Experiencing Homelessness?
Experiencing homelessness?
A good first step toward finding a stable place to live is completing a Coordinated Assessment (CA), our community’s centralized housing assistance application. ECHO doesn’t operate housing programs or provide direct services – our job is to help coordinate the organizations who do, and the CA is how we tell those organizations you’re looking for a place.
Due to our community’s shortage of housing options, the wait for an apartment can be several months or longer. We hope you can use the “Other Resources” section below to get the help you need right now, whether that’s shelter, healthcare, food, or something else.
If you are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, our partners at SAFE may have additional resources available.
Coordinated Assessment Eligibility
Anyone currently in Austin or Travis County may complete a Coordinated Assessment if you are:
- Living in an emergency shelter or a place not meant to live in (tent, car, abandoned building, etc.)
OR - Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence
If you are in an unstable housing situation such staying with a friend, “couch surfing,” renting your own hotel room, or renting a board and care room, then we usually cannot complete this assessment. Please see the additional resources listed below.
- Living in an emergency shelter or a place not meant to live in (tent, car, abandoned building, etc.)
CA Access in the Community
Printable Version of ALL ACCESS POINTS
Location-based Access Points
Places that offer Coordinated Assessment to the general public at specific times and locations
If you want to know where you can go to get a CA done, this is the list to start with.
Mobile Access Points
Programs that take staff to specific neighborhoods, parks, campsites, or other physical areas to offer Coordinated Assessment to people at that location
If you want to know whether a program might be coming to where you are to offer Coordinated Assessment, this is the list to start with.
Program-specific Access Points
Programs that generally aren’t open to the public, but who do offer Coordinated Assessment to people already engaged with their agency
If you’re currently working with a specific agency and want to know if that agency can offer you Coordinated Assessment, this is the list to check.
Other Resources
Housing For Health Resource Guide (PDF)
Use this guide to find physical, mental, and behavioral healthcare options, as well as information on shelter, benefits, housing, and other resources.
(Created by ECHO’s Housing for Health Team)
ConnectATX
Use your zip code to find resources near you
(Maintained by United Way for Greater Austin)
2-1-1
Dial 2-1-1 on your phone or click the link above to find resources in Austin and statewide
(Maintained by Texas Department of Health and Human Services)
FindHelp.org
Use your zip code to find resources in Austin or anywhere in the country
(Maintained by Aunt Bertha)
Coordinated Entry FAQ
Due to the volume of inquiries we receive, if you have any of the following questions please understand we will not contact you to answer them:
How long will I need to wait for someone to contact me about housing? Can I get an update on where I am on the prioritization list?
Unfortunately, we are unable to estimate how long it will take for a housing provider to contact you to offer housing assistance. Please understand that housing programs have a limited capacity, and it takes time for providers to contact all the people we assess. It may take longer than 6 months to be contacted, and if you have not heard from a housing provider within that time we ask that you meet with us again to update your information. We urge everyone to continue working on alternative housing options while they wait.
Do I need to be re-assessed? Do I need to re-complete the process?
You only need to be reassessed/re-complete the process if it has been longer than 6 months from your last assessment and a housing provider has not contacted you OR if your family make-up has changed. For example, if you no longer plan to live with members listed on your household or there are new members to add.
How do I update my contact information (phone number and/or email address)?
Any of our community’s HMIS users can update your contact information. The Community Assessment Access table (above) lists many, though not all, of the places you can update your info. If you have a case manager that has access to HMIS they can also update any contact information you may have.
Additional HMIS users include:
- A New Entry
- Any Baby Can
- Caritas of Austin
- Casa Marianella
- Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- Catholic Charities of Central Texas
- City of Austin – Austin Public Libraries (APL), Communicable Disease Unit (CDU), Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Austin Public Health (APH)
- Foundation Communities
- Foundation for the Homeless
- Front Steps
- Goodwill Industries of Central Texas
- Green Doors
- Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA)
- Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC)
- Maximizing Hope
- Meals on Wheels and More
- Mobile Loaves and Fishes
- Mosaic Church Austin
- Refugee Services of Texas
- Saint Louise House
- Sobering Center
- Travis County – Health & Human Services, Veteran Services, Public Defender’s Office
- Vivent Health
I do not speak English very well. Will I be able to complete the process?
Yes, all certified Coordinated Entry assessors can utilize language line interpreting services. The language line provides access to interpreters for more than 200 languages.
I have young children. Can I bring them to the meeting?
Yes, you are welcome to bring your children with you to complete an assessment.
What if I am currently in jail or prison, can the Coordinated Entry assessment help me?
If you were homeless before being in jail or prison AND have stayed in jail or prison for 90 days or less, then you are eligible to complete an assessment.
Who can I call for Emergency Shelter services?
Can you help me find community resources to help with basic needs such as healthcare, food, and employment?
Please see our “Other Resources” page for community resource information.
How can my organization offer Coordinated Assessments?
ECHO requires a progression of skills, comfort, and data entry in HMIS before going through the CA training. This ensures better data, quality, collection, and for new assessors to feel comfortable with the skills required to complete once trained.
Please download this flyer explaining the steps of becoming a formal partner with ECHO and a Community Coordinated Assessment Assessor.