What is Coordinated Entry?

Three people sitting at a rectangular wooden table in a meeting room, engaged in conversation and smiling. A man with a beard, glasses, a cap, a light blue shirt, and black shorts is on the left, a woman with long dark hair, glasses, a black shirt, and a striped top is on the right, and a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, tattoos, a white top, and denim overalls is in the middle. The room has a framed black-and-white mountain landscape photo on the wall, a TV mounted on the upper left wall, and a beige carpet.

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Continuum of Care (CoC) program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. Coordinated Entry is one of the necessary components of a CoC.

Coordinated Entry is a comprehensive system designed to streamline services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

It operates as a centralized point of entry where those experiencing housing insecurity can access assessments to determine their eligibility for various housing and supportive services programs. By coordinated resources and prioritizing assistance based on vulnerability and need, Coordinated Entry aims to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive timely access to housing interventions and support services.

This approach fosters collaboration among housing providers, social service agencies, and other stakeholders, ultimately working toward the goal of effectively addressing homelessness and promoting housing stability within our community.

Three women wearing masks sitting and talking outside in front of a brick building with a sign that says 'Our Path Home' and an arrow pointing left.

Our Path Home Programs

Our Path Home is the local public-private partnership working to end homelessness in Ada County. This partnership embraces service models and philosophies that embody permanent housing as the solution to homelessness, and that housing is healthcare.

On behalf of this partnership, Ada County Connect operates Our Path Home Connect and Outreach.

Our Path Home Connect is the Coordinated Entry point for Ada County. This program brings together housing, service providers, and governments to stand above any one program’s brand in achieving a community where everyone is stably housed. At this entry point, each household experiencing homelessness is invited to participate in Housing Planning where all resource options will be discussed and, if necessary, the household will be placed on the prioritized access list.

Our Path Home Outreach works to build rapport and develop relationships with people experiencing homelessness. We prioritize helping people experiencing unsheltered homelessness (sleeping on the street, in a vehicle, or a place otherwise not meant for human habitation) to connect them to the supports they need to access emergency shelter, services, and housing.

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