Strengthen Crisis Response Systems
Last updated on August 15, 2018
Emergency shelters, street outreach, and other crisis services are the critical front line of any community’s response to homelessness.
They can help people meet basic survival needs, like shelter, food, clothing, and personal hygiene, while also helping them resolve crises and swiftly secure permanent housing opportunities that will end their homelessness.
Core Components
- Identify all people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness across the community
- Prevent homelessness whenever possible
- Provide immediate access through coordinated entry to shelter and crisis services without barriers to entry, as stable housing and supports are being secured
- Quickly connect people who experience homelessness to housing assistance and/or services tailored to the unique strengths and needs of households and which enable them to achieve and maintain permanent housing. Services may include access to school or early childhood care and learning, public benefit programs, employment services, reunification services, and/or health care, including substance use and mental health services. For survivors fleeing domestic violence, specialized shelters and services should also be available.
