Shared by our partners at Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST). For details specific to this article, please contact HOST’s Communications Manager, Derek Woodbury, at derek.woodbury@denvergov.org.
DENVER – The City and County of Denver is receiving nearly $22M in federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds from the US. Department of Treasury.
Launched by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Emergency Rental Assistance program makes available financial assistance to families that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to 90 percent of the funding can be used for rent, utilities and home energy costs, back rent, utilities and home energy costs, and other expenses related to housing. Up to 10 percent of remaining funds are available for administrative costs and housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed.
The new program will complement Denver’s locally funded Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance program as well as a similar program deployed with federal Coronavirus Relief Funds last year. Together, these programs served more than 2,100 unique households between March-December 2020.
The Emergency Rental Assistance program will be administered by Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST). The U.S. Department of Treasury is working to issue further guidance regarding the requirements of the Emergency Rental Assistance program. The city is reviewing program guidelines, potential partnerships and determining the next steps for deploying funds into the community.
The Emergency Rental Assistance program will be available to renter individuals and families earning up to 80 percent of the area median income (up to $54,950 for a single-person household, or up to $78,500 for a family of four). To qualify, households must include at least one member who qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19. Households must also demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Eligible households that include an individual who has been unemployed for the 90 days prior to application for assistance and households with income at or below 50 percent of the area median income (up to $35,950 for a single-person household, or up to $50,000 for a household of four) are to be prioritized for assistance.
City and County of Denver residents currently seeking rental and utility assistance may call 3-1-1 and select option 6.
- Callers will be asked some basic questions, such as their address
- A local nonprofit partner will be assigned to assist eligible callers
- Callers will be asked to provide:
- Proof of household income
- Proof of City and County of Denver residency
- Proof of rent, mortgage and/or utilities due or in arrears
- Information about how COVID-19 caused/contributed to the housing crisis (job loss, potential eviction, and/or shutoff notice)
