EDUCATION
This page includes information and educational materials for people who work in the homelessness response system. For partner agencies or organizations considering becoming a CoC partner, we have our policies posted for reference. Please reach out to us with any questions.
TRAINING
Threshold CoC provides free trainings to the community to ensure quality care is available at our partner agencies.
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Coordinated Entry Assessment Training
Partner agencies who use Coordinated Entry to provide Diversion, Rapid Exit, or Supportive Housing services must have all staff using those programs trained in human-centered assessment tools. You must have completed Clarity New User training on HMIS prior to this training.
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Front-Line Learning Circles
All those providing direct services to people facing housing instability are invited to join us at our peer learning meetings. Front-Line Learning Circles are an opportunity to discuss best-practice, share information, and support each other!
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Housing Problem Solving
Housing Problem Solving is a nationally-recognized best practice for helping those in crisis navigate toward a safe alternative to shelter. This two-day training is provided in partnership with ReImagine and taught by a team of experienced front-line staff and lived expertise.
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Hope Science Training
Research shows high hope individuals are more likely to be healthier, happier, and more fulfilled. Hope is easily defined, easily measured, and easily taught and practiced. Join us in creating hope-centered organizations that promote the well-being and resilience of professionals and communities that we serve.
COORDINATED ENTRY
Threshold CoC leads our community's effort to end homelessness by using the Coordinated Entry System (CES) to ensure there are “no wrong doors” to getting help in our community. Our CES ensures every person experiencing homelessness receives equitable access, assessment, and prioritization.
Our decentralized system covers Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa, with several Access Points available across our Continuum. Households are prioritized based on their assessment and provided prevention, diversion, or supportive housing referrals as needed.
FOR CES AGENCIES
To be trained on our Coordinated Entry System, please reach out to the Institute for Community Alliances to undergo New User Training. The following information is for reference and is intended to be a guide for ongoing services.
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CES Assessment
For agencies participating in the CES, the following form should be utilized in tandem with the Coordinated Entry Release of Information form when assisting households experiencing homelessness. This process should be completed online in Clarity.
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Coordinated Entry Release of Information
For agencies participating in the CES, the following form should be utilized with the CES Assessment form when assisting households experiencing homelessness.
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CES Housing Openings
Agencies participating in our Housing Inventory program who have openings in their programs should submit those opening via the form below.
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Permanent Supportive Housing
Agencies working with individuals should submit a request for our Permanent Supportive Housing units after completing the Supportive Housing Assessment.
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Please see the most recent versions of our policy documents. These policies are regularly revised with the help of our community-wide Steering Committee and are intended to guide equitable access to all community services. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Holaday.
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Non-Discrimination & Appeals
To establish a system of nondiscrimination, per established federal, state, and local laws. Additionally, to establish the process for appeals related to decisions made within the Coordinated Entry System (CES), including project-level decisions.
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Access Policy
To establish and implement a Coordinated Entry System (CES) that is accessible to all persons experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness.
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Assessment Policy
To establish and detail the process of Assessment within our CoC’s Coordinated Entry System (CES).
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Prioritization Policy
To establish local prioritization standards for supportive housing resources within our CoC.
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Referral Policy
To establish and detail the process of referrals to supportive housing within our CoC’s Coordinated Entry System (CES).
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Contact Attempts Procedures
This best practice ensures that reasonable efforts are made to locate individuals with an open referral by projects participating in our Coordinated Entry System (CES). These procedures apply to all individuals served through our CES.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
HUD has a variety of resources to assist communities in developing a CES. Some of these resources are included below:
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CES Core Elements
Coordinated entry is an important process through which people experiencing homelessness can rapidly access our crisis response system, have their needs quickly assessed, and be connected to personalized services within the CoC.
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CES Self-Assessment
This resource is a reference to help identify key aspects of CES implementation and management. We use this list as a general outline for a set of policies and best practices that CoC should adopt to support the ongoing management of CES processes and functions.
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HUD Toolkit
The Coordinated Entry Community Samples Catalogue (previously called Toolkit) is an updated collection, as of January 2024, of coordinated entry tools, policies, and related documents created by CoCs from across the country.