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Board approves updated Coordinated Entry written standards, adding definitions and Spanish translation
Summary
The Lane County Poverty & Homelessness Board approved revised Coordinated Entry written standards after a presentation from staff and committee members. The board added two amendments — including adding definitions and producing a Spanish-language version — before passing the motion.
The Poverty & Homelessness Board voted April 21 to approve an updated set of Coordinated Entry written standards that govern how people experiencing homelessness in Lane County access assessments, wait lists and referrals.
Andrea (Outreach and Coordinated Entry Supervisor, Lane County Human Services) presented the draft standards, explaining the document outlines access, intake, referral, prioritization, and policies such as diversion, lateral transfers and an inactive policy designed to keep housing vacancies from remaining unfilled. Andrea described updates including virtual access, a diversion-first front-door conversation, a locally developed vulnerability assessment tool to replace the VI-SPDAT, and the addition of case conferencing to address assessment gaps.
After discussion about details and data, Mike Fleck moved approval of the Coordinated Entry written standards and Heather Quasanza seconded. The board amended the motion to request that definitions be added to the document and that a Spanish-language version be produced; with those additions the motion passed unanimously.
Key components of the adopted standards include:
- Virtual access and 2-1-1 referrals in addition to in-person front-door sites; - A diversion/housing problem-solving conversation as the first step; - An inactive policy to mark participants unreachable so programs can fill vacancies; - A locally developed vulnerability assessment used for prioritization; - Case conferencing and dynamic prioritization to ensure the most vulnerable households are referred to available resources; and - Specific access and referral accommodations for people fleeing domestic violence, including de-identified access points and warm handoffs to victim services.
Board members asked staff to provide follow-up data on the inactive policy — for example, how many participants reengage more than two weeks after being marked inactive and whether the policy shortens the average time to housing. Staff said they will analyze those metrics and share results.
Why it matters: Coordinated Entry is HUD’s recommended model for triaging people experiencing homelessness into housing resources. The updated standards change how people enter the system and how referrals are prioritized; the board’s vote gives the county authority to implement the revised procedures.
Where this came from: Andrea led the presentation and fielded questions. The motion was made by Mike Fleck and seconded by Heather Quasanza. Several board members (including Heather Quasanza, Commissioner Pat Farr, and Councilor Corey Rodley) contributed discussion points about language, access, and data monitoring.
