This Coordinated Entry System process Coordinated Entry System institutes consistent and uniform access, assessment, prioritization, and referral processes to determine the most appropriate response to each person’s immediate housing needs. This system of Coordinated Entry is recognized nationally as a best practice which can improve efficiency within systems, provide clarity for people experiencing homelessness, and can help serve more people quickly and efficiently with assistance targeted to address their housing needs. In August 2017, the City of Winston-Salem, initiated a process to formalize and codify the policies and procedures for the coordinated entry system to ensure compliance with the mandate from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that every CoC establish and operate a coordinated entry process (24 CFR 578).