Frequently Asked Questions

CEA ensures that people experiencing homelessness in King County can get help finding stable housing by identifying, assessing, and connecting them to housing support services and housing resources. CEA uses a standardized Housing Triage Tool that matches the right level of services and available housing resources to people experiencing homelessness.

CEA uses a triage tool, called the VI-SPDAT, to get more information about the needs of each homeless family or homeless person. In general, the triage tool asks a series of questions about you, your health, how you are experiencing homelessness, and what other needs you might have.

CEA serves all people (single adults, young adults*, couples, families, and veterans) who are experiencing homelessness in King County. Additionally, young adults* who are at risk of homelessness within 14 days can also receive CEA services.

You can get connected to CEA by contacting a Regional Access Point. The address for these offices are listed in Question 6.

CEA can only serve people or families who meet at least one of the conditions described in Question 3. If you or your family do not meet any of the conditions listed, please call 2-1-1 or visit https://www.crisisconnections.org/ to get connected with other services. 

There are 5 Regional Access Point offices located throughout King County. They are listed below.

Yes. Workers at the Regional Access Point offices can speak several different languages. When you contact a RAP, please let the person answering your phone call know what language you are most comfortable speaking. If no workers at the location where you are meeting speak the same language as yours, the person answering your phone call will make sure an interpreter will be available during your appointment.

If you were homeless before being in a jail or prison AND stayed in jail or prison for 90 days or less, then CEA can help.

If you are a young adult (17.5 through 24 years old), CEA can help if it is at least two weeks before you leave a jail or prison. For a young adult, there is no requirement that you were homeless immediately before entering the jail or prison. There is also no requirement that you were in the jail or prison 90 days or less.

CEA does not use a waitlist for its housing resources. Instead, we have a Community Queue where we match the needs of the household experiencing homelessness with housing resources that are currently available. Having the household information added to the Community Queue does not mean that housing is guaranteed. Multiple factors impact resource availability and the wait time for them is uncertain.

Additionally, CEA hosts a monthly feedback and update call every 1st Friday of the month from 10 to 11 am. To join the conference call, please dial 206-263-8114 and enter the conference ID 486140. Additionally, please feel free to sign up for our newsletter by emailing cea@kingcounty.gov. 

Single Adults: Call 211 to get connected to shelter.          

Youth and Young Adults:
YouthCare: (800) 495-7802
ROOTS: (206) 632-1635
The Landing: (425) 449-3868
New Horizons (206) 374-0866
Nexus: (253) 275-1634
PSKS: (206) 726-8500

Families: Families experiencing literal homelessness or fleeing domestic violence who are in need of same day access to shelter should call the Family Emergency Shelter Access Line (206-245-1026) every day they are in need of shelter, starting at 9:00am (no end time). If a shelter bed is available, families will be contacted by shelters providers throughout King County in the afternoon and evening.

Domestic Violence Shelters: Call 211 to get connected to shelter, or call the Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233.