Colorado organizations and government programs that help pay rent
Colorado renters can get help with rent from a mix of State of Colorado programs, statewide nonprofit organizations, and county-level charities and human services funds. Some programs serve the entire state; most other rent money is held by local agencies in each county. This page covers the statewide options first, then links to local rent assistance in each Colorado county.
Statewide rent programs and organizations in Colorado
Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA)
Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance, known as CERA, is the state's main rent fund, paid for by the Colorado Division of Housing (website: https://doh.colorado.gov/emergency-rental-assistance). Because requests are larger than the funding, applications are chosen by random selection rather than in the order received, usually once a month. Applicants generally need to be behind on rent, have an active eviction filing for nonpayment, and not have received state rental assistance in the past 24 months.
A nonprofit office called the CARE Center handles CERA applications for the whole state. Call or text (303) 838-1200, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m or see https://carecenter.us/ . Mountain time, and staff will check eligibility and help complete the application. Additional Division of Housing grants and vouchers, including options for older adults and people with disabilities, are covered on the Colorado Division of Housing rent programs page.
Colorado Housing Connects
Colorado Housing Connects, run by the nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment, is the state's housing helpline and serves every county. Staff answer in English and Spanish, match callers to rent funds in their own area, and refer renters to other resources, including free legal help. The same organization offers free tenant-landlord mediation in Denver and Adams counties. Call 1-844-926-6632; the office is at 2250 Eaton St., Garden Level, Suite B, Denver, CO 80214 or see the main website at https://coloradohousingconnects.org/.
Colorado Works Diversion payments
Families with children in a short-term crisis can ask their county human services office for a Diversion payment through Colorado Works, the state cash assistance program. Diversion is a one-time payment made instead of monthly assistance, and it can cover an urgent bill such as back rent. Applications go through the county office or the Colorado PEAK website at https://peak.my.site.com/peak/s/peak-landing-page, and it helps to ask for the option by name, since counties rarely advertise it.
Statewide charities — Salvation Army and Catholic Charities
The Salvation Army operates corps community centers across Colorado through its Intermountain Division, and many hold short-term funds for back rent and security deposits. Funding differs by location and by month, so call the nearest center first; locations and application steps are on the Salvation Army rent and deposit assistance in Colorado page. Catholic Charities also covers the state through offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, and northern Colorado, with rent and deposit help that changes with available funding.
Community action agencies
Community action agencies serve every part of Colorado through multi-county service areas, and several hold emergency rent and deposit funds alongside their utility programs. Their caseworkers often know which local funds currently have money. The agency for each region is listed on the Colorado community action agencies and local help centers page.
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
Housing Choice Vouchers in Colorado are run by dozens of local public housing authorities, and most open their waiting lists for only a few days each year. A voucher is long-term help rather than emergency rent money, and Colorado law bars most landlords from rejecting an applicant only because the rent would be paid with a voucher. Waitlist details and local authority contacts are on the Section 8 housing choice vouchers in Colorado page.
Government housing resources
Current state program windows are posted by the Colorado Division of Housing at https://doh.colorado.gov, and HUD lists every Colorado housing authority and free HUD-approved housing counselors at https://www.hud.gov/states/colorado. Dialing 211 or visiting https://www.211colorado.org/housing-and-shelter/ adds referrals to nearby rent, security deposit and utility programs, as a supplement to the contacts above.
Moderated forum — Colorado residents share what worked
Colorado renters have used the moderated community forum to compare notes on the programs above, including how long CERA selection took and which local agencies had funds that month. It is a practical look at how the programs work from people who have used them. Read the discussion or post your own question in the NHPB forum thread discussing rent help in Colorado.
Rent and deposit help in each Colorado county
Local charities, churches, and county human services offices hold their own rent and deposit funds. Select your county or city below for local agencies, phone numbers, and application details.
Adams County and Thornton
Arapahoe County
Boulder County and City
Colorado Springs and El Paso County
Denver City and County
Fort Collins and Lancaster County
Jefferson County
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