Making it easier for people to access the right homelessness help
Supportive Services Only - Coordinated Entry (SSO-CE)
Coordinated Entry is the local process for helping people access the homelessness response system and be matched to appropriate housing resources. An SSO-CE project supports that shared front door through access, assessment, referral, prioritization, navigation, or system coordination. This is usually a system-level project, not a standalone service for one agency only.
What problem does this solve?
When people do not know where to start, or agencies use separate referral processes, households can fall through the cracks. Coordinated Entry projects help the community use a shared process so people are connected to the right resources more consistently.
This may be a good fit if...
Your organization helps coordinate referrals or access across multiple providers.
You understand local homelessness resources and can work neutrally with partners.
You can support data quality, privacy, and consistent assessment practices.
You can show how the work benefits the whole local system, not only one program.
This may not be the best fit if...
Your idea is general case management for only your own clients.
You mainly need rent money, building costs, or program operations.
You are not prepared to coordinate with multiple local partners.
You cannot support consistent data and referral practices.
What would the program actually do?
A person contacts an access point, outreach worker, shelter, or partner agency.
Staff use the local process to understand need, urgency, eligibility, and preferences.
The person is prioritized or referred to the most appropriate housing or service resource available.
Navigation support helps the person complete next steps instead of getting lost in the process.
The system tracks referrals and outcomes to improve future access.
What can funding usually support?
Coordinated entry staffing and access points.
Assessment, referral, prioritization, and navigation activities.
HMIS or comparable database coordination when eligible.
Project administration.
What should you have ready?
Can you explain which part of the local access or referral process would improve?
Do you have partner support for a system-level role?
Can you manage privacy, data quality, and consistent referral practices?
Can you show how the project benefits people across MO-602?
Can you participate in HMIS or required reporting?
Think this might fit?
Start with a Letter of Intent
If your idea would improve the local front door to homelessness help, submit a Letter of Intent so the CoC can review the system fit.