Coordinated Entry System (CES) Overview

What is Coordinated Entry?

Montgomery County’s Coordinated Entry System (CES) provides a streamlined process for individuals and families seeking homeless services. Through multiple access points, CES connects people in housing crisis to the most appropriate support, including permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and transitional housing.

The system uses real-time data and standardized assessments to prioritize housing placements based on need, helping ensure that services are targeted effectively. Outreach workers and emergency shelters play a key role in identifying and connecting people to the system, including those living unsheltered.

To improve accessibility, the CoC is working to expand CES entry points beyond traditional service providers. The goal is to create a "no-wrong-door" approach, where places like libraries, hospitals, and jails can serve as access points to help individuals begin the housing process.

These efforts support Montgomery County’s broader goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.