Eastern CoC

Connect to Home: Coordinated Entry System of Eastern PA

What Is the Connect To Home Coordinated Entry System of Eastern PA?

Connect To Home: Coordinated Entry System of Eastern PA (CES) coordinates and manages access, assessment, prioritization and referral to housing and services for any person(s) experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness in the following counties: Adams, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Schuylkill, Somerset, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming.

Participation in CES is required for all projects funded by HUD Continuum of Care or Emergency Solutions Grants (including those administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) and strongly encouraged for all other housing and service providers in order to ensure equitable and coordinated access for all.

How Do People Access Connect To Home?

If you live in the Eastern PA Connect To Home service area and are experiencing homelessness, simply call 211 or 855-567-5341 toll-free for information, screening and referral.

You can also contact Connect To Home by texting your zip code to 898-211 or by visiting a Connect To Home Access Site in your community where available.

If you would prefer to receive Coordinated Entry services face-to-face in person, please visit a Connect To Home Access Site in your community. Access Site locations and hours of operation can be found here: Eastern PA CoC Coordinated Entry Access Sites

How Do I Become a Connect To Home Referral Partner Organization?

Connect To Home Referral Partners accept appropriate program referrals from Coordinated Entry Specialists. Coordinated Entry Specialists make direct referrals to homeless prevention and emergency services, including Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing (both of the latter through HMIS). Rapid Re-Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing providers receive their referrals from the Community Queue prioritization list in PA HMIS. The Community Queue has special protocols for both veterans and survivors of domestic violence to ensure they are connected to appropriate housing and services. You can find a current list of the organizations with signed Connect to Home CES Partnership Agreements here.

To become a Connect to Home Referral Partner, please download the Connect To Home Partnership Agreement.

What Policies and Procedures Are Used By Connect To Home Coordinated Entry Specialists and Referral Partners?

The Connect To Home: Coordinated Entry System of Eastern PA Policy Manual details the CoC-approved policies and procedures that must be followed by any organization participating in CES, either as Coordinated Entry providers and/or referral partners.

Coordinated Entry System Regional Managers are responsible for CES oversight, Community Queue management, provider training, community outreach and customer satisfaction in their region and may be contacted for questions or information about processes, policies, procedures and forms in the Policy Manual.

What Tool Does Connect To Home Use For Assessment, Prioritization and Referral?

The Eastern PA CoC has selected the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) as its Coordinated Entry assessment tool. There is no formal training, license or fee required to use the VI-SPDAT.