(COLORADO) — In news across Colorado, applications are now open for anyone who might need help paying their rent.
The average renter pays more than seventeen hundred dollars a month in the Pikes Peak region, which is why so many people are struggling to pay.
“In 2023 We saw in some parts of the States, some part of the state evictions escalate, and we saw greater eviction rates in the last year than any other year in the past,” said Parick Noonan, Housing Connects Program Director.
This is why The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) opened a second round of rental assistance applications. The grant will provide thirty million dollars in temporary assistance to Coloradans who are at risk of eviction, or displacement, or who meet specific income limits.
“We’ve seen Colorado become a desirable place to live over the last number of years. Rents have gone up year over year and wages simply haven’t kept up,” says Noonan.
The window to sign up is short, it is only five days long. It began on March 15 and will end at 5 p.m. on March 20. The pre-application process will start on the fifteenth day of each month, while funds are available, all funds must be spent by June 30, 2024.
“The challenge that we’re seeing right now is driven by a couple of different things; it’s high rent rates, it’s inflationary pressures, it’s low housing supply,” said Noonan.
After the pre-application period, DOLA will conduct a random selection process to invite individuals to complete a full application on their website. The department will continue to prioritize applicants experiencing eviction who have a verified court summons, but having a court summons is not a requirement to apply.
“The pre-application is only open for five days. Somebody has to apply between the 15th and the 20th and if they’re applications selected through the lottery, then they’ll have the opportunity to submit a full application to potentially get some assistance,” said Noonan.
During the random selection process, the timing of submission does not impact an applicant’s chance of receiving rental assistance. Submitting a pre-application earlier does not increase the likelihood of rental assistance. All eligible applicants who submit a pre-application by 5:00 p.m. on March 20, 2024, will be entered into the random selection process.
