CES
CES, or Coordinated Entry System, is designed to streamline access to housing and services for those experiencing homelessness. It prioritizes individuals based on vulnerability and need, ensuring they receive appropriate resources. Together, these systems enable better collaboration and data sharing among organizations, ultimately improving client outcomes and the efficiency of service delivery. Our role is to coordinate these services and ensure you are connected to the available resources; however, please note that the CES team does not directly provide housing services. Instead, we work with a network of providers to manage referrals to housing programs that are participating in the Coordinated Entry System. See the interactive chart below for a more detailed overview of CES. Help for HouseholdsHelp for ProvidersCES Core Components
The Coordinated Entry System is structured around key components that guide the process of connecting households experiencing homelessness to the most appropriate housing and services. These components are:
Access
Access in CES refers to how households experiencing homelessness enter the system and connect to available programs. This is crucial in ensuring that all people experiencing a housing crisis, regardless of where they present for help, have fair and equal access to the available resources.
Access Points are agencies that have been trained in CES and can act as the starting point for individuals/families experiencing a housing crisis. Coordinated Entry must ensure that access points are easily navigable, equitable, and available throughout the community.
Assessment
Assessment is conducted through a standardized process using a uniform tool to evaluate the needs of those entering the system. This process gathers essential data to determine the severity of service needs, housing barriers, and other factors that impact housing stability. The goal is to have a consistent and transparent method of assessing vulnerability to prioritize who gets assistance when resources are limited.
- The KS BoS CoC uses a custom-built Homeless and Prevention assessments that is consistently reviewed and adjusted as needed.
Prioritization
Prioritization uses assessment data and case conferencing to identify households with the highest needs, ensuring efficient allocation of limited housing and supportive services. This process allows CoCs to focus resources on the most vulnerable households with the greatest need.
During case conferencing, households are reviewed and prioritized based on severity of service needs, with service providers able to advocate for adjustments if they believe the assessment score does not accurately reflect the household’s circumstances.
Referral
Referral (+ Linkage) is the final step, where households are matched and linked to housing programs. Referrals are made following established criteria to ensure that they are fair, transparent, and serve the best interests of the individuals.
- A referral is requested during CES case conferencing or through a ticket in Freshdesk.
- Linking is the process of forming a connection between a referral and program enrollment. It documents that the household enrolled in the housing program was referred to it. A chain link icon will automatically appear next to a program if enrollment and referral happened in the correct order (referral first, enrollment second).
CES Workflow interactive Chart
Click on the different elements of this graphic to get more information about each step of the process. To make this chart full-screen, click the three dots in the bottom right corner. If you are taken to another page, click the home icon in the top right corner to return to the CES workflow chart.
CES Assessments
CES Policies & Procedures
CES Forms
CES Assessment EVAL in progress!
The CES team and Committee are evaluating the BoC’s custom assessment! Stay tuned for updates! Please attend the CES Committee meetings to be a part of making the assessment more representative of the providers and populations we serve. 🙂
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Office
2001 Haskell Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66046
Contact Us
- 785-764-9950
- staff@kshomeless.com
- KSHC Helpdesk (freshdesk.com)