Coalition Update – Coordinated Access Project
Communications Admin • April 3, 2014
In January, Houston began Phase 1 of Coordinated Access. Coordinated Access is a new and more efficient delivery system to quickly end homelessness for individuals and families. Previously, the homeless services delivery system in Houston has been focused on answering the question of “does this client fit into my program,” and as a result, clients could enter the system from a large number of points and often received the wrong intervention. What Coordinated Access does is answer the question “what housing and/or service intervention is best for this client,” through a smaller number of entry points and a standardized, coordinated effort between local service providers. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is requiring Continuums of Care (CoCs) to develop and implement a Coordinated Access System for all CoC and ESG (Emergency Solutions Grant) funded programs, because research has shown that coordinated access systems help communities quickly and efficiently end homelessness.
The mission of the Coalition for the Homeless is to provide leadership in the development, advocacy, and coordination of community strategies to prevent and end homelessness. A large part of this leadership and coordination is done by program staff members at the Coalition who work with homeless service agencies, government entities, and other groups to foster collaboration and drive the process of creating real change to prevent and end homelessness in Houston. One such staff member is Ana Rausch, who serves as the Coordinated Access Project Manager at the Coalition for the Homeless. Her main function is to guide the implementation of this new delivery system, and work with those staff members who are working on the frontlines, with everything from assessment through housing the client.
Coordinated Access team members have come from local homeless service agencies that have amended certain grant contracts to reassign existing employees to work on behalf of Coordinated Access. Currently, there are three Housing Assessors who perform the intake process with a standardized questionnaire to determine what program or intervention will end an individual’s homelessness. There are also two Housing Navigators who, once a client is assessed and matched with housing, will assist the client with any appointments and paperwork it may take to get them housed, and see them through until they are housed. Through this process, Housing Navigators build an incredible amount of trust with their clients, so the Navigators work to transfer that trust to the client’s case manager who, once the client is housed, works with the client to ensure that they are successful in housing for the long term.
Phase 1 of Coordinated Access began on January 6, and in this soft rollout, 24 clients were assessed by Housing Assessors and assigned a Housing Navigator who ensured that these clients were housed. To highlight early successes of Houston’s Coordinated Access system, the first client to participate was housed within seven days of his initial assessment. From January 6 through March 31, 11 additional clients were housed and an additional 7 have pending approval. The remaining 5 households are still working with Housing Navigators to be matched with appropriate housing and resources.
Phase 2 of Coordinated Access began on April 1, and Rausch anticipates approximately 80 or more households to be assessed and housed (Phase 2 will run through July). Rausch also hopes to increase the Coordinated Access team by continuing to work with local agencies to reassign staff to contribute to this new and more efficient system. Existing outreach teams in the community will also be trained as assessors. Currently there are two physical locations where Coordinated Access assessments are being performed, but Rausch says that this will eventually increase to meet the need created by Houston’s large geographic area. Assessments will also be performed virtually (over the phone) using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database managed by the Coalition. “Even though there will be multiple hubs where individuals can be assessed, through Coordinated Access, there will still be one standard assessment, one waiting list, and one system,” says Rausch.
Rausch says that she really enjoys her job because she sees the value in having an impartial party to help guide the process. “Since the Coalition for the Homeless serves tose who serve the homeless we are really once removed from providing direct service. This means that we can help develop best practices and stand by the Coordinated Access team members who are working with the clients to help them figure out this new system.” Furthermore, the greatest thing that Rausch has witnessed so far has been the collaboration between agencies and seeing “everyone working toward a common goal.” We are proud at the Coalition to play a part in helping foster collaboration and working together to end homelessness in Houston.
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Houston, Texas (June 12, 2026) — The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) today released the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time Count & Survey as part of the inaugural State of Homelessness in Houston report, a regional effort that combines PIT Count data with additional system indicators to provide a broader understanding of homelessness and system response across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The report found 3,321 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in February 2026, reflecting relative stability compared to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count of 3,325. At the same time, the data highlights continued challenges related to unsheltered homelessness, economic and housing pressures, and the ongoing need for coordinated regional investment in homeless response and prevention efforts. This year’s report expands beyond the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to include additional indicators generated through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and HUD System Performance Measures (SPMs). Together, these measures provide additional context about year-round interactions with the homeless response system, housing stability outcomes, and inflow into homelessness over time. "The Point-in-Time Count is like a photograph," said Renee Cavazos-Benavides, vice president of the homeless response system at CFTH . "It captures an important moment, but there is always more happening outside the frame. That's why this year's report includes additional indicators that help us understand how people move into homelessness, how they move back into housing, and where we need to focus our efforts as a community." Key findings from the report include: 3,321 people experiencing homelessness during the February 2026 PIT Count 35,988 unique clients served through the homeless response system, The Way Home, during calendar year 2025 2,135 households housed by partners of The Way Home during calendar year 2025 7,110 people entering homelessness for the first time during federal FY25 85% of people who exited homelessness remained stably housed over a two-year period The PIT Count found 2,051 sheltered individuals and 1,270 unsheltered individuals across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. "The additional data shows our system is doing a great job maintaining our progress, in spite of additional economic stressors and pandemic funding having been exhausted,” said Kelly Young, president and CEO of CFTH . “Further progress will depend not only on additional investments in housing and services but also on our ability to expand new interventions to resolve homelessness more quickly." More than half of unsheltered individuals identified during the PIT Count had a matching HMIS record, reflecting ongoing engagement between outreach teams and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The findings underscore the continued need for outreach, additional pathways indoors, and sustained local investment to maintain system stability and respond to changing community needs. “The Point-in-Time Count gives our community a chance to pause and check in with people who may not yet be housed, sheltered, or consistently connected to services,” said Dr. Ben King, clinical assistant professor at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine . “It helps us capture information that does not always show up in routine system data — including where people are staying, what barriers they are facing, and what they identify as the causes of their homelessness. Used alongside HMIS data, program performance measures, and community input, the PIT Count remains an important tool to answer questions we wouldn't get to ask otherwise." The annual PIT Count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and helps communities measure trends in homelessness over time. However, the PIT Count does not represent the total number of people who experience homelessness throughout the year. The 2026 State of Homelessness in Houston report combines PIT Count data with other key indicators to provide a more complete picture of homelessness across the region. Behind every number is a person, and a better understanding of homelessness helps communities respond more effectively. "The results remind us that homelessness is one of the most complex challenges facing our city. This is why the 419 Emancipation resource living facility is so important. We will continue working with stakeholders to move people off the streets and provide them with assistance, with the goal of reducing homelessness throughout our community and our neighborhoods," said Mayor John Whitmire. “I’m so proud that Harris County has reduced homelessness by more than 16% between 2018 and 2026, even when most other communities have seen homelessness skyrocket. We’re tackling the issue from both ends: we’re investing in programs to prevent poverty and promote economic mobility, and we’re also prioritizing safe and stable housing for those experiencing homelessness. Our community is only as successful as our most vulnerable residents, and I want to thank the Coalition for the Homeless, The Way Home, and all of our other local partners who have helped turn Harris County into a national model for reducing homelessness,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. "The 2026 Point-in-Time Count confirms that our region has remained stable while homelessness has increased in many other parts of the country. However, stability is not enough when over a thousand of our neighbors are still sleeping outside. I’m grateful to the Coalition for the Homeless, The Way Home, outreach teams, law enforcement, service providers, and volunteers for showing that a coordinated local approach can help move people from crisis toward housing,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia . “As a former street cop and sheriff, I know we do not solve homelessness by simply moving people from one place to another. We solve it by treating people with dignity, connecting them to services, and creating real pathways to housing. I remain committed to working with our partners to prevent homelessness, support our veterans and most vulnerable residents, and make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in Harris County." “Harris County’s stability in the Point‑in‑Time Count stands out against the sharp increase in homelessness seen nationwide since the pandemic,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones . “These results reflect years of continued investment in strengthening partnerships and expanding critical services, including two new emergency shelters for survivors of domestic violence. We know there is much more work ahead, and I remain committed to working alongside our partners to prevent and ultimately end homelessness in our community.” “Even with limited new funding and few new programs launched during this reporting period, Houston has remained relatively stable. What this latest data underscores is the need to continue investing in service-connected solutions like 419 Emancipation,” said Mike Nichols, Director of the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department . “Now that 419 is operational, we are optimistic this triage, transition, and treatment model will help connect more individuals to care, services, and clear pathways toward stability. Behind every number is a real person, and our goal is to ensure more Houstonians are connected to the right support and a stronger path forward.” The full report and methodology appendix are available online here. The executive summary is available online here. The State of Homelessness report is available online here. For more information about the PIT Count and The Way Home homeless response system, visit www.cfthhouston.org. For more information and for results of previous years’ counts, please click here . For photos and B roll of volunteers conducting this year’s PIT Count, click here. ### The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) is the backbone of Houston’s solutions to homelessness. It’s a nonprofit organization that uses the power of collective impact to move people experiencing homelessness into housing solutions. Learn more at www.cfthhouston.org . The Way Home is the homeless response system for Houston and Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. It’s a public-private partnership — a network of dozens of homeless service providers and other government, philanthropic, and business partners. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), a 501c3, is the designated coordinator of The Way Home.
Every year, Houston’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count helps provide a snapshot of homelessness across the region. But as speakers emphasized during CFTH Presents: The PIT Count — Behind the Numbers , no single number can fully explain homelessness, or the work required to address it. Hosted by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), the discussion brought together leaders from outreach, data systems, and public health to explore how Houston measures homelessness, why the PIT Count matters, and how year-round data helps guide the region’s homelessness response system.
