If you are a tenant behind on your rent and facing eviction or a landlord strapped for cash because of past due rent payments, Colorado has rental assistance in the form of the Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Eligible tenants and landlords can receive assistance to cover rent dating back to April 1, 2020.

A total of 15 months of assistance is available. That includes past due rent, current rent, and two months of future rent. The tenant or the landlord can begin the application process, but both will be required to provide verifying documentation. Incomplete applications will no be processed.

How to Qualify


Who is eligible for assistance?
Tenants who have a gross household income that does not exceed 80% of the area median income. Colorado has provided a pdf so you can find out what 80% of median income is in your county.

How do you apply?
You can get more information about how to apply in the county in which you are renting or have rental property by going to Colorado’s rental assistance and applications webpage.

What documents are needed to apply?
Landlords
Landlords will need to provide the following information:

  • Tenants name, email address, and contact information

  • A copy of the lease or rental agreement or some other evidence certifying the amount of rent due and the terms of the agreement

  • A rent ledger showing past due rents

  • Tax form W-9 on the Colorado form dated within the last six months

  • If you are a Housing Authority with tenants living in rent restricted units, you will need to submit a tenant income determination letter dated within the last 12 months.


You will be required to certify you have not already received financial assistance for the same time period in which you are now requesting assistance. You must sign the application verifying the information as true.

Renters
Tenants will need to provide the following information:
1. Government issued photo identification for the main applicant
2. A document verifying the tenant lives on the property. One of the following is acceptable:

  • A signed lease agreement (signed by tenant and landlord) showing the address of the applicant’s residence

  • Income information showing the applicant’s name and address

  • Government issued identification showing the applicant's name and address

  • Utility bill or other official mail showing the applicant’s name and address


3. Evidence of rents due.
4. A fully executed lease agreement showing the applicant’s name, the amount of rent due, and the due date
5. Evidence of rent payment made to landlord one month prior to month for which tenant is requesting assistance. This may be in the form of:

  • Copy of check

  • Ledger from financial institution, Paypal, or Venmo

  • Proof of deposit and receipt from individual named on lease

  • Past due rent documentation (i.e. rent ledger, past due notices from landlord, email notices from landlord)


6. Eviction notice if applicable. (This is not required, but will be used to give precedence to applications)
7. Months for which you are requesting assistance (may be for any or every month dating back from April 1, 2020. Must be for current residence.
8. Documentation of income for all members of household eighteen and older (include children with income). Documentation may be one of the following:

  • 2020 tax returns - You must upload the first four pages of the signed tax return along with W2s. If household members file separately, 2020 tax returns and W-2s for each member must be included.


Income documentation for the month prior to the application date. This may be in the form of one or more of the following:

  • Pay stubs for previous month

  • Unemployment benefits letter with gross amount of benefit

  • Employer letter verifying current gross pay

  • Current year Social Security, pension, retirement, annuity, or disability letter

  • Self-employed certification of income form

  • Ledger showing gig worker income


10. Additional documentation: If your household receives SNAP, LEAP, TANF, or Colorado Works, you must provide a verification of eligibility for the program in the last 12 months. Residents of rent restricted properties must show evidence of income certification within the last 12 months.

Income must not exceed 80% of area median income
You will be required to verify that a member of your household has experienced income reduction or other financial hardship related to COVID-19.

You must prove a member of your household is facing homelessness or experiencing housing instability as a result of COVID-19.

You must sign the document and verify the truth of the information you provided along with verification that you are not requesting assistance for months in which you are already receiving assistance from another program.

FAQ


How much rent does the program pay?
You can receive past due rent dating back to April 2020, your current rent, and two months of future rent for a total of 15 months. You will not be reimbursed for any rent you’ve already paid.

The program pays a maximum of 150% of market value for the county in which you live. To find out what fair market value is in your county, go to Colorado’s market value by county listing page.

What happens if my landlord refuses to participate?
You are encouraged to fill out your portion of the application anyway. The state will contact the landlord and request that they apply. If they refuse, you will have evidence you did everything you could to get assistance.

What happens if a tenant leaves the property without paying rent?
Tenants must be living on the property to apply for the program.