To address the needs of homeless persons and most efficiently utilize the resources available in the community, Washington County uses a coordinated entry system to assess and prioritize an individual’s housing needs. The system has been designed to meet the specific needs of the county in coordination with the Suburban Metro Area Continuum of Care and the State to assure consistency across counties state wide. Washington County has three points of access for people experiencing homelessness: St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center for families, County’s Community Services Department for singles, and StreetWorks Outreach for youth. The coordinated entry system utilizes an initial assessment to determine if the person or family can be diverted from homelessness with connections to resources. If it is determined housing is needed for those who meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of homeless a full assessment is conducted. This assessment will determine the type and level of support needed: temporary shelter, rapid rehousing, transitional housing or permanent supportive housing. 

If the assessment determines temporary shelter support is needed, families are referred to Hope for the Journey Home. Hope for the Journey Home, a multi-congregational effort of 31 area churches, operates an 8 bedroom family shelter in the former rectory of Guardian Angels Catholic parish in the City of Oakdale. A second temporary shelter located in the City of Hugo is expected to open in 2018 and will serve 5 to 7 families. Harriet Tubman Center East Safe Journeys Shelter and Transitional Housing located in Maplewood provides a limited number of shelter beds for youth and young adult victims of violence and exploitation, including sex trafficking. Youth receive customized individual and group support as well as resources to help with safety, basic needs, school, parenting, legal, financial, spiritual, social, emotional, recreational, leadership, career and other selfidentified goals. The county uses hotel vouchers to provide emergency shelter to singles that have been assessed and it is determined have no other shelter options.

The county's Community Services department is the lead county agency for addressing homelessness in the county. This is done through several programs/efforts:

• The Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) provides these services to residents of Washington County. HOST consists of four social workers, a supervisor, and one support staff person. Together, they manage a housing resource line where calls may be placed 24/7, and will be returned within one business day. HOST outreach has been expanding in recent years.
• In addition, the county, along with the Washington County Community Development Agency, leads the Heading Home Washington County Collaborative. This collaborative includes local faith based organizations, non-profits, and concerned community members.
• Actively applying for outside funds to further support hotel vouchers
• Participating in regional efforts to address unsheltered homeless

In 2019, Community Services stood up a shelter workgroup, charged with the following:

• Determine what shelter model will best serve our community
• Determine the operational costs of the proposed model
• Determine possible location(s) for shelter
• Approach or secure any needed partners

The goal is to present recommendations back to the County Board in the Fall of 2019.

Public Health and Environment has not traditionally played a role in housing and homelessness work. The county's Community Services department is the lead county agency for addressing homelessness in the county, along with the Washington County Community Development Agency. PHE is investigating opportunities to partner and become more engaged in this work.

Additional partners in this work include members of the Heading Home Collaborative, which includes: XXXXX