CES Help for Service Providers
The Coordinated Entry System (CES) in Kansas is designed to provide a streamlined and equitable process for connecting individuals and families experiencing homelessness with appropriate housing and support services. By utilizing standardized access points, assessments, prioritization criteria, and referrals, CES ensures that the most vulnerable populations are prioritized for assistance. This system simplifies service navigation for both households and providers, enhances coordination among service agencies, and improves data-driven decision-making. Service providers play a critical role in CES by conducting assessments, ensuring data quality, and collaborating with partner agencies to deliver effective, client-centered services. Resources on this page help providers understand and implement CES practices effectively, ensuring a coordinated community response to homelessness.
HMIS
HMIS is a comprehensive data collection system that tracks services provided to individuals experiencing homelessness, helping organizations understand the scope and nature of homelessness in their communities. Each CoC selects an HMIS software that complies with HUD standards. The Kansas Balance of State Continuum of Care (KS BoS CoC) uses Clarity Human Services.
CES
CES is a process (within HMIS) designed to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are quickly identified, assessed, and connected to appropriate housing and services. By centralizing intakes and referrals, CES aims to reduce duplication of efforts, improve access to services, and ensure a fair and equitable distribution of resources.
CES is not HMIS
The Coordinated Entry System is housed within the Clarity/HMIS database and is designed to efficiently connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to appropriate housing and services. The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the Coordinated Entry System (CES) are closely interconnected tools used to address homelessness more effectively.
The connection between HMIS and CES lies in their complementary roles: HMIS provides the data infrastructure that supports the functioning of CES. By utilizing HMIS data, CES can prioritize individuals based on their needs and vulnerabilities, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and equitably. This integration enhances the overall effectiveness of homelessness response efforts, enabling better coordination among service providers and more informed decision-making.
When the Coordinated Entry System is implemented correctly, it creates a standardized and consistent data collection process that aligns with HUD’s requirements. This linkage ensures that all data collected across different entry points and service providers is uniform, making it easier to track and manage homelessness services and outcomes.
CES Core Components
Access, Assessment, Prioritization, Referral
When the Coordinated Entry System is implemented correctly, it creates a standardized and consistent data collection process that aligns with HUD’s requirements. This linkage ensures that all data collected across different entry points and service providers is uniform, making it easier to track and manage homelessness services and outcomes.
An access point in the Coordinated Entry System (CES) is a designated location or service where individuals and families experiencing homelessness can begin the process of getting help. These access points can be physical locations like shelters, community centers, or government offices, as well as virtual options like phone lines or outreach teams.
CES Access Points – Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition (kshomeless.com)
During Case Conferencing, households are prioritized for services to ensure the most vulnerable receive help first
Rapid resolution & Specific workflows
Stay tuned for rapid-resolution strategies & population specific workflows 🙂
Rapid Resolution Strategies
Rapid Resolution includes both Diversion and Rapid Exit strategies to resolve housing crises quickly by providing personalized support and connecting individuals to resources early on. These strategies aim to prevent people from entering into the homelessness system and, in turn, reduce the burden on the Coordinated Entry System and ensure resources are directed to the most vulnerable (Prioritization).
Following the federal plan to end veteran homelessness, the KS BoS CoC prioritizes single veterans and veteran families for homeless resources.
This is done because there is already a system in place for unhoused Veterans called HUD-VASH (Department of Housing and Urban Development – Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing). HUD-VASH is a joint effort between HUD and the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) to move veterans and their families out of homelessness and into permanent housing. Through HUD-VASH, eligible homeless veterans receive housing assistance from local PHAs (Public Housing Agencies), they often rent privately owned housing while receiving case management and clinical and supportive services.
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans – VA Homeless Programs
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA): These acts mandate strict confidentiality provisions that prevent VSPs from sharing victims’ personally identifying information in shared databases like HMIS.