Coordinated Entry

Since the beginning of 2017, Northwest Compass has moved from planning to implementation of Coordinated Entry (CE) system as a Lead agency in the North, launching a community-wide system that standardizes and expedites the process by which people experiencing homelessness, or who are at imminent risk of homelessness, access shelter, housing and additional resources.

One of the primary goals of suburban Cook County’s Coordinated Entry system is that it be easily accessible and welcoming to the wide range of people who may experience a housing crisis in our region. Neighbors can call or walk in and meet with an intake professional in person to discuss their current situation. Maintaining the human touch, especially in times of crisis, is an important part of our community’s values. The intake and referral process will be consistent across all access points, so that:

• Neighbors receive the same care, regardless of which access point they
  use to enter the system
• Ensure all population is well served
• Housing-assistance-prioritization decisions are based on needs

Ending homelessness does not mean no one will ever experience a housing crisis again. Northwest Compass will have a systematic response in place with a goal of reaching “functional zero,” where systems and resources are in place to rapidly identify, engage and place into housing any person experiencing homelessness. Or, if homelessness cannot be prevented, to make homelessness rare, brief and a non-recurring experience.

CE is a centralized and orchestrated process by which individuals and families experiencing homelessness and/or housing crisis are assessed using standardized tools to determine needs and to be matched to appropriate housing and supportive services:

• Provides quick and suitable intervention to appropriate resources
• Divert clients from entering homelessness by coordinating referrals and having access to real-time update of Homeless Prevention Assistance funds availability
• Real-time referrals to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) vacancies
• Housing-focused, person-centered, data-Informed effective use of all resources

Entry Point is the suburban Cook County program connecting people with resources. Together with the Alliance to End Homelessness in Cook County, along with partner agencies, Northwest Compass is working to make homelessness a rare, brief and one-time occurrence.

Northwest Compass is the Entry Point Walk-In Center North. If you, or someone you know, is in need of services, please call (+1 847 392 2344) or visit us (1300 W. Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect, IL) today. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will greet you and perform an assessment in order to efficiently match you or your family/loved ones to appropriate available resources based on needs. For more information or additional locations visit MyEntryPoint.org.