When your client is ready for shelter
Use Shelter Ready to find the right shelter, fast.
Emergency shelters manage inventory using automated systems that streamline processes and save time, reducing calls and replacing paper lists.
Outreach staff access real time local shelter availability and information, saving time to help more people in need.
Designed with outreach staff, shelter managers, and others working to end homelessness in San Diego County, professional outreach workers were concerned with the time it takes to find shelter and a lack of transparency around what was truly available when their client was ready for shelter.
Shelter staff needed a more efficient way to make real-time availability visible to outreach staff, while keeping inventory updated in a manageable way.
How It Works
Professional outreach workers enter brief, non-identifying client information and can immediately view local shelters that have appropriate and available space. Once a space is reserved, Shelter Ready holds it and notifies the shelter of a confirmed new guest. That space is taken out of inventory.
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Shelters receive information about the client and the outreach person who made the referral. Shelter staff follow their own processes. Automated systems keep available and reserved space updated.
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​​​​Complete the Shelter Ready application to begin the credential review process today.
Testimonials
“What’s great about the Shelter Ready app, is that for someone like myself in an outreach program, before l had to make several calls, or emails, or text messages to connect someone to shelter. The Shelter Ready app has simplified the process, really easy. Each morning I can get up, I can go about my day, I can meet people and engage with our unhoused population and then see, right away, which shelters are available to meet their needs.”
- Outreach Worker
“Before we started using Shelter Ready, we were spending approximately 40 hours each week attempting to fill our beds through our community partners. This time was consumed by writing down waitlists, vetting potential referrals, setting up intake times, and answering phone calls from individuals seeking shelter and community partners wanting to make referrals.
Since implementing Shelter Ready, we have remarkably reduced our weekly hours to less than 15, although some weeks are more challenging than others. The transition from outdated paper tracking to real-time, digital tracking of referrals has been a game-changer. It has allowed us to streamline our processes and make real-time decisions with actual participants ready to enter the shelter.
This progress has been tremendous, giving our team more time to focus on what truly matters: serving the people. We are thrilled with the results and the positive impact Shelter Ready has had on our operations.”
- Shelter Manager
Thanks to the community
Professionals across San Diego County contributed to the concept, design, and creation of Shelter Ready through conversations, by participating in an event, or by testing the technology. We appreciate the community's input on this project!
PATH San Diego
Chula Vista Police Department HOT
Father Joe’s Villages
Interfaith Community Services
County of San Diego Health & Human Services
Community Resource Center
Dreams for Change
Alpha Project
Lifeline Community Services
The Salvation Army
San Diego Police Department HOT
Healthcare in Action
South Bay Community Services
Youth Assistance Coalition
YMCA of San Diego County
SDCDA CARE Center
San Diego Sheriff
San Diego Unified School District
San Diego Rescue Mission
San Diego Housing Federation
Regional Task Force on Homelessness
San Diego Youth Services
Interfaith Shelter Network
San Diego District Attorney’s Office
​Crisis House
County SD Office of Homeless Solutions
City of Oceanside
City of La Mesa
City of Escondido
City of El Cajon
Youth Assistance Coalition San Diego
Exodus Recovery, Inc.
Townspeople
Hope Street Coalition
211 San Diego
Operation Hope
Escondido Police Department HOT
San Diego Rescue Mission, Oceanside
Oceanside Police Department HOT
Jewish Family Services, Safe Parking Lot
City of Vista
Alliance for Regional Solutions
Funded and supported by the
San Diego County District Attorney's Office
