Our HMIS software system is changing this summer!
Q. What does this mean in plain language?
A. You will enter data about the clients you are working with on a new website.
- Assessors will complete assessments in the new system.
- Housing providers will update client and program info in the new system.
- Others with HMIS access will use the new system.
- Reporting and everything else will take place in the new system.
The new system is called ClientTrack.
The Institute for Community Alliances (ICA), our state's HMIS Administrator, believes we will start using ClientTrack on July 1st.
Training on the new system will likely take place in June and July. Make sure you pay close attention to communication from ICA!
Finally, it is crucial that all client and program data entry is current. This will help the transition a lot.
In this training you will learn the following about Hennepin CoC Coordinated Entry:
- What Coordinated Entry is.
- Why Coordinated Entry is used.
- How the Coordinated Entry System Works: Shelter, Assessments & Referrals.
- Housing Options Outside of the Coordinated Entry System.
Date: March 7th
Time: 11:00 am - Noon
Location: Online Webinar
As of February 1, 2024, Agate Housing and Services is serving as the primary access point for *families who need a coordinated entry assessment in Hennepin County.
Agate is accepting Families Coordinated Entry Assessment requests in two ways:
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An online form: https://forms.office.com/r/wY5gTEHYJN
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Call 612-361-5439. This is a voicemail box that is regularly checked.
Front Door previously provided this service. Now it is provided by Agate.
There are no changes to other access points.
Families who are staying at Hennepin County contracted shelters, such as People Serving People, St. Anne’s and Overflow Shelters should still connect with a shelter staff member to get a family coordinated entry assessment.
Families fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence should contact the Domestic Abuse Project at 612-874-7063 (ext.232) or by email at firstcall@mndap.org.
*Note: Families means there is a child under the age of 18 that will live with the household once housed, or a person who is pregnant.
HMIS Training for Housing Providers: Coordinated Entry Event
HMIS Training for Assessors: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Referral Process
Coordinated Entry 101
Best Practices for Housing Providers
Online Referral Request Form
What Should I do in HMIS?
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Do you struggle to follow all of the correct steps in HMIS? If so, you are not alone.
We created some new, intuitive guides to help! Check them out here.
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Housing Provider Guide
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Use this helpful guide with essential information for housing providers on referral workflow.
See the guide
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You may have noticed some new names and faces on the Hennepin CES team!
Get to know the team here:
Shanniel Ashford, Priority List Manager
My name is Shanniel Ashford, and I work on the CES team as a Priority List Coordinator.
I’ve worked as an eligibility worker for various economic programs in the state of MN and California. I’ve also worked as a shelter advocate, ACT Housing Specialist and an MFIP employment counselor. I bring a plethora of experiences and skills that I leverage in my everyday work as a Priority List Coordinator.
I enjoy listening to music (especially live), being outdoors amongst nature and any form of exercising. I’ve been a vegetarian for 7 years but working on advancing to an alkaline diet. I love working with others because it gives me an opportunity to learn from a perspective outside of mine.
I’m open to the possibility that I could be wrong. I’m happy to be a part of the CES team, which is staffed with amazing individuals that offer invaluable knowledge and experience. Every day is different, yet exciting and very rewarding.
Cassie Koch, Priority List Coordinator
My name is Cassie Koch and I am a Priority List Coordinator at Hennepin County.
Prior to joining the Coordinated Entry team at Hennepin County, I worked in the domestic violence field for 13 years, supporting survivors in an emergency shelter setting as well as helping them find a safe place to live through Rapid Rehousing.
In my free time, I enjoy running, yoga, reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors with my partner and three kids.
Amy Guzzi, Referral Coordinator
Amy serves as a Coordinated Entry Housing Referral Coordinator.
Amy is supporting the Coordinated Entry assessors and housing providers and facilitating the Coordinated Entry housing referrals for youth, families, and singles experiencing homelessness.
Amy previously worked at Perspectives, Inc. and has worked in nonprofits for seven years and studied Criminal Justice and Social Welfare at MN State University Mankato.
Amy is a proficient HMIS user and enjoys digging into databases. In her free time Amy is mom to a wonderful little boy, she enjoys reading and gardening and especially loves all Minnesota sport teams!
Tenzin Banari, Human Services Supervisor-Coordinated Entry System
My name is Tenzin Banari, my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am a Tibetan American and trilingual (Hindi, Tibetan and English). I joined the Coordinated Entry Team as the Operations Supervisor little over a year ago. It has been a huge learning experience for me this past year to say the least!
The ins and outs of different roles in Coordinated Entry System, the Assessors, Housing Providers, Funders, ICA, Convene, Shelters, Coordinated Entry Leadership Committee and the roles of Priority List Coordinators and Planners.
Understanding how all of us play important roles in ending homelessness and how each of us fit into a larger picture like a Jigsaw Puzzle. The positive thing is that we share the same goal/vision and we are solving the puzzle with a picture/vision in front of us. I genuinely believe in the Power of Team Work!
I have held several different roles/positions in my 17 years with Hennepin County. Prior to joining the CES Team, I supervised the Families Emergency Shelter Team, I have worked as Office Support, Human Services Representative determining eligibility for SNAP/Cash/Healthcare and also supervised the MNsure team. So I am able to bring some of those knowledge and experience into this role.
Outside of work, I like to spend time with my family (partner and two boys 14 and 9 + our dog Buddy) & friends. I enjoy cooking and traveling. I am a foodie!
Amy Donohue, Principal Planning Analyst
My name is Amy Donohue. I have worked in housing and homelessness my entire career (over 25 years).
I worked in shelters serving families, singles, and youth experiencing homelessness in New York and Florida before moving to Minnesota where I held several roles in non-profits including: “Rapid Exit” Advocate, Screener/Assessor, Rental Assistance Case Manager, and Contract Manager.
I have been with Hennepin County 9 years, with about 4.5 years in my current role as CES Principal Planning Analyst. My commitment to helping people experiencing homelessness grew out of being doubled up with my family for about 2 years as an adolescent. The experience of living in poverty and the stigma attached will always shape and center my work in the community.
In my free time, I spend time with my wife, our five children, and two dogs. I love to read, quilt, play board games with my children, and visit with friends. I am, admittedly, terribly excited that my oldest son will graduate from college this year and my youngest will graduate from high school (fingers crossed).
Hans Dosland, Senior Planning Analyst
My name is Hans (he/him), and I joined Hennepin County's CES team in June of 2023. In my role, I strive to continually adapt policy and procedure to ensure all communities within Hennepin County can equitably access and engage with our Coordinated Entry System to secure dignified and stable housing.
My career began at Oasis for Youth, where I discovered my passion for working with young people and families to address systemic housing inequities. I then transitioned to serve as the YMCA Twin Cities' Homeless Youth Program Manager where I designed, implemented, and managed a collaborative emergency hotel sheltering program in response to COVID-19. I also bring an understanding of state-level governance from previous work with Chapin Hall and the Minnesota House of Representatives where I supported progressive and holistic policy creation for young children and families.
With a decade of experience in direct service, program development, and government processes, my commitment remains steadfast in making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in Hennepin County. In my free time, I love immersing myself in nature through activities such as, backpacking, mountain biking, skiing, and disc golfing. I am married to my college sweetheart, Lauren, and we share our home with two rescue pets, a dog named Gimli and a cat named Pippin.
The Health of the CES System Dashboard tracks the average length of time the following activities take:
- Priority list to referral
- Vacancy to referral
- Referral to result
- Referral to housed
- Project entry to housed - PH only
- Priority list start to housed
View the dashboard here
What is the Assessor Priority List Report?
A monthly report that tracks the number assessments completed by each assessor in HMIS.
View the report here.
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