To learn more about the full Community Housing Connect platform, including expanded capabilities and how it can support coordinated entry in other communities,
Community Housing Connect (CHC) is a coordinated entry platform developed to improve how people access housing support and how communities organize their response to homelessness.
CHC originated in Kent County as a community-driven solution to strengthen coordinated entry. In 2021, the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness (CoC) voted to expand CommunityHousingConnect.org into a platform to support system-wide access, assessment, prioritization, and referrals.
The platform was built through real-world use andshaped by how coordinated entry actually functions across agencies, populations, and housing resources.
What is Coordinated Entry?
A systems-level approach for providing coordinated and standardized access, assessment, prioritization, and referral to community resources for people experiencing a housing crisis – especially for people who are unhoused.
How CHC Works
Access
Community Housing Connect is a free online platform that serves as the coordinated entry access point for housing and homeless services, helping people experiencing a housing crisis quickly connect to the services they need. This decentralized, any door system of access means it is accessible by anyone, anywhere, anytime.
If assistance is needed, individuals can visit participating organizations for assistance using the platform.
Assessment
The platform collects information needed to understand each household’s situation, strengths, and needs.
Prioritization
Communities define and apply their own prioritization approach, supported by the platform, to ensure resources are directed to those with the greatest need.
Referral
Housing and service connections are coordinated across providers through a shared system, allowing communities to track progress, align decisions, and ensure people are matched with the right resources based on their needs.
Data and System Visibility
CHC supports real-time data sharing, allowing communities to better understand demand, resource use, and system performance.
The work completed in Kent County established the foundation for CHC as a broader platform.
Community Housing Connect continues to grow as a platform supporting coordinated entry systems in a range of communities and environments.
This next phase builds on a foundation of community-driven design, system coordination, and real-world application.