approach to managing and coordinating a community's homeless assistance resources that helps providers make consistent decisions and efficiently connect people experiencing homelessness to the interventions most likely to end their homelessness. As defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Coordinated Entry is a required component of every Continuum of Care and is a condition of receiving federal funding targeted to address homelessness.

A Coordinated Entry System (CES) is the collection of programs, policies, procedures, and coordination activities that guide how people experiencing homelessness access available services and housing resources. In the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC), Coordinated Entry provides a unified, community-wide process for assessing needs, prioritizing limited resources, and connecting households to appropriate interventions.

The Coordinated Entry System includes four key components: access, assessment, prioritization, and referral. Together, these components help communities allocate homeless assistance resources, connect households to housing and services, and support long-term housing stability.

Coordinated Entry does not create additional shelter beds, housing programs, or funding. Rather, it helps communities make the best use of the resources available by ensuring that assistance is provided through a consistent, coordinated, and equitable process. Through Coordinated Entry, providers across the Greater Richmond region work together to address complex challenges, maximize limited resources, and improve outcomes for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. To learn more about more about homeless service

How People Connect to Homeless Services

HUD's Coordinated Entry regulations require Continuums of Care to establish accessible and standardized ways for people experiencing homelessness to connect with available services. In the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC), this function is known as the Access component of the Coordinated Entry System.

Access Points are the avenues through which households experiencing homelessness connect to the Coordinated Entry System, complete a standardized assessment, and begin the process of being considered for available housing and service resources. Access Points help households navigate the homeless response system and connect to appropriate assistance based on their circumstances.

The GRCoC's designated Access Points include:

Homeless Connection Line

The Homeless Connection Line serves as the region's primary phone-based access point, helping individuals and families connect to homeless assistance resources and complete the Coordinated Entry intake process.

Coordinated Street Outreach

Coordinated Street Outreach engages people experiencing unsheltered homelessness throughout the region and helps connect them to shelter, housing, healthcare, and other community resources.

EmpowerNet Hotline

Individuals and families fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or stalking can access specialized services, safety planning, and support through the EmpowerNet Hotline.

After connecting through an Access Point, households complete a standardized assessment that helps identify housing barriers, service needs, and eligibility for available programs. Information gathered through this process is used to support coordinated referrals and the prioritization of limited housing resources in accordance with GRCoC policies and HUD requirements.

Accessing the Coordinated Entry System does not guarantee immediate placement into shelter or housing. Rather, it ensures that households are connected to a fair, consistent, and community-wide process for accessing available homeless assistance resources.