How Does Coordinated Access and Assessment Work?
Calgary’s CAA Program utilizes the Coordinated Entry Tool (CET) when an individual asks for assistance. For more information on CET, please see the HMIS section. These resources can be found under Forms & Assessments.
A successful Coordinated Access and Assessment program relies on a consistent, standardized assessment tool that can be applied across the System of Care. The CET identifies a participant’s needs in order to guide the most appropriate intervention.
The reliability and accuracy of system-wide assessment tools are essential. The CET must be able to determine participant needs in a defensible, consistent, and valid way. It must also be easy for partners to implement with clear, accessible language and broad applicability across the System of Care.
Prevention and diversion strategies are designed to “close the front door to homelessness” by helping people identify immediate alternate housing arrangements and, when needed, connecting them with services and financial supports to return to housing. These strategies can reduce the number of individuals or families becoming homeless, the demand for shelter beds, and the size of program waitlists.
The Coordinated Entry Tool is a triaging tool designed in collaboration with key community partners to determine the needs and key issues related to a participant’s housing situation. It considers multiple dimensions of a person’s experience and circumstances. CET results are used alongside community knowledge shared among System Partners and Recovery Oriented Supportive Housing (ROSH) programs funded by Calgary Homeless Foundation to prioritize participants for program referral. This process ensures fairness and equity in placements, with an emphasis on serving those with the longest history of homelessness (chronicity) and those experiencing significant mental health, physical health, and/or addiction challenges. A Collaborative Service Delivery Group—created through CAA implementation—supports the success of this model.
CAA Placement Committees meet weekly to review available program spaces within the System of Care and match participants to the most appropriate programs. This is not a chronological “waitlist,” but a triage process informed by chronicity and vulnerability. The committees aim to maintain appropriate occupancy levels, support timely and efficient service delivery, and document learnings. Each committee focuses on a specific population or program type (e.g., family programs, place‑based supportive housing) and seeks consensus on all placement decisions.
Once placement occurs, program staff must contact the participant within two days to notify them and initiate the intake process. Placement does not always mean immediate housing; for some programs, intake includes beginning the housing search with case management and housing location support.
Access to CAA services is voluntary, and participants may end their involvement at any point.
Who provides CAA and how do clients access it?
Coordinated Access and Assessment (CAA) is a collaborative, system-wide approach delivered through a network of participating agencies across Calgary’s Homeless-Serving System of Care. Led by Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) in partnership with service providers and system partners, CAA ensures that individuals experiencing homelessness can access housing and support services through multiple entry points across the city.
Participants can access CAA in several ways. Many enter the system through designated door agencies—agencies with Housing Strategists who are trained in prevention and diversion practices, coordinated entry, and administration of the Coordinated Entry Tool (CET). These agencies serve as access points into the system and can provide assessment, navigation, referrals, and housing support directly within their programs
Participants may also connect to CAA through referrals from participating agencies, outreach teams, and system partners. Housing Strategists are available at various locations throughout the system and can provide mobile or community-based support for individuals who may face barriers to accessing services in traditional office settings.
By offering multiple access points and a shared assessment process, CAA helps ensure that individuals can enter the system through the agency or service they are already connected to, while receiving consistent support and equitable access to housing opportunities and other system resources.
