Get to know…Jen McGill, Coordinated Entry Systems Manager

Jen McGill joined United Way of the Plains in 2024 as part of the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County.

Describe your role with United Way of the Plains.

I oversee the coordinated entry system for our community, which functions as the “front door” to our homeless response process. This involves assessing the unique needs of each household experiencing homelessness and then matching them with the most suitable community resources.

One of the biggest challenges we face is that the demand for housing and other critical resources far exceeds their availability. Coordinated entries help us manage this scarcity by ensuring that the highest-need, most vulnerable households are prioritized for housing and services. This standardized approach makes our system more accessible and equitable for clients. It’s no longer about who someone happens to connect with on any given day or trying to make individuals fit into existing programs. Instead, it is about understanding and addressing their specific needs to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring.

Headshot of Jen McGill, United Way of the Plains Coordinated Entry System Manager.

I also coordinate multi-agency, community-wide street outreach services. This effort focuses on identifying and engaging individuals living in unsheltered locations, such as cars, parks, or encampments, who might not otherwise seek help or connect with the homeless service system. Coordinated street outreach allows us to bring support directly to these individuals, ensuring that no one is overlooked in our efforts to address homelessness.

Jen McGill, United Way of the Plains Coordinated Entry System Manager, at an outreach event for the Coalition to End Homelessness.
What drew you to want to help others?

My parents set an incredible example for me, both personally and professionally. Together, they dedicated 30 years of service to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) before retiring. Following in their footsteps wasn’t something I had planned, but everything changed when I took a job in the homeless services field. From that moment, I knew this work was my calling.

People are endlessly fascinating to me, and I firmly believe that proximity is everything. When we take the time to truly know someone and understand their lived experiences, it deepens our empathy and compassion for them. Every person deserves to be heard and supported as they work to rebuild their lives, and it’s an honor to play even a small part in that journey.

Why is collaboration important between human service providers?

Homelessness is a community issue that demands a community response. No single person, program, or agency can prevent or end homelessness on their own. People experiencing homelessness often face multiple, interconnected challenges. By collaborating, agencies can offer a more comprehensive range of services, such as housing assistance, case management, healthcare, employment support, and legal aid, addressing the full spectrum of needs.

This kind of collaboration not only enhances the quality and scope of services but also allows agencies to pool resources, maximize their collective impact, and ensure there are no gaps in service delivery. Working together makes it possible to create sustainable solutions that truly make a difference.

You oversee a team of housing navigators; can you explain their role and how they are addressing homelessness in Sedgwick County?

A housing navigator works directly with individuals and families experiencing homelessness, serving as a guide to help them access housing solutions. They assist clients in finding and securing affordable housing by navigating available programs, connecting them with essential services, and advocating on their behalf with landlords and other agencies.

Housing navigators take a personalized approach, working closely with clients to assess their housing needs, identify barriers, and create tailored plans to overcome those challenges. Their support doesn’t end once housing is secured—they continue to work with clients to ensure they have the resources and assistance needed to maintain stable housing over the long term.

Additionally, housing navigators serve as mobile access points for the coordinated entry system. Instead of waiting for people to seek help, they meet individuals where they are—whether at a day center, an overnight shelter, or even an encampment—bringing critical services directly to those in need.

A volunteer reaches out to individuals living at a homeless encampment as part of United Way's efforts to end homelessness in our community.
What are we learning from implementing the housing navigation program?

One of the most important lessons we’re learning is that homelessness is solvable. While navigating homelessness can be complex, and individuals often face multiple barriers to accessing the services they need, solutions are within reach with the right support.

When someone works one-on-one with a client experiencing homelessness, the success rate in finding and maintaining stable housing increases significantly. This personalized approach helps break down barriers, provides tailored guidance, and ensures clients have the resources they need to rebuild their lives. It’s a testament to the power of individualized support in creating lasting change.

You’ve worked to make systems more robust when it comes to understanding homelessness; how does leveraging better data help solve homelessness in your department?

To effectively end homelessness, our community must first know who is experiencing it. We achieve this through a by-name list, which is a real-time, continuously updated record of every person in the community experiencing homelessness. This list allows us to identify the individual, understand their specific needs, and match them with the most appropriate housing solutions and support services.

Jen McGill with housing services co-workers holding a sign that says United We Win.

In addition to guiding individual support, the by-name list serves as a critical tool for evaluating the effectiveness of our interventions. By tracking the data, we can assess the impact of different programs designed to reduce homelessness and determine whether they’re achieving the desired outcomes. This ongoing analysis helps us adjust our strategies as needed, ensuring we’re taking the most effective approach to ending homelessness in our community.

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Published On: January 31, 2025Tags: , , ,

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