Coordinated Entry Policies & Standards
Coordinated Entry is a system in which all homeless assistance programs work together to ensure that services are accessible and well-targeted to the immediate needs of our neighbors experiencing homelessness. The goals of a coordinated entry system are to simplify access to services for people pushed into homelessness; to track program and system outcomes in reducing homelessness; to inform and enhance decision-making; and, to improve a community’s overall response to the crisis of homelessness.
GRCoC Coordinated Entry Policies and Procedures, 2024
GRCoC Provider Standards guide the operation of GRCoC’s grant funded programs – diversion, outreach, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, as well as the joint transitional housing-rapid rehousing program. Agencies with the GRCoC sign a Coordinated Entry System MOU every year agreeing to follow the standards.
In April 2026, GRCoC System Policies and Process (SPP) Committee revised the program standards. The SPP Committee reviews and revises these standards every two years. GRCoC Board approved the standards on June 10th, 2024.
GRCoC Diversion Standards (updated 2026)
GRCoC Outreach Standards (updated 2026)
GRCoC Emergency Shelter Standards (updated 2026)
GRCoC Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Standards (updated 2026)
GRCoC Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Standards (updated 2026)
GRCoC Joint Transitional Housing/Rapid Rehousing Standards (updated 2026)
GRCoC Prevention Standards
CES MOUs
Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the GRCoC to provide services as part of a Coordinated Entry System (CES). The annually-established MoU ensures commitment to community-developed program standards and policies that meet federal guidelines and maximize our limited resources. These policies and standards ensure that all programs in the GRCoC employ fairness and transparency for people accessing services, use best practices in program delivery, follow non-discrimination and equal access guidelines, and participate in service coordination.
The community worked together to develop policies and standards for administering and providing homeless services in the region. These documents have been approved by the GRCoC Board and serve as the guiding principles for all programs, regardless of funding sources.
The FY26 designated & approved CES MoU agencies are ACTS, CARITAS, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Daily Planet Health Services, Hanover Safe Place, HomeAgain, Homeward, Housing Families First, Liberation Veteran Services, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, The Salvation Army, the SPAN Center, St. Joseph’s Villa Flagler, and SupportWorks Housing.
Emergency Transfer Plans
Emergency Transfer Plan (ETP)
The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) Emergency Transfer Plan (ETP) provides a process for people who are experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to request an emergency transfer to a safer housing situation or shelter stay. This plan is designed to support the safety and stability of program participants while ensuring compliance with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
If an individual receiving assistance through a HUD CoC- or VHSP-funded Rapid Rehousing (RRH), Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Emergency Shelter (ES), or Transitional Housing (TH) program is in danger due to one of these forms of violence, the housing provider (HP) should follow the procedures in this plan (ES providers are considers housing providers in this context). The YWCA of Richmond serves as the coordinating agency (CA) for the ETP and supports participating housing providers and clients through the transfer process.
The ETP policy outlines who is eligible for a transfer, the documentation requirements, confidentiality protections, and the steps involved in carrying out a transfer.
The policy can be found here. (Approved June 2024)
Additional GRCoC Policies
Community Connection Points
GRCoC Commuinty Connection Points are designated locations within the community where families and individual expereincing homelessness can connect with GRCoC Access Points. This includes space indoors to meet with coordinated street outreach workers and phone or internet access to connect with case workers or contact the Housing Connection Line. For more information please visit the Community Connection Points page on this website.
Community Connection Point Application (Approved March 2024)
Community Connection Point Policy (Approved March 2024)
CES Access Review
CES Access Review is a focused evaluation of the Access component of the Coordinated Entry System, examining how individuals and families connect to services through Access Points, assessing compliance with federal requirements, and identifying opportunities to strengthen accessibility, coordination, and alignment with community needs.
2021 Local Emergency Housing Voucher Policies
These documents outlined the local prioritization approach for Emergency Housing Vouchers, including which households are prioritized for referral in 2021. The documents also describes how households were referred and matched to Emergency Housing Vouchers through the local process during this time. These vouchers are not currently available in this community.
Local EHV Referral and Match Process 2021
2021 Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) MOUs
These agreements formalize partnerships between the GRCoC and local housing authorities and partners to implement the Emergency Housing Voucher program, outlining roles, referral and matching processes, and coordination of supportive services to ensure households are successfully connected to and maintain housing.
Memorandum of Understanding RRHA 2021
Memorandum of Understanding CVRC 2021
Memorandum of Understanding Henrico 2021
2021 Seasonal Task Force
The following docuemnt summarizes the task force’s recommendations for expanding winter shelter capacity, including facility needs, standards, funding, and equity considerations
2021 Seasonal Shelter Task Force Recommendations
GRCoC Sample Assessment and Shelter Referral FAQ
These documents provides an overview of the information collected during intake alongside an explanation of how shelter referral and prioritization work, helping both providers and participants understand what to expect when accessing services.
GRCoC Shelter Referral FAQ
Crisis Assistance Directory
This is a list crisis assistance contacts by locality, including regional housing crisis and homeless assistance contact points across Virginia communities.
Crisis Assistance Directory by Community (Updated March 2024)
Grievances and Arbitration Policies
These docuemnts outline the processes for addressing concerns at both the program and system levels, including how individuals and providers can file grievances and how disputes are formally reviewed and resolved through arbitration to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.
GRCoC Arbitration Policy
Explains how GRCoC stakeholders can raise and resolve disputes related to coordination, standards, performance, or HMIS compliance.
GRCoC System-level Grievance Policy and Process
Explains the process for program participants to raise complaints or concerns about system-level decisions or coordinated processes within GRCoC.
Important GRCoC Documents
GRCoC Bylaws (revised April 2023)
- Sets out the governance rules for the Continuum of Care, including membership, board structure, and decision-making procedures
Collaborative Applicant MOU (2025)
- Defines the responsibilities of the Collaborative Applicant in supporting the CoC’s planning, funding, and coordination functions
- Defines the responsibilities of the HMIS Lead for system administration, compliance, data oversight, and reporting.
Coordinated Entry System Coordinator MOU (2025)
- Defines the responsibilities of the CES Coordinator for day-to-day coordinated entry operations, infrastructure, and system support.
- The annual reports provide a yearly overview of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care’s collaborative work, including system performance, key initiatives, partnerships, and progress toward addressing homelessness across the community.
- Gives partners a way to submit feedback, concerns, or suggestions related to CES access, assessment, prioritization, and referral processes
The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) develops and maintains policies that guide our region’s coordinated response to homelessness. These policies ensure consistent practices across providers, promote equity, and align with federal and state requirements. Key areas include Coordinated Entry, Housing First, emergency transfers, prioritization, and project performance. Policies are regularly reviewed and updated through a collaborative process with input from providers, system partners, and people with lived experience.