Insights

The Coordinated Entry System in Texas: How Veterans Actually Access Housing Services in Bexar and Galveston Counties

August 16, 2026 · Ectropy Residences · 15 min read

A veteran walks into a shelter looking for permanent housing. The intake worker asks if he has been through Coordinated Entry. He hasn't. The intake worker explains that he needs to go through a specific assessment process before he can be referred to most housing programs in the region. He asks where that happens. The intake worker gives him a phone number and an address.

This scenario plays out constantly across Texas — and case managers who understand the Coordinated Entry system can move veterans through it faster than those who treat each program as a separate access point.

Coordinated Entry is the doorway to most homeless services in every HUD-designated Continuum of Care region. It's federally required. It has specific rules about assessment, prioritization, and referral. And it operates very differently in Bexar County than in Galveston County, even though both fall under the same broad federal guidelines.

This post is for case managers navigating the Coordinated Entry system for veteran clients, and for veterans and family members trying to understand the actual pathway to services. It builds on our Bexar County coordination map, which introduces the local network, our SSVF eligibility guide, which covers one of the programs Coordinated Entry refers into, and our guide on ongoing HUD-VASH tenancy rules, which covers how to maintain eligibility after placement.

Ectropy Solutions is a Texas Veterans Commission certified veteran-owned firm based in San Antonio. Ectropy Residences, our housing services practice, coordinates across HUD-VASH, SSVF, LIHTC, and TDHCA programs for veterans in the San Antonio/Bexar County and Galveston County areas.

What Coordinated Entry Actually Is

Coordinated Entry is a HUD-mandated process that every Continuum of Care (CoC) region must operate. Its core function is to standardize how people experiencing housing crisis access services across the region.

Per HUD's Coordinated Entry Notice CPD-17-01, HUD requires each CoC to establish and operate a "centralized or coordinated assessment system" with the goal of increasing the efficiency of local crisis response systems and improving fairness and ease of access to resources. Coordinated Entry processes are intended to help communities prioritize people who are most in need of assistance.

Before Coordinated Entry existed, each housing program maintained its own waiting list and its own intake process. A veteran experiencing homelessness might need to apply separately to SSVF, HUD-VASH, transitional housing, emergency shelter, and various rapid rehousing programs — each with different rules and different waiting periods. Coordinated Entry replaces that with a single point of assessment that then routes people to the appropriate programs based on their needs and program availability.

The four core functions of Coordinated Entry:

Access — clearly defined ways for people to enter the system
Assessment — standardized evaluation of housing needs and vulnerability
Prioritization — ranking of assessed households based on vulnerability and need
Referral — connection to specific housing programs that fit the household's situation

Coordinated Entry does not itself provide housing. It routes people to the programs that do.

How It Applies to Veterans Specifically

Coordinated Entry serves everyone experiencing housing crisis in a region — not just veterans. But it has specific provisions for veterans that case managers need to understand.

VA partners can conduct assessments and make direct placements. Per HUD's Coordinated Entry Self-Assessment guidance, CoCs may allow Veterans Affairs partners to conduct assessments and make direct placements into any homeless assistance program, provided the method is included in the CoC's Coordinated Entry policies and procedures.

In practice, this means: A veteran experiencing homelessness in Bexar County or Galveston County has more than one legitimate way to enter the system. They can start through Coordinated Entry as a general access point, or they can start through a VA-affiliated organization that has authorization to assess and place veterans directly.

Which path is faster depends on the veteran's specific situation and which programs they're likely to fit. Case managers who know the difference can save veterans weeks of navigation time.

The Assessment Process

At the core of every Coordinated Entry system is a standardized assessment. The specific tool varies by region, but common elements include:

Crisis Needs Assessment — evaluates the veteran's immediate safety and stabilization needs Housing Needs Assessment — evaluates barriers to housing, including income, disability status, family composition, and support network Prioritization scoring — combines assessment results to rank the household relative to others waiting for the next available appropriate placement Veteran-specific screening — identifies eligibility for veteran-specific programs (SSVF, HUD-VASH, Grant and Per Diem, HVRP) so the veteran gets routed to those pathways rather than only general programs

A note on VI-SPDAT and similar tools: Many regions have historically used the Vulnerability Index Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) as their primary assessment instrument. Some regions have moved to updated tools or hybrid approaches. Case managers should verify which specific tool their local Coordinated Entry system currently uses, as this affects how vulnerability is measured and prioritized.

What veterans should know about the assessment: Participants in the Coordinated Entry process are free to decide what information they provide during assessment. They cannot be denied assessment or services for refusing to provide certain information. However, providing complete information typically results in more accurate program matching.

What Happens After Assessment

Once assessed, the veteran enters the prioritization list, typically called the 'By-Name List' (BNL) in the region. A By-Name List is a real-time registry of all individuals experiencing homelessness within a specific Continuum of Care area, prioritized by vulnerability scores and used by local providers during weekly case-conferencing to match clients directly with open housing slots.

Prioritization is not first-come, first-served. Historically, homeless services often operated on a chronological basis — whoever had been waiting longest got the next opening. Coordinated Entry replaces this with vulnerability-based prioritization. Per HUD guidance, communities prioritize people who are most in need of assistance.

For veterans specifically, prioritization considers:

Chronic homelessness status
Clinical vulnerability (mental health, substance use, medical conditions)
Family composition (including whether the veteran is caring for children or dependents)
Service era and specific veteran subgroups (some regions prioritize Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans)
Length of time experiencing homelessness

Referral timing depends on program availability. A veteran assessed and prioritized for HUD-VASH may wait months for a voucher to become available. A veteran assessed and prioritized for SSVF prevention may receive an intervention within days. The Coordinated Entry system does not create housing — it matches people to available housing.

Case managers can track By-Name List position. In regions with active veteran By-Name Lists, case managers can typically check where their client sits in the queue and what's happening with program availability. This information helps set realistic expectations with veterans.

Local Implementation: San Antonio and Bexar County

Bexar County's Coordinated Entry system is administered by Close to Home (formerly the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, or SARAH), which serves as the region's HUD-designated Continuum of Care lead agency.

The system is called Homelink. San Antonio and Bexar County's Coordinated Entry System began operating in June 2016 and has expanded over time. Homelink connects persons who are literally homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness to housing resources through the CoC's network of participating agencies. For regional housing trends and unhoused veteran demographics, case managers can also consult the region's annual State of Homelessness Report (such as the 2025 release), which tracks housing placement rates and system-wide performance measures.

Access to Homelink runs through a network of access point hubs located throughout San Antonio and Bexar County. Rather than requiring everyone to travel to one central location, Homelink operates through multiple points where veterans and other community members can initiate the assessment process.

The "No Wrong Door" approach. Close to Home operates on a "No Wrong Door" principle — individuals connected to Street Outreach programs, Emergency Shelter, Safe Havens, or any Homelink Access Point can be assessed and guided to the housing resource that best fits their needs. Case managers do not need to route veterans to one specific access point; the entry point that is most accessible to the veteran will connect them to the same coordinated system.

Contact Homelink: Initial screening can be initiated by calling the city's Community Connections Hotline at 210-207-1799, which serves as the primary telephonic portal feeding directly into Close to Home's Homelink database. While municipal-level administrative documents (such as the City's FY24 Homeless Response Annual Report) officially designate this line as the Community Connections Hotline (formerly the Homeless Connections Hotline), it is also commonly referred to in regional databases as the Homelink intake line or Close to Home main intake number. Alternatively, veterans can visit a local Homelink access point hub in person during designated hours.

Close to Home does not provide direct assistance itself. It is the coordinating body — assessments, prioritization, and referrals happen through Homelink, and direct services (shelter, financial assistance, case management) are provided by the network of participating agencies that receive referrals.

Veteran-specific pathway integration. Because AGIF-NVOP is the primary SSVF grantee for Bexar County, and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System handles HUD-VASH clinical case management, veterans have multiple entry points into the coordinated network. A veteran who arrives at AGIF-NVOP's Veterans Service Center for SSVF assessment typically gets connected to Homelink for veteran-specific prioritization if appropriate, without needing to navigate the two systems separately.

Emergency Housing Vouchers referrals. Opportunity Home San Antonio offers a limited number of Emergency Housing Vouchers for families experiencing homelessness or domestic violence, with referrals coming through Close to Home. This is a specific example of how the Coordinated Entry system routes people to targeted resources.

Local Implementation: Galveston County

For Galveston County — including Texas City, League City, Galveston, and surrounding municipalities — Coordinated Entry operates through a different structure than Bexar County's.

The Coordinated Entry system in Galveston County runs through Galveston County's Coordinated Entry Planning Entity, working alongside the Gulf Coast Homeless Coalition. Both bodies operate within the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care administered by the Texas Homeless Network.

Endeavors is among the designated agencies conducting Coordinated Entry assessments for literal homelessness in the region. This means a veteran arriving at Endeavors for SSVF services typically gets Coordinated Entry assessment as part of the same intake process — Endeavors is authorized to perform the assessment directly.

Practical implication for Galveston County veterans: Because Endeavors handles both SSVF services and Coordinated Entry assessment for veterans, the practical entry point for most Galveston County veterans is Endeavors. Case managers in the region typically start with Endeavors rather than routing through separate agencies for assessment versus services.

Texas City-specific coordination. Within Texas City limits, Coordinated Entry assessments are conducted by trained staff from both Endeavors and the Gulf Coast Center (the local mental health authority). The City of Texas City's 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan officially designates Endeavors for 'Veteran Housing Stabilization and Services,' highlighting their role in helping veterans create individualized housing stability plans that connect directly with HUD-VASH vouchers and other longer-term supportive housing pathways.

When to Use Coordinated Entry vs. Going Directly to Programs

Case managers regularly face a practical decision: should a veteran enter through Coordinated Entry, or go directly to a specific program like SSVF or HUD-VASH?

Coordinated Entry makes sense when:

The veteran is literally homeless or at imminent risk
Multiple program pathways may apply and the veteran benefits from centralized assessment
Access to specific programs requires a Coordinated Entry referral
Local prioritization for scarce resources requires being on the By-Name List

Direct program entry can be appropriate when:

The veteran clearly fits a specific program's criteria and the program accepts direct applications
Time pressure requires faster intervention than Coordinated Entry queue processing allows
The veteran has an existing relationship with a specific grantee (like AGIF-NVOP or Endeavors) that can serve them

In practice, most Bexar County and Galveston County veterans benefit from an intake that combines both — starting with a veteran-focused agency (AGIF-NVOP or Endeavors) that can conduct Coordinated Entry assessment as part of their intake process. This produces the fastest matched services while maintaining Coordinated Entry compliance.

Common Questions About Coordinated Entry

Do I have to go through Coordinated Entry to get housing help? For most HUD-funded and CoC-connected programs, yes. Programs that receive HUD funding (Continuum of Care Program, Emergency Solutions Grant, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS) or VA funding (SSVF, Grant and Per Diem, HUD-VASH) generally participate in Coordinated Entry. Some emergency shelter and diversion programs may accept direct entry, but permanent housing programs typically require Coordinated Entry referral.

Can I be denied assessment for refusing to answer questions? No. Participants in Coordinated Entry are free to decide what information they provide during assessment and cannot be denied assessment or services for refusing to provide certain information. However, more complete information generally allows for better program matching.

How long does the assessment take? The assessment itself typically takes 30-60 minutes, depending on the specific tool used and the veteran's situation. Referral timing after assessment depends on program availability, which can range from days to months.

Where do I go in Bexar County to start Coordinated Entry? Call the Community Connections Hotline (also known as the Homelink intake or Close to Home intake line) at 210-207-1799, or contact an access point hub in San Antonio or Bexar County. Close to Home coordinates the system but does not provide direct services itself.

Where do I go in Galveston County to start Coordinated Entry? For veterans specifically, Endeavors is typically the appropriate first contact. Within Texas City, Coordinated Entry assessments are conducted by trained staff from both Endeavors and the Gulf Coast Center, working in close coordination with the Gulf Coast Homeless Coalition and Galveston County's Coordinated Entry Planning Entity.

Can I use Coordinated Entry if I'm not literally homeless yet? Yes. Coordinated Entry serves people at imminent risk of homelessness, not only those already experiencing literal homelessness. If you have an eviction notice or documented risk of losing your housing, you can access the system.

Will my case manager know where I am on the By-Name List? In most regions, yes — case managers with appropriate HMIS access can typically track their client's position and referral status. This is useful for setting expectations with the veteran about likely timelines.

Do I get to choose which program I'm referred to? Not entirely. Coordinated Entry matches people to available programs based on eligibility, prioritization, and program-specific criteria. Veterans have some input into whether they accept a specific referral, but the matching process itself is standardized.

What Case Managers Should Know

Effective navigation of Coordinated Entry for veteran clients depends on several factors:

Relationship with the local CoC lead agency. In Bexar County, that's Close to Home. In Galveston County, it's the Gulf Coast Homeless Coalition and the Coordinated Entry Planning Entity. Case managers with active relationships with these bodies typically process referrals faster than those working from directory contacts.

Understanding of veteran-specific pathways. Both regions have specific arrangements for veteran assessment and referral. Working with AGIF-NVOP in Bexar County or Endeavors in Galveston County typically produces faster outcomes for veteran-specific placements than routing through general Coordinated Entry.

HMIS access and tracking capability. Case managers with HMIS access can track By-Name List position, referral status, and program availability. This access requires agency authorization and training.

Realistic expectations about timing. Coordinated Entry does not create housing capacity. When programs are at capacity, referrals wait. Case managers who communicate realistic timelines to veterans avoid setting up disappointment.

Ectropy Residences and Coordinated Entry

Ectropy Residences works with case managers navigating Coordinated Entry for veteran clients across the Bexar County and Galveston County networks. Our institutional knowledge of the local coordinating bodies — Close to Home in Bexar County, the Gulf Coast Homeless Coalition and Coordinated Entry Planning Entity in Galveston County — helps case managers understand where their clients are in the process and what to expect next.

We work with case managers, not around them. When a veteran is being supported through Coordinated Entry by an existing case manager, we coordinate with them rather than duplicate their work. Our residences are in preparation for veteran housing coordination in the San Antonio and Galveston County areas.

Getting in Touch with Ectropy Residences

For case managers coordinating veteran housing referrals, or for veterans navigating the Coordinated Entry process:

Coordinator : (210) 504-8445, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm Central Email : coordinator@ectropysolutions.com Learn more : www.ectropysolutions.com/residences Waitlist : Sign up for placement notifications

We'll be honest about our current capacity and whether Ectropy Residences fits a specific veteran's situation. If it doesn't, we may be able to point toward organizations that could help.

What We're Not Saying

Three honest disclaimers:

Local Coordinated Entry systems evolve. This post describes the federal structure and current implementation for Bexar County (Homelink, administered by Close to Home) and Galveston County (Galveston County's Coordinated Entry Planning Entity and Gulf Coast Homeless Coalition, within the Texas Balance of State CoC). System operations, access points, and specific procedures evolve over time. Current specifics should be verified directly with the local coordinating body.

Assessment tools and prioritization criteria vary by region. Different Continuums of Care use different assessment instruments and prioritization approaches. The general approach described here applies broadly, but specific implementation varies. Case managers should verify which tools and criteria their specific CoC currently uses.

Coordinated Entry does not create housing capacity. When housing programs are full, referrals wait regardless of prioritization. Coordinated Entry improves fairness and efficiency in accessing existing resources; it does not eliminate the underlying resource constraints. Case managers should communicate realistic timeline expectations to veterans and family members.

Ectropy Residences is a practice area of Ectropy Solutions, LLC, a Texas Veterans Commission certified veteran-owned firm based in San Antonio. We coordinate housing services for veterans across the San Antonio/Bexar County and Galveston County areas.

Ectropy Solutions is a veteran-owned management consulting firm in San Antonio, Texas, organizing three practice areas under shared governance: Ectropy Infrastructure, Ectropy Residences, and Ectropy Health.

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