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What is a Coordinated Entry System (CES)?

Housing and homeless systems can be difficult to navigate for people seeking resources, as well as the individuals supporting them. A Coordinated Entry System (CES) streamlines and simplifies the process of connecting people experiencing a housing crisis with available housing options in the community. Through this coordinated process, our community is removing siloes and working to ensure that housing resources are used as efficiently as possible, no matter where someone in crisis shows up to ask for help. The Salt Lake Valley Coordinated Entry System (CES) operates throughout Salt Lake County and is made up of many participants, referring agencies, and housing programs.

“Ideally, Coordinated Entry can be the framework that transforms a CoC, from a network of projects making individual decisions about whom to serve, into a fully integrated crisis response system.”

https://endhomelessness.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Coordinated-Entry-Core-Elements.pdf

How Does it Work?

Each week, community partners work together to review housing opportunities and prioritize households based on HAST (Housing Assistance Screening Tool) scores, basic program criteria, and level of need, helping ensure that those facing the greatest barriers are connected to appropriate housing support first.

What housing options are there?

There are currently 15+ housing programs in the Salt Lake Valley Coordinated Entry System, with more being added as they become available. Any housing program can use the CES for referrals and placements. If you are interested in participating in CES as a housing provider, that’s wonderful! Please contact the Coordinated Entry team for more information.

How To Make a Referral to Coordinated Entry

Who is eligible to be referred to CE?

The Coordinated Entry System is available to anyone experiencing a housing crisis who is able to live independently and complete their ADLs (Activities of Daily Living). Housing programs themselves have various eligibility criteria that a household may not meet, but the CES itself has only these two criteria for placement on the By-Name List.

If you’re not sure whether or not to refer someone with higher medical needs, feel free to reach out to our team.

If someone previously moved into a housing option through Coordinated Entry and is now at risk of re-entering homelessness, please complete the referral steps below to ensure they are placed back on the By-Name List (BNL) for consideration for other housing options.

Referral Steps

To refer an individual or household to CE for placement on the By-Name List (BNL), these three steps need to be completed:

Organizations that do not have full access to the UHMIS database (Ex: view-only access, no access, etc.), please either refer the individual or household to an organization who does have full UHMIS access to complete the UHMIS portions for them. If this is not an option, you may complete and send the appropriate Adult or Family “CE Referral Packet” forms via encrypted email to the Coordinated Entry team (contact information below). After one of these options has been completed, please submit the CE Referral Form.

By-Name List Lookup Tool

Lookup Tool – Status Cheat Sheet

I’m experiencing a housing crisis – how do I get help?

If you are experiencing a housing crisis and are already working with a homeless services provider — such as an emergency shelter / homeless resource center, outreach team, medical provider, or treatment program — ask them to connect you to Coordinated Entry.

You may also meet with the SLVCEH Coordinated Entry Navigator to be connected to the By-Name List, check on housing status, and receive guidance and information about various resources. The CE Navigator has weekly office hours at the following locations around Salt Lake County:

The CE Navigator, Uinise, can assist households on a walk in basis at one of the above locations, or call/ text ahead: 385-465-5935

What other housing resources are there?

The Affordable Housing website can also connect you to a variety of housing options, with local housing authorities and other housing providers: https://www.affordablehousing.com

Service providers interested in getting involved can contact Natalie Shewell: nshewell@saltlakecounty.gov

Coordinated Entry System Standards (Approved 9/20/2019)

Suggestions & Feedback

Are you seeing a gap/problem area in the CE system in Salt Lake County, or have an improvement idea? Submit your feedback here!

Submissions are reviewed by the Coordinated Entry team and the SLVCEH Coordinated Entry Committee.

Questions? Contact the Coordinated Entry Team

We’re here to help – just reach out!

The SLVCEH Coordinated Entry team is committed to ensuring our community's Coordinated Entry System is beneficial and effective as we work towards making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.