Coordinated Access in Cowichan - In Development

We are currently in the development phase of co-creating Cowichan’s Coordinated Access System which will connect individuals to the housing, wellness, and support services they need. We have re-envisioned Coordinated Access by utilizing a two-eyed seeing approach which includes fostering Indigenous wise practices towards a wholistic, systems approach to homelessness. It will provide:

  • Real time data related to housing stock, eviction trends, rates, and types of homelessness.
  • Streamlined access to supports and housing for people at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness.
  • Equity of access to appropriate resources and prioritization of those most in need of assistance.
  • A shared understanding and process for access to resources.
  • A shared [OCAP® compliant] information system so that people won’t have to tell their story repeatedly in order to receive access to the resources they need.

What is Coordinated Access?

There are three key components to a well-rounded Coordinated Access system as defined by the Reaching Home program. First, is Coordinated Access which is a best practice structured process for helping people connect to the right housing and supports more quickly, using a unified and consistent system across a community. Coordinated Access uses community-defined standardized assessment, prioritization, and referral methods so that individuals only need to tell their story once, rather than applying separately to multiple programs, ensuring streamlined access to supportive housing, rent supplements, and related services. Coordinated Access also includes the mapping of available resources in community to support efficiency and consistent quality of care for those accessing services.

The second component is Data Collection. In order to reduce the number of times someone needs to tell their story to access services or housing options, community partners use a single database that captures community wide case conferencing and information sharing in an informed and consent-based way.

Once fully adopted, our Coordinated Access system will collect data for housing applications and connection to other wellness and support services using a progressive model for data collection. Only need-to-know information that is useful for operations will be collected and stored at the immediate service provision level. In practice, this looks like Path Walkers [living experience] sharing information that directly pertains to the type of service they require and nothing more. For example, if someone only wishes to access a shelter bed, they should not be required to share more information than the basic data points that are required by the funder. If someone wishes to be considered for more programs or services, then more information can be collected at that time.

Progressive Model of Data Collection Diagram

The third component is the Outcomes-Based Approach. This entails using the available data from the community-informed database to set targets and to evaluate system effectiveness. This data can be used to understand trends in homelessness, gap analysis, the understanding of real time data related to homelessness, and overall resource use.

Coordinated Access requires a commitment from partners across the system to work together in a collaborative way that wraps around those who are accessing services. Working within a continuous improvement process, learnings and suggestions for improvement are integrated regularly.

Why is Coordinated Access important?

Coordinated Access is the most effective way to serve people with housing challenges. It is not a program; it is an integrated process that streamlines access to available services in a community.

Without a coordinated approach, those in crisis must navigate a complicated web of connected – but uncoordinated – services. They are forced to repeat their story multiple times and place themselves on numerous waiting lists to have their housing needs addressed. Path Walkers [frontline workers] often struggle to reach across silos within the system of care despite consent having been given to do so.

Using a person-centered approach, the goals and needs of the person accessing services guides what and how support is carried out. When choice is not available, there is a clear concurrence of poor housing outcomes and diminished quality of life.

Without Coordinated Access

With Coordinated Access

Download the Coordinated Access Backgrounder here.