About the Coordinated Access System
Housing Forward ensures through the Coordinated Access System (CAS) that our neighbors experiencing homelessness are identified, assessed for their needs, referred to resources, and connected to housing.
Our CAS program allows our community to streamline and coordinate services from providers across Dallas and Collin Counties which helps our system work more efficiently for those who need it.
Our Vision
The All Neighbors Coalition’s vision for CAS is a community response to ending homelessness that accounts for the diversity of needs of neighbors experiencing homelessness and urgently responds to these needs with resources. To achieve that vision, CAS has an easily accessible set of Access Points equipped to assess the needs of individuals effectively, match people to an intervention to end their experience of homelessness and rehouse them as quickly as possible. CAS utilizes a data-driven approach to ensure the system works most effectively and adjusts when needed.
Core Components of CAS
- ACCESS: People can connect with CAS through All Neighbor ‘Access Points’ which are embedded into the front door of the homelessness response system – Emergency Shelters, Street Outreach, and the Homeless Crisis Line are all CAS Access Points.
- ASSESSMENT: Standardized intake processes ensures all people are triaged for homeless services in the same way no matter where they access services.
- PRIORITIZATION: Coordinated resources are targeted to people with the greatest needs and barriers to exiting homelessness on their own when possible.
- REFERRAL: Households are matched and referred to resources based on strengths, needs, and preferences. CAS is the centralized source of referral to all homeless rehousing resources (Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Emergency Housing Vouchers).
