KCRHA oversees the Coordinated Entry (CE) process to fairly distribute limited housing resources in King County’s homelessness response system. Individuals and families can access CE at Regional Access Points or participating service providers, such as shelters and outreach teams. Upon connecting to CE, their needs and preferences are assessed, and they enter a pool awaiting the best housing resource for their situation.

Due to high demand, CE cannot guarantee immediate placement, but it is an essential first step toward securing housing. Enrollment involves gathering minimal identifying information and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-mandated data, which helps assessors determine suitable housing options. Households are prioritized based on factors like the length of homelessness and safety concerns.

The matching process can be complex, and not all referrals lead to successful placements. In 2023, 48% of referred households enrolled in housing resources, increasing to 55% in 2024. CE aims to provide equitable access to housing resources for everyone in need, and KCRHA is developing a new data dashboard to track CE performance.