Regularly reviewing Coordinated Entry System (CES) data is essential for communities working to reduce homelessness. This data provides valuable insights into who is being served, how quickly people are being connected to housing, and whether the system is working equitably. We’re excited to announce the launch of the new Coordinated Entry Data pages, released today. This new resource provides key insights into how the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care (CoC) is implementing Coordinated Entry, including data on system access, assessments, and referrals.
This blog introduces the new Coordinated Entry data pages and highlights how the data can help guide decision-making in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
COORDINATED ENTRY
When someone is facing homelessness, figuring out how to navigate services and housing options can be overwhelming. Mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the goal of coordinated entry systems (CES) is to offer a centralized and standardized process to help individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis access support in a fair and efficient way. Instead of leaving people to navigate the homeless services system on their own, the CES works to ensure that everyone is assessed in a consistent manner and is connected to housing and services based on their unique goals, strengths, and needs.
HUD encourages communities to use the CES to not only equitably match people to available resources, but also to prioritize those with the greatest need. At its core, the CES strives to create a person-centered system that helps communities use their resources strategically and humanely.
OVERVIEW OF COORDINATED ENTRY DATA
Prevention vs. Homeless
The CES serves households that are experiencing a housing crisis which means it serves both people who are already experiencing homelessness and people who are at risk of becoming homeless. For this reason, Coordinated Entry data is organized into two main sections, one highlighting prevention efforts and one focused on people who are literally homeless and seeking housing through the system.
Both the prevention and homeless pages present data on the total number of people who accessed the CES in a given month, their household composition, social characteristics, and race and ethnicity.
Household Composition
- Single Adults: Individual adults who are not part of a family or household
- Households with Minor Children: Household consists of at least one adult and at least one child under the age of 18.
- Parenting Youth Households: Household with at least one minor child in which the head of household is between the ages of 18 and 24 years old.
- Multiple Adult Household: Two or more adults living together as a single household.
Social Characteristics
Domestic Violence:
- DV Survivor: An individual who is currently or has previously been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
- Fleeing Domestic Violence: An individual who is fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; has no other residence; and lacks the resources or support network to obtain other permanent housing
Income:
- Any Income: An adult who self-reports receiving any source of cash income, earned or unearned
- Earned Income: An adult who self-reports employment income or self-employment income
Population:
- Chronically Homeless: Reports a disability AND 12 months continuous homelessness or 4 times homeless in the previous 3 years totaling 12 months.
- Veteran: A person who has served active duty in the military.
- Unaccompanied Youth: A single adult between the ages of 18 and 24 years old.
- Older Adult: Any adult ages 55 years old or older.
Disability: An individual who self-reports one or more of the following long-term conditions that impacted their ability to work or live independently (physical disability, developmental disability, chronic health condition, mental health disorder, substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS).
Race and Ethnicity: The racial and ethnic groups with which a person self-identifies.
Additional Homeless Data
In addition to what is listed above, the Coordinated Entry: Homeless data page also includes information on where people who are living unsheltered report sleeping most often by month. Housing referrals by status (pending, accepted, and denied) and housing referrals by project type (permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and other permanent housing) are reported by the quarter.
Future Additions
In addition to the data that are currently be presented, in the coming months we will add monthly data on Coordinated Entry hotline calls and contacts.
RECENT DATA AND TRENDS
Overall
From January to March 2025, more people seeking a Coordinated Housing Needs Assessment were experiencing literal homelessness, while fewer sought prevention assistance. This pattern was influenced in part by limited funding for prevention services during that period. In March 2025, additional funding was allocated to Coordinated Entry for prevention assistance, increasing the system’s capacity to serve individuals at risk of homelessness. With these new financial resources, the system was able not only to assist more people but also to prevent more households from entering homelessness. As prevention funding increased, a corresponding decline was observed in the number of people who became literally homeless and sought shelter or housing assistance.
Coordinated Entry: Prevention
In June 2025, the majority of households provided with prevention assistance were single adults (51%) or households with minor children (45%). Most identified as Black, African American or African (83%). Twenty-three percent of adults reported being a survivor of domestic violence and 4% reported that they were currently fleeing a domestic violence situation. Thirty-eight percent of people self-reported a disability. Sixty-three percent reported having any income while 52% reported having earned income. Seven percent were unaccompanied youth and 5% were older adults.
Coordinated Entry: Homeless
In June 2025, the majority of households who had a housing needs assessment were single adults (82%) and identified as Black, African American, or African (77%). Twenty-eight percent reported being survivors of domestic violence and 14% reported fleeing domestic violence. Fifty-eight percent self-reported a disability. Forty-seven percent reported having some type of income but only 24% reported having earned income. Twenty-seven percent met the criteria for chronic homelessness, 13% were older adults, 11% were unaccompanied youth, and 4% were veterans. Of those who reported living unsheltered, 67% reported living outside or in a shed or abandoned building and 31% reported living in their vehicle.
Comparison
As is illustrated by these data, households served by prevention assistance and those who are literally homeless differ in notable ways. The group served by prevention assistance tends to have more families, higher income and employment rates, and lower rates of disability or domestic violence.
Those experiencing homelessness are more likely to be single adults, have disabilities, experience chronic homelessness, and report lower income.
Domestic violence survivors, youth, and older adults are present in both groups but are represented more frequently among those experiencing homelessness.
Housing Referrals
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 (April–June 2025), 137 households were referred to permanent housing resources—including permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and other permanent housing programs—with referrals distributed relatively evenly across housing types. During the same period, 51 households enrolled in a permanent housing program. It’s important to note that referrals may be made in one quarter but not resolved until the next; therefore, referral outcomes and program enrollment numbers may not align within the same reporting period.
WHAT DO THESE DATA TELL US?
- Prevention services must remain well-funded and accessible to stop inflow into homelessness, especially for families and working households.
- Homeless services need to expand capacity for those with complex needs, including disability, chronic homelessness, and unsheltered living situations.
- Tailored responses are essential: households differ not only in their housing status but also in the type, intensity, and timing of support they need.
- Targeted supports for domestic violence survivors, youth, and older adults are needed across both groups, with special attention to safety and vulnerability.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Regularly reviewing Coordinated Entry System (CES) data is vital for Mecklenburg County as it works to reduce and ultimately end homelessness. These data provide critical insights into who is accessing services, the speed and success of housing connections, and whether resources are being distributed equitably. The launch of the new Coordinated Entry Data pages marks an important step forward in transparency and accountability for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care (CoC). By distinguishing between those at risk of homelessness and those already experiencing it, the data help identify trends, highlight disparities, and guide decisions about resource allocation and system improvement. These insights underscore the need for tailored, timely interventions and ongoing investment in both prevention and housing solutions to ensure every household in Mecklenburg County has a path to stable, safe housing.
