Last updated: July 14, 2026
Bottom line
Colorado does not have one housing program only for single mothers. Help is usually based on income, household size, rent owed, eviction risk, disability, veteran status, safety concerns, or where you live.
Start with 2-1-1 Colorado for shelter, rent, deposit, food, and utility referrals near your ZIP code. If you have an eviction court summons, call or text the CARE Center at 303-838-1200 and contact legal help the same day. For a wider list of state programs, use the ASMOM Colorado help guide as a second checklist.
If you need housing help today
- Immediate danger: Call 911 if you or a child may be harmed.
- No safe place tonight: Call 2-1-1 or use the HUD shelter finder to look for shelters, food, health care, and clothing resources.
- Eviction court papers: Call or text the CARE Center at 303-838-1200, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Also use the eviction legal help page to check free clinic and intake options.
- Abuse or stalking: Use a safer phone or device when possible. The Colorado survivor map lists local programs. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788.
For more crisis steps, read the ASMOM Colorado emergency guide before making a backup plan.
Where to start in Colorado
Work on more than one path at the same time. A rent program may be closed, a shelter may be full, or a housing list may take months. Start with the most urgent problem, then build a longer-term plan.
Rent is late
Call 2-1-1 and check the state rental page. Ask about city, county, church, Community Action, deposit, moving, and utility funds.
You have court papers
Call CARE and legal aid now. Do not miss the return date or court date while you wait for rental assistance.
You need lower rent
Apply to every real open housing authority or property waitlist that fits your family. Keep proof of each application.
You may lose housing
Ask 2-1-1 about family shelter, coordinated entry, rapid rehousing, motel help, and school support for children.
The ASMOM national housing guide explains the main housing systems in simple terms.
Quick reference
| Your problem | Best first step | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Eviction summons | CARE Center and legal aid | Rent help does not stop court by itself. |
| Demand for unpaid rent | State and local rent programs | Programs may use short application windows. |
| No place tonight | 2-1-1 and shelter intake | Family shelter space may be limited. |
| Need cheaper housing | Housing authorities and property lists | Waitlists may be closed or long. |
| Utility shutoff risk | LEAP or energy assistance | LEAP is seasonal, and other funds vary. |
| Unsafe relationship | Confidential survivor advocate | Use a safer device if monitoring is a concern. |
Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance
The Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance program may help eligible renters who are behind on rent and at risk of eviction or displacement. It is not a general monthly rent benefit, and selection does not guarantee payment.
Current status: As of July 14, 2026, the official Colorado rental page says monthly pre-applications are not being accepted. The page still shows a past February 2026 window as the next date, so call or text CARE and recheck the page instead of relying on that old date.
Who may qualify
The state lists several main rules. Applicants must live in Colorado, have a valid Colorado lease, have household income at or below 60% of the area median income, and show a risk of eviction or displacement. The household must also lack another way to cover the rent and generally must not have received state-run ERAP, TRAG, or CERA rent help during the past 24 months.
The program also asks about a major event that hurt the household’s ability to pay, such as lost income, a health event, a death in the family, domestic abuse, or a large unexpected cost. Rules and acceptable proof can change, so confirm them on the state page before applying.
How the two entry paths work
| Entry path | Who can use it | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly random selection | Renters with accepted demand, mediation, or court documents during an open window | A short pre-application window opens. Selected households get an email invitation to complete a full application. |
| CARE daily selection | Renters with an eviction court summons | Call or text 303-838-1200 to ask about the daily random selection list. |
The state says the program is not first-come, first-served. If selected, you normally have seven days to complete the full application and send all required proof. The maximum award is the lesser of seven months of rent or $10,000, though the state says exceptions may be reviewed case by case. The award is based on the amount needed to stabilize the household and is not ongoing rent support.
Gather your full demand notice or summons, lease, ID, income proof, rent ledger, and contact details for your landlord. The ASMOM documents checklist can help you organize the file.
Eviction legal help
An eviction is a court case. This section gives general information, not legal advice. Read every page you receive and note the return date, court location, case number, amount claimed, and any answer deadline.
The Colorado Judicial Branch has current forms and instructions on its residential eviction page. Colorado Legal Services offers free housing help for some low-income renters and has courthouse eviction clinics in several counties. Clinic locations and hours can change, so check before going.
Colorado Housing Connects also helps renters find eviction prevention, landlord-tenant, and housing resources. Its statewide housing line is 844-926-6632.
Do not assume rent help ends the case
Keep every court date unless the court or your lawyer tells you otherwise. A pending application, landlord promise, or partial payment may not cancel a hearing. Use the ASMOM Colorado legal guide for more legal starting points.
Housing vouchers and affordable apartments
Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing
Housing Choice Vouchers, often called Section 8, help eligible households rent from private landlords. Public housing is owned or managed through a public housing agency. Local agencies set waitlist rules and review income, family size, and other eligibility details.
Use the HUD Colorado page or the housing agency finder to locate agencies. Ask which voucher, public housing, project-based voucher, and property waitlists are open. There is no fee to join a real public housing authority waitlist.
Waitlists can close with little notice. Apply to more than one open list, update your address and phone number, and save your confirmation number. The ASMOM Section 8 guide explains what to expect.
Income-restricted apartments
Not every lower-rent apartment requires a voucher. Colorado Housing Search lets you search free by rent, city, bedroom size, accessibility needs, and other details. The CHFA rental page also points to affordable property lists.
Call each property before paying a fee. Ask about vacancies, waitlists, income limits, deposits, screening rules, voucher acceptance, and reasonable accommodations. A listing is not a promise that the unit is open or that your application will be approved.
Local housing help by area
Colorado housing help changes by city and county. The programs below are useful examples, but you should still call 2-1-1 for options tied to your exact ZIP code.
| Area | Current starting point | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | Denver rent help | TRUA is closed on July 14, 2026. The city plans a short opening from 10 a.m. July 21 through 9:59 a.m. July 22, subject to funding changes. A current demand or eviction document is required. |
| Boulder | Boulder EPRAS | City residents facing eviction can ask about legal help, mediation, and possible financial help. Call 303-441-3414. |
| Colorado Springs | Springs housing resources | The city says it does not give direct housing help. It provides a resource list and tells residents to call 2-1-1. |
| Aurora | Aurora housing services | Use the city housing locator and Aurora Housing Authority for affordable rentals. The city directs eviction prevention questions to Colorado Legal Services. |
Help with other bills that protects rent money
Housing may become more stable when food, cash, child care, or energy costs go down. Use Colorado PEAK to apply for or manage SNAP, cash assistance, health coverage, and other benefits.
Colorado Works is the state TANF program. It may provide eligible families with cash assistance and work or training support. Check the official Colorado Works page and the ASMOM Colorado TANF guide before applying.
For groceries and nutrition support, review the ASMOM Colorado SNAP guide and Colorado WIC guide. For child care that may help you keep work or attend appointments, use the Colorado child care guide.
Colorado’s 2025-26 LEAP heating season ended April 30, 2026. Check the official LEAP page for the next season. If you have a past-due or disconnected energy bill now, ask Energy Outreach Colorado about current partner-agency funds. The ASMOM Colorado utility guide lists more starting points.
Housing safety, school help, and fair housing rights
If abuse affects housing
A local domestic violence advocate can discuss confidential shelter, relocation, and housing options. Federal VAWA protections may apply to people applying for or living in certain federally assisted housing programs. The HUD VAWA page explains covered programs and forms. Use the ASMOM Colorado safety guide for more state resources.
If your child has unstable housing
Children may qualify for McKinney-Vento school support when they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime home. This can include staying in a shelter, motel, car, campground, or doubled-up home because housing was lost. Every district has a liaison. Use the Colorado school liaison page to find help with enrollment, school stability, and related needs.
If you face discrimination
The Fair Housing Act protects people during renting, buying, mortgage, and housing-assistance activities. Familial status includes households with children and pregnancy. If you think you were treated differently for a protected reason, use the HUD complaint page or ask legal aid about your options.
Homebuyer and homeowner help
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority homebuyers who use an eligible CHFA first mortgage may also use a grant or second mortgage option for down payment or closing costs. These programs have lender, income, credit, property, and education rules. Start with the official CHFA down payment page, then compare it with the ASMOM Colorado homebuyer guide.
Rural very-low-income homeowners may be able to use the USDA Section 504 repair program. Loans can help repair or modernize a home, while grants are limited to eligible homeowners age 62 or older for health and safety hazards. Check the Colorado repair program before assuming a property or household qualifies.
Documents and information to gather
Call first if you are in danger or have nowhere to sleep. For applications, gather what you have and ask what can be submitted later.
| Item | Why it may help |
|---|---|
| Photo ID | Confirms identity for rent help, benefits, shelter, or legal intake. |
| Lease | Shows the address, rent, landlord, and household agreement. |
| Demand or summons | Shows eviction risk, dates, and court details. |
| Rent ledger | Shows payments, fees, past-due rent, and the current balance. |
| Income proof | May include pay stubs, benefit letters, unemployment, or other income. |
| Household details | Names, birth dates, and documents for people living with you. |
| Utility notices | Shows shutoff, disconnection, or past-due amounts. |
| Application records | Save emails, screenshots, dates, names, and confirmation numbers. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing court: Keep the court date even if rent help is pending.
- Paying waitlist fees: A public housing authority does not charge to join a voucher waitlist.
- Using old dates: Rental windows change quickly. Check the official page on the day you apply.
- Applying once: Use several real housing, benefit, and legal paths at the same time.
- Ignoring messages: Programs may give short deadlines for missing documents.
- Paying repeated apartment fees: Ask about vacancies and screening rules before applying.
If help is denied, delayed, or closed
Ask for the reason in writing. Find out whether the result means you were not selected, were found ineligible, or were denied because documents were missing. These are not always the same.
For CERA, a household that is not selected may apply again during a later open cycle. If a selected household is denied, follow the appeal directions in the notice. Save the notice, application number, uploaded files, and every email.
If a housing authority or benefit office closes your case, ask about review, appeal, grievance, or a corrected-document process. The ASMOM benefits problem guide explains practical recordkeeping steps.
When rent money is not open, ask 2-1-1 about family shelter, rapid rehousing access, deposit help, food, transportation, diapers, and local Community Action services. If you are moving into an empty home, the ASMOM Colorado furniture guide may help with basic items.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling 2-1-1
“Hi, I live in [ZIP code] and have [number] children. I need help with [rent, shelter, deposit, or utilities]. Can you check current programs, family shelter, legal aid, and backup options near me?”
Calling the CARE Center
“Hi, I am behind on rent and I have a [demand notice or court summons]. Is there a CERA path open for my situation? What documents should I send, and what deadline should I write down?”
Calling a housing authority
“Hi, are any Housing Choice Voucher, public housing, project-based voucher, or property waitlists open? How do I get alerts, and how should I report a change of address?”
Calling legal aid
“Hi, I received eviction papers. My return date or court date is [date]. Can someone review the papers, tell me what deadlines apply, and check whether a courthouse clinic is available?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita ayuda de vivienda en Colorado, llame al 2-1-1 para buscar refugio, ayuda con la renta, depósitos, comida y servicios públicos cerca de su código postal. Si tiene una citación de la corte por desalojo, llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al CARE Center al 303-838-1200 y busque ayuda legal. No falte a la corte mientras espera ayuda con la renta.
La solicitud mensual de CERA aparece cerrada al 14 de julio de 2026. Revise la página oficial y llame al CARE Center porque las fechas pueden cambiar. Si hay violencia o acecho, use un teléfono seguro si es posible y llame al 800-799-7233.
FAQs
Is there special housing help for single mothers in Colorado?
Most programs are not only for single mothers. You may qualify based on income, household size, eviction risk, disability, safety needs, veteran status, or local rules.
Is Colorado rental assistance open now?
As of July 14, 2026, the state CERA page says monthly pre-applications are closed. People with an eviction court summons can call or text CARE at 303-838-1200 about the daily selection path.
How much can CERA pay?
The state lists a maximum of seven months of rent or $10,000, whichever is less. The actual amount depends on the approved need, available funds, and program rules.
Where do I apply for Section 8 in Colorado?
Apply through a local public housing agency when its list is open. HUD’s Colorado page and housing agency finder can help you locate agencies and current contact details.
Can rental assistance stop an eviction?
It may help pay rent, but it does not automatically stop a court case. Keep all court dates and contact legal aid as soon as you receive eviction papers.
What can I do if no rent program is open?
Call 2-1-1 for shelter, local rent funds, food, utilities, deposit help, and Community Action referrals. Also apply for benefits that may lower other household bills.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified July 14, 2026, next review October 14, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.