Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Practice Test

Referrals to participating housing and shelter programs are handled through Coordinated Entry. This centralized process assesses individuals, determines housing needs and priorities, and connects them to programs that participate in Coordinated Entry based on availability and eligibility. The goal is to provide fair, efficient access to housing across the system by routing referrals through one coordinated channel. Other departments have important roles but not the referral workflow across the whole network: Housing Services typically focuses on housing search support and client services, Data Management concentrates on collecting and maintaining data and reporting, and Program Operations handles the administration of programs themselves. None of these centralize the referral process across all participating programs the way Coordinated Entry does.