Homelessness is on the decline nationwide, but in Wisconsin, homelessness is on the rise. In Milwaukee County, conservative estimates are that there are 1,500 people on any given night who do not have a place to sleep or call home.
In the past, shelters used a 'first come, first served' approach, as well as made individual determinations about who could receive shelter and who couldn't -- such as individuals who were chronically homeless. The approach often left people who were the most vulnerable out in the cold.
In 2013 the Coordinated Entry to Homelessness Services initiative was undertaken by a community partnership of shelter providers, generous funders and IMPACT to get people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless stabilized in their living situations or connected to shelter.
Women and children were the first population Coordinated Entry targeted, and Cathedral Center, Salvation Army Emergency Lodge and Milwaukee Women's Center, a Division of Community Advocates were participating shelters. In the second half of 2015, the initiative will add men to the population of individuals served and Guest House of Milwaukee will be a participating shelter.
Special populations (Veterans, unaccompanied youth, people experiencing domestic violence) that are not yet utilizing Coordinated Entry may contact IMPACT for referrals to other resources, or may directly contact other shelters.
How Coordinated Entry Works
People in need of emergency shelter contact IMPACT, and receive an assessment that determines shelter placement based on critical need (e.g. physical or medical problem). Because there are more people in need of shelter than there are shelter resources, IMPACT connects people to other programs and services that may prevent the need for shelters. When there are no other options, IMPACT provides a referral to a shelter resource.
Supporting Coordinated Entry
Many thanks to
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County for convening and providing supportive funding to the Coordinated Entry Initiative, along with special thanks to
Milwaukee County and the
City of Milwaukee for their funding support
