Quick answer
Colorado’s rent relief program is CERA, from the Colorado Division of Housing. It helps renters at or below 60% of area median income who are behind on rent, have an eviction-related document for nonpayment, have had a significant life event, and have not received state rental assistance in the last 24 months. The maximum is $15,000 per household. You get in two ways: the Monthly Random Selection (the November pre-application window ran from Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, November 6 at 5:00 p.m.; DOH had not posted the December dates as of November 7) or the Daily Random Selection by phone through the CARE Center, (303) 838-1200, if you already have a court summons or later-stage eviction document. Denver residents can also try the city’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance program. Applying is free.
Key facts
- Who runs it: the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing (DOH).
- Income: at or below 60% of area median income for your county.
- Maximum: $15,000 per household, with case-by-case exceptions; covers short-term rent and associated fees, sometimes relocation.
- 24-month rule: no CERA, ERAP, TRAG, or EMAP lot-rent assistance in the last 24 months.
- Selection: random, not first come; monthly online pre-application windows plus a daily phone selection for households with a court summons or later eviction document.
Table of contents
What is the Colorado rent relief program?
CERA is the state’s emergency rental assistance fund. The Division of Housing describes it on its CERA page as funding for Coloradans who have fallen behind on rent, meet income limits and other qualifying factors, and are at risk of eviction or displacement, and it says plainly that there is more demand than funds available. The maximum total a household can receive is $15,000, with exceptions considered case by case; the money covers rent on a short-term basis and may cover associated fees needed to prevent displacement, and in some cases relocation assistance. Payments go to the landlord.
CERA is not the pandemic program. Colorado’s federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and the earlier Temporary Rental Assistance Grant ended; the U.S. Treasury states that the ERA2 period of performance closed September 30, 2025, on its ERA page. CERA continues with state funding, which is why it is smaller and uses a lottery.
Who qualifies for CERA
According to DOH’s eligibility page, all of the following must be true:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| You rent your primary residence in Colorado | Apartment, house, mobile home, or mobile home lot, with a valid lease |
| Income at or below 60% of AMI | Area median income for your county; DOH links the current table |
| No state rental assistance in 24 months | Not from CERA, ERAP, TRAG, or EMAP (lot rent) |
| Past due with an eviction-related document | An active or recently active document for nonpayment of rent (list below) |
| A significant life event | Health or mental health event, loss or reduction of income, a death in the family, fleeing domestic abuse, or a large unexpected expense such as car repairs |
The program never charges a fee and does not verify identity by text message; treat any message that asks for payment or personal details by text as a scam.
Monthly and daily random selections explained
Every applicant must be selected before completing a full application. There are two doors:
- Monthly Random Selection. Online pre-applications open for a few days each month. The November window opened Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and closed Friday, November 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. The December window had not been announced when we checked on November 7, so watch the DOH page in late November and early December. Households selected are invited to submit a full application. Any of the eviction documents below qualifies, including a demand for rent.
- Daily Random Selection. For households further along in eviction, the CARE Center runs a daily phone selection, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (303) 838-1200. Only a court summons or eviction notice, an eviction answer, a stipulation agreement, a writ of restitution, or a sheriff’s notice qualifies; a demand for rent alone, mediation papers, or an HB25-1168 payment plan does not.
Selection is random, so being first in line does not help, but missing a window does hurt. Put the window dates in your phone the day you fall behind.
Eviction documents that count
| Document | Monthly selection | Daily selection |
|---|---|---|
| Demand for rent (10-day notice) | Yes | No |
| Court summons or eviction notice | Yes | Yes |
| Eviction answer | Yes | Yes |
| Stipulation agreement | Yes | Yes |
| Writ of restitution | Yes | Yes |
| Sheriff’s notice | Yes | Yes |
| Mediation documentation | Yes | No |
| HB25-1168 payment plan (survivors of violence) | Yes | No |
A document is “active” when the eviction case is still in progress or the demand is unresolved. Keep copies of everything, and bring the lease, ID, and proof of income for the last 30 days to the full application.
If CERA cannot help
- 2-1-1 Colorado. DOH itself points people facing homelessness or eviction to 2-1-1 Colorado, a confidential, multilingual service that links residents to shelter, food, rental assistance, and health care. County and charity rent funds appear and disappear monthly; 211 has the current list.
- Denver residents: the city’s Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance (TRUA) program, linked from the CERA page.
- Free legal help. Colorado funds eviction legal defense; Colorado Legal Services and local right-to-counsel programs represent low-income tenants. Ask 211 or the CARE Center.
- Energy help to free up cash. Colorado’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) begins accepting applications November 1, 2026, for households up to 60% of state median income; call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) or apply through your county human services office. See our Colorado utility relief guide.
- Colorado Works (TANF), SNAP, and Health First Colorado through PEAK or your county; estimate SNAP with our SNAP calculator.
- Homelessness prevention funded by HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants, through coordinated entry; HUD Exchange lists prevention and rapid re-housing among ESG’s uses in its program requirements.
Watch out: CERA, DOH, and 211 never charge to apply and never ask you to verify identity by text. Sites selling a “Colorado rent relief application” are scams.
How to apply, step by step
- Check your income against 60% AMI for your county and confirm you have not had state rental help in 24 months.
- Gather documents: lease, eviction document, ID, income proof, and a short explanation of your life event.
- If you have a court summons or later document, call the CARE Center at (303) 838-1200 for the Daily Random Selection.
- Otherwise, submit a pre-application during the next monthly window (the November window closed November 6, 2026; December dates not yet posted as of November 7) at doh.colorado.gov.
- At the same time, dial 2-1-1, ask for legal aid, and talk to your landlord about holding off while the application is reviewed.
Applying is free. CERA, the CARE Center, 2-1-1 Colorado, counties, and legal aid never charge.
For more specifics, see our guides on Colorado hardship programs and emergency rent relief by state.
Related guides
- Colorado assistance programs
- Programs that help pay rent
- Catholic Charities rental assistance
- Salvation Army rental assistance
Frequently asked questions
Is the Colorado rent relief program still open in 2026?
Yes. CERA is open through random selection: a monthly online pre-application window (the November window ran November 4–6, 2026; December dates were not yet posted as of November 7) and a daily phone selection through the CARE Center at (303) 838-1200 for households with a court summons or later eviction document.
How much does CERA pay?
Up to $15,000 per household, with case-by-case exceptions, for short-term rent and fees needed to prevent displacement. Payment goes to the landlord.
What is the income limit for Colorado rent relief?
Household income at or below 60% of the area median income for your county. DOH links the current AMI table on its eligibility page.
Can I get CERA more than once?
Not within 24 months of receiving state-administered rental assistance from CERA, ERAP, TRAG, or EMAP lot rent.
Do I need an eviction notice to apply?
Yes. For the monthly selection a demand for rent is enough; for the daily selection you need a court summons, eviction answer, stipulation, writ of restitution, or sheriff’s notice.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on October 25, 2026. If a source and this page ever disagree, follow the source.
- Colorado Division of Housing: Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA)
- Colorado Division of Housing: CERA eligibility
- U.S. Treasury: Emergency Rental Assistance program status
- Colorado Department of Human Services: Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- eCFR: Emergency Solutions Grants program requirements
- 2-1-1 Colorado
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice, and not an application. CERA windows and limits change; confirm with the Division of Housing. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
