Webinar: Using the Coordinated Entry System (CES) to Connect Homeless Individuals, Families with Resources

September 22, 2023November 14, 2023 LA Best Babies Network

The 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count paints a stark picture of a growing homelessness crisis. There are now more than 45,000 unhoused people living in the city of Los Angeles, and about 75,000 across the county. The Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) is trying to help, by connecting unhoused residents with resources.

To make the process more efficient and effective, LAHSA has improved its Coordinated Entry System, or CES. LAHSA encourages home visitors and others who work with families who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, to become familiar with the Family CES. (A more comprehensive CES training will take place October 10, 9:30am to noon. See the flyer and register here.)

In the presentation below — hosted by LA Best Babies Network on September 18, 2023, for managers and other staff of our network’s home visiting organizations and Welcome Baby hospitals — LAHSA Family CES Coordinators Janneth Martinez and Yenni Rivera:

Give an overview of the Coordinated Entry System (CES)
Show how to access the CES
Explain how to refer families to the Family CES / referral form
Give an overview of the services available in the Family CES (including Family Solution Centers)

The CES, which covers all of L.A. County, uses these steps to help families, single adults, and youth:

Access
Assessment
Prioritization
Matching

Because of limited housing opportunities for families, LAHSA relies on the Assessment and Prioritization steps when connecting individuals/families with resources.

Each of L.A. County’s eight Service Planning Areas (SPAs) has a Family Solution Center (FSC), which helps families access homelessness resources. FSCs serve any household that consists of one or more minor children in physical custody. This includes pregnant people and dependents. Unfortunately, it is harder to find shelters that accommodate larger families as many of these are currently at capacity for family housing.

Access the FSC referral form here. There is a wait time due to capacity.

CES programs include: