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Fair Housing Board hears detailed briefing on coordinated entry, shelter limits and winter overflow plans
Summary
United Way and local providers told the Fair Housing Board that Lorain County’s coordinated entry is fielding hundreds of calls, both county shelters are at capacity and rapid rehousing now can cover up to six months of rent when funds permit; staff urged referrals and explained extreme-weather and hotel-voucher procedures.
United Way and local homelessness partners briefed the Fair Housing Board on the county’s coordinated entry system and current limits on shelter capacity, saying the system is prioritizing people by need while daily demand outstrips resources.
"Between the 2 shelters, we currently have a 114 shelter spaces. Today, they are both at capacity," said Wendy Dyer, program coordinator for Lorain County coordinated entry, describing how clients are entered into the HMIS/Clarity database, assessed with the HARP tool and prioritized for housing placements. She said coordinated entry fields calls and attempts to contact every person within 48 hours and has expanded live-call coverage to Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with walk-in intake now available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Presenters from United Way and partner agencies said the regional Balance of State Continuum of Care (managed through COHIO and state allocations for Region 4) constrains some local flexibility compared with the big cities that receive HUD funds directly. Staff described the monthly prioritization process: the region’s work group ranks clients by chronicity and need, advocates for individual cases and then places people into permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing or transitional options when units and funding are available.
Kara Thomas, who manages supportive-services programs in the county, said Lorain County recently became a subgrantee for rapid rehousing and that the program covers first month’s rent and security deposit. "As of October 1, [we] decided that we're gonna help with up to 6 months of rent as well," she said, adding that continuation of assistance is tied to case management and monthly budget counseling.
Speakers outlined common placement barriers: landlords’ income and credit thresholds (for example, requirements that tenants earn roughly three times the rent), lack of transportation and insufficient rental history. To address landlord reluctance, staff said they offer incentives such as double security deposits in limited cases and are building landlord relationships through outreach and landlord engagement events.
Staff also promoted next week’s Homeless Stand Down, a multi-agency event providing medical screening, PATH outreach, hygiene kits, volunteer services and connection to benefits. In addition, presenters explained their extreme-weather activation: when temperatures reach 32°F or below the outreach team, shelter partners and coordinated entry activate overflow plans, contact churches and, when needed, place people in hotel rooms using local foundation funds or vouchers. The presenters said last winter’s response included 953 overflow beds at Saint Elizabeth, 56 at the Haven Center, 98 hotel vouchers and about $10,000 in voucher spending, paid through the coordination process.
Board members and staff urged service providers, schools and churches to refer clients into coordinated entry so people appear on the access list and can be prioritized. Staff reiterated the CE hotline and intake number, (440) 242-0455, and said 211 is an alternate contact for late-night or weekend needs that bypass CE to the shelter.
Next steps: presenters said educational materials and a street card will be finalized and that United Way and partners will continue outreach to landlords and community organizations to expand referral routes and overflow capacity.
