How do referrals to shelters that participate in Coordinated Entry differ from those that do not participate?

• A. They follow a systematic referral process in HMIS.
• B. They are assigned randomly.
• C. They do not require HMIS.
• D. They are all under the same agency.

Answer: (A)

Coordinated Entry uses a centralized, standardized referral process that is tracked in HMIS for shelters that participate. This means every client goes through the same evaluation, is matched to available beds at participating shelters, and the referral and its status are recorded in HMIS. This system creates consistency, fairness, and visibility across partner agencies, and helps prevent duplication or misrouting of referrals. Shelters not participating in Coordinated Entry aren’t part of this standardized workflow, so referrals to them may occur outside the HMIS, lack prioritized matching, and aren’t automatically tracked in the system, leading to less predictable access and data gaps.