Section 8 housing in Colorado is maintained and funded through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and on the state level, local housing authority agencies qualify applicants, maintain waiting lists, and distribute subsidies through various affordable housing programs. The largest CO county Section 8 program is located in Denver, where more than 10,000 low income house rentals are managed within the program.

Colorado Section 8 low income housing is based on income guidelines that are set by the federal government and adjusted by each county in Colorado. Eligible Section 8 applicants must make 50 percent less than the average salary in their area. The median salaries for each Colorado county is listed online, and potential applicants for Section 8 are urged to consider their combined family income when looking at the income requirements. Approval from a local housing authority for Section 8 in CO is based on the combined income of the entire family, not only the applicant.

Qualified Section 8 applicants will receive housing choice vouchers through one of two programs. These programs, called tenant-based and project-based, apply vouchers in different ways. While it is the HUD who oversees all Section 8 activity, local Colorado housing authority agencies are the ones to disburse the housing vouchers. The tenant-based plan allows the renter to secure low income house rentals in the private sector. Project-based low income housing programs offer properties that have been set aside only for low-income use. If the renter decides to move while in this type of program, the benefits will not transfer. Additionally, some tenant-based Section 8 programs allow renters to use the housing vouchers toward the purchase of their rental. However, not all Colorado counties offer this feature. The Section 8 housing programs will only cover 70 percent of the rent, with the difference being the responsibility of the renters.

Section 8 housing in Colorado is also contingent upon qualification in other areas, such as family composition, family background and history, criminal records, and former rental records. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony are not necessarily prohibited from applying for low income housing, but their criminal record, as well as the time and severity of the crime(s), will impact the application. Those who are registered sexual offenders are ineligible to apply under any circumstances, as are those who have been convicted of producing and selling illegal substances.

Learn the Requirements for Section 8 in Colorado

It is a common theme amongst first-time Section 8 applicants to wonder “What are the qualifications for low income housing in Colorado?” and “Do I qualify for Section 8 housing in my county?” as they scan the list of requirements. Interested parties are encouraged to accurately determine their Section 8 eligibility before starting the application process. Section 8 eligibility in Colorado includes three levels of qualification-local, state, and federal-that an applicant must meet before they can receive low income housing benefits. There are also three categories that all requirements for Section 8 eligibility fall into: income, residency/household, and background checks.

Learn How to Apply for Section 8 in Colorado

In order to register for Section 8 housing programs in Colorado, applicants must determine if they meet certain eligibility conditions required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and their local housing authority. The HUD Section 8 application requires that housing authorities in Colorado request financial information, family composition data, and background checks on all applicants for Section 8 housing vouchers. If applicants fail to meet these requirements, then their HUD Section 8 application will be denied. Understanding how to apply for Section 8 housing in CO is important because each enrollment period hundreds of HUD Section 8 applications are rejected due to inaccuracies, or errors on the forms.

Learn About Section 8 Waiting Lists in Colorado

The Section 8 housing program application waiting list in Colorado fluctuates between open and closed status. CO low income housing waiting lists are subject to change without prior warning, therefore, those who are considering applying for Section 8 housing are advised to act quickly once a waiting list opens in their area. Each Colorado housing authority agency maintains its own low income housing waiting lists, and opens or closes them depending on rental unit vacancies. Colorado residents cannot arbitrarily ask to be admitted to the Section 8 waiting list 2017, but rather must go through the HUD Section 8 application process first. Through this application process, the state ensures that those on the Section 8 housing program application waiting list meet certain eligibility criteria as set forth by both the federal and state governments.

Learn About Section 8 Denial in Colorado

Section 8 denial letters are delivered to many applicants every week in Colorado. Applicants who have had their application rejected will undoubtedly wonder, “What are the reasons for Section 8 denial in CO?” For rejected applicants, “How to appeal Section 8 denial” is also likely to cross their mind. Due to the rigorous application process of the Section 8 low income housing program, there are many reasons why an applicant might receive a Section 8 denial letter in Colorado. Common reasons range from applications that have been incorrectly completed to failing a criminal background evaluation.