Committee advances $2.08 million contract for coordinated homeless intake to Frontline Services

Cuyahoga County’s committee voted to advance a contract awarding up to $2,075,978 to Mental Health Services for Homeless Persons (doing business as Frontline Services) to run coordinated intake and assessment for the Cleveland‑Cuyahoga Continuum of Care.

Marcos Cortez (Office of Homeless Services) told the committee that coordinated entry is the "front door" for shelter and housing services and cited the HEARTH Act requirement that continuums of care establish a coordinated entry to prioritize the most vulnerable. The clerk read Resolution 20250165 into the record, describing the contract amount and the period Feb. 1, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2027.

Erin Reardon (Office of Homeless Services) summarized a two‑year process that evaluated coordinated entry and produced a redesigned system implemented via an RFQ that selected Frontline for assessment and administrative services. "This is the culmination of about a 2 year process where we evaluated our coordinated entry," she said, adding that stakeholders and an advisory board provided input. Reardon described partner roles: United Way operates the access point (phone screening) and the county funded a housing navigator through the CMHA. Reardon said the contract went into effect Feb. 1 and that some components (a new binning and slotting procedure) went live in April while other pieces continue to roll out.

Committee members praised staff and partners for the redesign and the perceived improvements in service delivery. The chair moved to advance R2025‑0165 to the full Council under second‑reading suspension; the motion carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the resolution will be placed on the full Council docket under second‑reading suspension for final action. Staff said they will continue phased implementation and oversight of the redesigned coordinated entry system.