Emergency Rental Assistance Program

What is happening?

For the past 20 months, the State of Colorado through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program has provided assistance to more than 36,000 households. The goal of the program has been to mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people who were at an increased risk of losing their housing due to challenges with paying rent, as many people found their jobs eliminated or paused.  This one-time short-term temporary program kept people housed and allowed landlords to catch up on their mortgages.  

To ensure the total applications submitted does not exceed the amount of funds available in the program, the State stopped accepting applications on November 15, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Note that submitting an application prior to the aforementioned deadlines does not guarantee payment, but submitted applications that are currently being reviewed will continue to be processed until all program funds have been awarded and disbursed.

Why will the funding be ending? 

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program was designed as a short-term, time-limited response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and the economic hardship it created for many households. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program was funded through two federal bills (H.R. 133 and H.R. 1319), both of which have fixed end-dates and neither of which are known to be included in future federal budgets. Therefore, when the emergency rental assistance funds are fully expended, the program will end.

How long are the emergency rental assistance funds available?

To ensure the total applications submitted does not exceed the amount of funds available in the program, the State has stopped accepting applications on November 15, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. No new applications or additional funding requests are being accepted after this date. 

Note that submitting an application or request for additional funding prior to the aforementioned deadlines does not guarantee payment, but submitted applications that are currently being reviewed will continue to be processed until all program funds have been awarded and disbursed.
 

Does this impact everyone in the state or is it by county?

Cities or counties within Colorado who are considered larger jurisdictions (have a population of 200,000 or more) did receive their own emergency rental assistance allocations from the US Treasury.

Each jurisdiction has administered and expended their funds at various rates. Therefore, some jurisdictions have more funding available than others and/or the State. 

Because the Department of Local Affairs Emergency Rental Assistance Program is covering the majority of the balance of the state residents, Colorado’s funds were spent more quickly than individual jurisdictions.  

Follow up-to-date instructions from specific county websites regarding local and state allocation availability. If your jurisdiction/county’s application portal is open, they may still be accepting applications. If it is listed as a “closed” jurisdiction, there are no additional funds available for your area.

What counties still have emergency rental assistance funds available? 

At this time, Boulder and Larimer Counties continue to have funding available for residents of their respective counties. The City and County of Denver continues to have assistance for first-time applicants. Applicants are encouraged to contact these jurisdictions directly to verify the availability of funding.

Who is eligible for additional rounds of emergency rental assistance?

As of November 15, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. the State stopped accepting all applications. 

How long does it take for applications to be processed?

This is a constantly fluctuating number as applications move through the processing timeline. Currently, applications are taking on average 6-8 weeks to approve and issue payment, depending on the completeness of the applications and how often our reviewers need to follow-up for additional information. 

What additional resources are available to people facing housing instability?

Many local cities and counties and their nonprofit partners have local resources available to assist residents facing housing instability. However, no jurisdiction, nor the State of Colorado, has access to the unprecedented levels of funding that have seen with the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Rent will continue to be due according to your lease without subsidy or assistance as this program sunsets.

Do you foresee future federal emergency rental assistance funding?

At this time, Congress has not approved any additional rounds of emergency rental assistance funding. 

The Department of Local Affairs also has the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, will this impact this program?

No, the funding sources for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program are completely separate.
 

Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program

What if my tenant moved out and did not pay rent?

Emergency rental assistance through this program is only available if the tenant is still living at the property.

What if my landlord will not do their part of the application?

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program encourages tenants to complete their portion of the application and enter in their landlord’s phone number and email address. Program personnel will contact them and ask them to apply. If they still will not participate you will have documentation that you did your part to receive assistance.

What is Application Prioritization?

Applications are prioritized by the following criteria, when this information is available:

• Households which have received an eviction summons (Forcible Entry and Detainer) and these notices have been provided to the reviewer.
• Households whose income is at or below 50% Area Median Income (AMI).
• Households where one or more household members were unemployed for at least 90 days prior to the date of application and adequate documentation has been provided.
   

Can tenants continue to apply for emergency rental assistance? What is the recertification process?

The State stopped accepting additional funding requests (recertifications) on October 21, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. and will stop accepting new applications on November 15, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

If you have a Forcible Entry and Detainer court summons for eviction, please contact the CARE center to explore options. Call or text  1-888-480-0066, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. mountain time, and on Saturdays 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

How does a landlord get paid?

Applications approved by the State for emergency rental assistance will be paid using a third-party payment processing company. 

This payment processor specializes in sending ePayments and checks to the needed destination. It is important to note that the state also partners with non-profit organizations to help with the rental assistance program. If your application is reviewed and processed by one of those partners, the payment will come from that organization. 

Will all payments come from a third party vendor?

The State also partners with non-profit organizations to help with the rental assistance program. If your application is reviewed and processed by one of those partners, the payment will come from that organization. 

When should landlords expect payment after receiving a tenant approval letter?

On average, payment takes ten (10) days from approval to receive payment.

Is payment sent out in one large lump sum?

Payments are sent in one of two ways, depending on the processing agency.  The entire amount (including arrears and prospective rent) may be included in one check, or the amounts may be broken into two checks. 

Refunding overpayment information? Where should the check be sent back to?

If a landlord received an overpayment, then payment will need to be refunded in the same form received. Landlords should reach out to Maria Stein for instructions for repayment. maria.stein@state.co.us.

If a landlord receives an overpayment can they apply to another tenant case or can they apply to move out balance (tenant damages)? 

No, payments are to be applied only to the tenant residing in the unit. The funds are not to cover damages or move out fees. An overpayment refund would need to be sent back to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. 
 

What do certain statuses mean?

Application in Progress - Applicant has started an application, but has not submitted it for review.

Application Submitted - Application has been completed and submitted to Neighborly. Awaiting a reviewer to be assigned to the case. 

Application Under Review – Reviewer is assigned and is working on the file 

Pending Applicant Information – Case has completed the initial review and is waiting for landlord or tenant to complete a task assignment or make corrections to application. 

Pending Property Ownership Verification – Ownership documentation is needed from the landlord and/or property management company. 

Reviewer Denied – Case was denied based on eligibility; tenant and/or landlord may appeal the decision. 

Hold – Further review required by the team.   

Submitted to QC Review – Application was sent to our Quality Control  (QC) team for final review and draw submission. 

Approved Pending Payment – Tenant Case was approved, awaiting payment to be disbursed. 

Approved Pending Landlord – Waiting on landlord to add the tenant to Section B- Tenant Information, Landlord application has not been approved yet, Property Records/Colorado Secretary of State information does not match Landlord Information Section, or other items needed from the landlord to proceed. 

 
What documents can landlords provide for property ownership? 

Property Ownership Documents

• Tax forms
• Deed
• Property Management Agreement

Why are there duplicate tenant applications on their account?

Only one landlord application is required per property. Program personnel will link all of the tenants to the one landlord application as long as payment should go to the EIN on the landlord application. 

Please make sure to advise tenants to only submit one application to Neighborly. Program personnel are unable to link the cases together or delete from the Neighborly system. 

What should a landlord do when the payment cleared the bank account but they have not gotten the payment? 

Please contact your financial institution. 

How do I download and fill out the Colorado W-9 Form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)

• Colorado W-9 Form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) 
• Colorado W-9 form Instructions

Common W-9 Questions:   

• A Physical Address needs to be listed on the W-9 form. A PO Box can only stand alone on a W-9 form if the PO Box was used to register with the Colorado Secretary of State. 
• Landlords who provide an SSN on their W-9 form will need to verify property ownership. 
• Information provided on the Property Appraisal Website and Colorado Secretary of State Website must be updated and match the information provided on the Landlord Application and W-9 forms. 
• Guidelines regarding tenant eviction after payment distributed by the Emergency Rental Assistance Program have been received.