The City and County of Denver has announced it received nearly $22M in federal Emergency Rental Assistance. The Emergency Rental Assistance program will provide financial assistance to families that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Treasury and will be administered by Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST). The funds 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. 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 the remaining funds can be used for administrative costs and housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed.
Funds are available to renter individuals and families who earn up to $54,950 for a single-person household or $78,500 for a family of four. 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 $35,950 for a single-person household, or up to $50,000 for a household of four are to be prioritized for assistance.
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.
City and County of Denver residents currently seeking rental and utility assistance may call 3-1-1 and select option six. A local nonprofit partner will be assigned to eligible callers. Callers will be asked to provide basic information such as their address. They will also need to provide the following information:- 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)
Related story: Caring for Denver Foundation Implements COVID-19 Relief Fund 
By Kelly Mutz
