Homeless Housing Network opens at Columbia Station
Photo above: The Chelan-Douglas Homeless Housing Network, which manages the Coordinated Entry program for the two counties, opened July 10 in office space on the first floor of Columbia Station, 300 S. Columbia St. Staffing the office are, from the left, Juan Loeza, Coordinated Entry specialist; Angela Ervin, Coordinated Entry lead; and Jon Davies, Coordinated Entry specialist.
The Chelan-Douglas Homeless Housing Network, which operates the Coordinated Entry program, opened July 10 at Link Transit’s Columbia Station in Wenatchee.
The entry point to housing services for people experiencing, or at imminent risk of experiencing, homelessness, the Homeless Housing Network is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on the first floor of Columbia Station, 300 S. Columbia St.
Coordinated Entry lead Angela Ervin said she and her staff were excited to open this morning after weeks of training new staff as well as preparing the new office space to best serve the community.
“We are all really excited to get things rolling and to help our community,” Ervin said. “We are very passionate about this community and helping everyone thrive. We are ready to welcome people and help them find the resources they need to find housing options in our community.”
The Coordinated Entry program is a process that standardizes the way individuals and families at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness are assessed for and referred to the housing and services that they need for housing stability. It matches people to local programs and services as well as grants immediate needs when possible. Because a coordinated entry program is mandated by state law, most counties oversee the local program in their respective communities.
Earlier this year, the Board of Chelan County Commissioners decided to bring the Coordinated Entry program in-house to better provide consistent, centralized services to people needing its services. In the past three years, Coordinated Entry has been contracted out to three different agencies.
At Columbia Station, the Homeless Housing Network is staffed by three Chelan County employees who will be responsible for connecting people to the services they qualify for throughout Chelan and Douglas counties. They will not only answer calls to the program but also speak with anyone in need of services who walks up to the office’s large, open counter.
“It was important for us to be near public transit to better meet people where they are at,” said Sasha Sleiman, Housing Program manager. “Coordinated Entry has not had a walk-up counter in several years, so we are especially excited to be able to bring this back. We’re grateful that Link Transit saw our vision and is hosting us at Columbia Station. We couldn’t do this without them.”
The Homeless Housing Network can be accessed by phone by calling 509-436-9086 or by going to www.cewenatchee.org to fill out an online form. If people call the phone number, a staff member will help them fill out the form.
Staff members then assess what programs people may qualify for based on their specific situation; staff makes referrals to partner agencies participating in Coordinated Entry. Agencies that accept Coordinated Entry applications from the Homeless Housing Network are Chelan Valley Hope, Community Action Council, SAGE, St. Jude’s Landing, Upper Valley Mend, the Women’s Resource Center and the YWCA.
If someone fills out an application online, they should expect to receive a phone call back from staff within one business day, Ervin said.
Sleiman said the reassessing of the Coordinated Entry program, which has been operating in the community over the last decade at various nonprofit organizations, is a big move forward for Chelan County and its partners, who have been working on providing a better solution to people who need the program’s services.
“I am grateful for the dedication and support of all the partner agencies, and their staff, for their feedback, patience and cooperation as we have tried different methods and approaches to streamlining this system that helps people get off the street and into housing,” she said.
Previously, the Homeless Housing Network was referred to as the Community Housing Network. The name was changed to be reflective of the specific population the services are geared toward. The Homeless Housing Network does not assist people with finding market rate or affordable housing. This is not a relocation service for people looking for homes or apartments to rent or buy, which it had been confused for in the past.
Last Updated: 07/10/2024 01:12 PM
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