Starting March 23rd, Colorado Springs residents can apply for direct assistance for rent and utilities using funds received from the U.S. Treasury through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. The City received $14 million in these Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds to assist qualified Colorado Springs renters with rent and utility arrears (back rent owed) and current rent and utility costs. These funds are a critical tool in preventing evictions when the eviction moratorium enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expires at the end of March 2021.

Qualified renters in Colorado Springs can apply to get rental and utility arrears covered, as well as up to three months' rent in advance on their residence.

Eligible renters must: 1) qualify for unemployment or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due directly or indirectly to COVID-19; 2) demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and 3) have a total household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income. Those income limits are based on household size and shown below.

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Maximum Monthly Income by Household Size (2020)

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
$3,812.50	$4,354.16	$4,900.00	$5,441.66	$5,879.16	$6,312.50	$6,750.00	$7,183.33

The City is partnering with the Colorado Division of Housing (DOH) to administer the program. Colorado Springs residents can apply at through the DOH website.

Apply for emergency rental assistance here

Applicants will have to register online through Neighborly to apply. All materials must be submitted online.  DOH staff will review all applications and make direct payments on applicants' behalf. Applicants can track the status of their applications on the ERAP dashboard.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program will operate on a first come, first served basis and will continue to operate as long as funding allows, however, people 50% below area median income and anyone who has been unemployed for 90 days will be prioritized.

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Landlords can apply for assistance on behalf of their tenants but are required to notify the tenant that assistance is being provided (provide them with a copy of the application) on their behalf and obtain the tenant's consent (landlords must obtain the signature of the tenant which may be electronic). If a landlord or utility provider is unwilling to participate when a tenant applies for assistance, the grantee may provide funding directly to eligible households.

The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program is for rent and associated utility obligations only and may not be used by homeowners for mortgage payments or utility costs. Homeowners in need of mortgage payment assistance can apply through the Colorado-funded Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) on the same page here.

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