Coordinated Entry Tips

Unlike the other posts on this site, Coordinated Entry is not a “place” but a system. Here’s why it’s important for you know about it. See our definition page to see exactly what Coordinated Entry is all about. This page is shows in detail how it affects you. If you haven’t already noticed, there are a lot of people in Charlotte who are experiencing homelessness. (our home page shows the latest count) That number is easily 3 to 4 times the capacity of existing shelters in town. And there are many organizations who want to help you get housed. So C.E. is a county-wide system to put you on a list to get into one of the shelters or resources. They are all at capacity and have a waiting list to get in. The C.E. list (also known as the By-Name list) helps a review committee from those organizations see your needs and prioritizes the entry of the most vulnerable people into their care. You already know that once you become homeless, your life is full of chaos. C.E. is everybody’s best effort to minimize that chaos and get the people most vulnerable to living on the street, in a shelter. All these organizations use C.E. and can enter you into it: (Many will insist on getting a referral from C.E. before admitting you or they will enter you into C.E. if you’re not in there already!)

Here’s how to get on the list. It is a two-stage process. The first step is called intake. In this step, someone just enters your basic information, takes your picture and generates the photo ID below. It generally takes only a few minutes, and it can be done while you wait at many of the organizations above. The second step is called assessment. This is where a licensed social worker has an in-depth interview with you about your situation and long-term plans. If you are homeless or about to be homeless, if at all possible, GO out to one of these two county centers below in person. They can do both steps back-to-back and they’re open 8a ~ 5p Monday to Friday. You can talk to someone in person there; face-to-face. Or.. you can call 704-284-9665 Or.. you can text that number and request a call back the following day or day after for an assessment by phone.  Of course, you’d need a phone where they can call you back at any time. If your phone is only WiFi, see our hotspots page for free WiFi locations. OK, here’s the way it is. Simply getting on the list is no guaranty of getting into a shelter. If you’re healthy, you have no substance abuse or mental health problems, middle-aged or younger, it is unlikely you’ll get into one of the free shelters. Just have a frank talk about that with the person who does your assessment. They will review your situation; help you chart a new path and guide you to some of the same resources found on this website. This is the most realistic way to help you get off the street. Be advised that your assessment is only valid for 90 days. All places that require a current assessment will force you to get a new one.

The Valerie Woodard Center is at 3205 Freedom Dr. You can take CATS bus #8 from downtown. It runs every 30 minutes.  Here is a map of the location and route. The Woodard Center is huge and can be overwhelming. When you get there, go into Building A. It’s the only one that faces Freedom Drive. 

Another location is the Ella Scarborough Center. You can take CATS bus #11 from downtown. It runs every 30 minutes. It’s located near the corner of Eastway Drive and North Tryon Street.  There is only one building there.  Here is a map of the location and route. You’ll know you’re in the right place because you’ll see artwork outside the building that’s similar to the ones in the picture above. The best reason to make a trip to either of these centers is that they have many different services to help you and they are all in one place. For example, they have services addressing healthcare, jobs, child support and food.  When you get to either of these locations, you will have to take a number and wait to be called to a reception desk. When you get to a receptionist, tell them you are homeless, and they will put you with a county “navigator” who will enter your information in the Coordinated Entry database.

After you’re entered, they will make a “Clarity” ID card for you. This card is known on the street as a “shelter card”.

So why go to all this trouble? Once you get entered into C.E. you are definitely in the county’s database. If you have a North Carolina ID or driver’s license, be SURE to have them enter the number into this database. That way, if your ID is stolen, you can request a replacement from the DMV on-line and you won’t need a copy of your birth certificate. If you need to go to a shelter, they will see that you’re already in the database. That will speed up your processing there. Your information in C.E. is very, very confidential and secure. It’s not used by DSS, CMPD or ICE! Only people licensed by the county can access it. So don’t hesitate to get your name on that list!! To be considered homeless, you have to meet one of these conditions:

• Living in a place not meant for human habitation, or
• Living in emergency shelter (including domestic violence shelter), or
• Living in transitional housing, or
• Exiting an institution where you temporarily resided for up to 90 days
  (and were in a shelter or a place not meant for human habitation immediately
  prior to entering that institution)
• Likely to meet one of the above definitions within the next 72 hours.