Affordable Housing in Colorado Springs, CO

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Colorado Springs and El Paso County — not generic Section 8 advice. CSHA's Section 8 waitlist is closed but typically runs an annual lottery opening each July (worth marking your calendar). The Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program opens a tight 3-day window June 8–10, 2026, so prepare documents now. Colorado Springs renters also have major 2024 protections under HB24-1098 — landlords now need just cause to evict or non-renew anywhere in the state.

Emergency Help Tonight in Colorado Springs

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• Springs Rescue Mission — the largest shelter system in Colorado Springs. Operates the New Life Resource Center campus (5 W. Las Vegas St.) with men's, women's, and family programs plus the Resource Advancement Center for case management and ID services. (719) 632-1822 · springsrescuemission.org
• Salvation Army R.J. Montgomery Center — emergency shelter for men, women, families, and children at 709 S. Sierra Madre St. (719) 871-4500
• Catholic Charities of Central Colorado — Marian House — soup kitchen, day services, and behavioral health linkages on the Marian House campus. (719) 866-6446 · ccharitiescc.org
• The Place (formerly Urban Peak) — youth shelter and drop-in services for ages 15–20. (719) 632-3460 · theplacecolorado.org
• TESSA — domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and 24-hour Safeline. (719) 633-3819
• Family Promise of Colorado Springs — emergency shelter network for families with minor children
• Pikes Peak United Way 211 — free 24/7 information line. Dial 211 or call (719) 632-2005
• Mercy's Gate — food, financial assistance, and case management in northern El Paso County
• Westside CARES — westside Colorado Springs basic-needs assistance and rental help
• Pikes Peak Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry — central intake for the regional homeless services system. Access through 211

For a full walkthrough, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Colorado Springs: CSHA and Surrounding Authorities

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in the Colorado Springs region are administered by several authorities. Current status (May 2026):

• Housing Authority of the City of Colorado Springs (CSHA) — the primary Section 8 administrator for the City. The HCV (Section 8) waitlist is currently closed. CSHA usually runs an annual HCV/Section 8 lottery waitlist opening each July — watch csha.us for the announcement. A current HUD directive to pause new voucher issuance is still in effect. (719) 387-6700 (dial 1 to check your existing ranking) · csha.us
• El Paso County Housing Authority — administers HCV and project-based vouchers for unincorporated El Paso County and contracting municipalities. admin.elpasoco.com/economic-development/housing-programs
• Colorado Division of Housing — statewide voucher program — administers vouchers in counties without a local PHA. doh.colorado.gov
• Specialty referrals still accepted: HUD-VASH (veterans, through the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System), Family Unification Program (FUP), Emergency Housing Vouchers (where capacity allows), Mainstream vouchers
• Public Housing waitlist: CSHA also manages a public housing portfolio with a separate waitlist. Status varies — check csha.us
• Nearby authorities to apply to simultaneously: Pueblo Housing Authority, Cañon City Housing Authority, the Colorado Division of Housing statewide program

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Colorado Springs (Named Programs)

• Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) — statewide ERAP successor administered by the Colorado Division of Housing. The 2026 application window opens Monday, June 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and closes Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. — a tight 3-day window, so prepare your documents now. doh.colorado.gov/emergency-rental-assistance
• Pikes Peak United Way — Emergency Assistance — flexible diversion grants. Access through 211 or (719) 632-2005
• Catholic Charities of Central Colorado — Family Self-Sufficiency & Emergency Assistance — rental and utility help, case management. (719) 866-6446 · ccharitiescc.org
• Energy Outreach Colorado / LEAP — utility assistance that frees cash for rent. energyoutreach.org
• Westside CARES — westside Colorado Springs eviction prevention
• Mercy's Gate — northern El Paso County emergency rent and utility assistance
• St. Vincent de Paul Society Colorado Springs — one-time emergency rental and utility help through parish conferences
• Salvation Army Colorado Springs — eviction prevention
• Office of Dispute Resolution (El Paso County) — free landlord-tenant mediation, can negotiate payment plans
• 211 — screens and routes to whichever provider has funds open this month

The City of Colorado Springs ERAP from 2022 has ended

The City of Colorado Springs Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which distributed federal ERA1 and ERA2 dollars during the pandemic, has closed. Don't waste time on the closed pandemic-era portal at coloradosprings.gov/erap. Current paths are CERA (state) and the nonprofits listed above.

Tenant Rights in Colorado (Major 2024–2025 Changes Apply in Colorado Springs)

Colorado overhauled its tenant law starting in 2021 and again in 2024. Colorado Springs tenants are covered by:

• HB24-1098 — Cause Required for Eviction (effective April 19, 2024): for the first time in Colorado history, landlords must have just cause to evict a tenant or to decline a lease renewal. Permitted reasons include nonpayment, lease violations, owner move-in, substantial rehab, and a few others. Without a permitted reason, the tenant has a defense. This applies statewide, including Colorado Springs
• 10-day notice to pay rent or vacate (C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(d)) — extended from 3 days to 10 days under HB21-1121 and SB22-088. Paying the full amount owed (plus reasonable late fees, capped under HB21-1121) within those 10 days defeats the eviction
• Late fee cap (HB21-1121, amended 2024): late fees capped at $50 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is greater. No late fee can be imposed until 7 days after the rent due date
• Security deposit return: 60 days unless the lease specifies a shorter period (minimum 30 days). Triple damages plus attorney's fees if the landlord wrongfully withholds (C.R.S. § 38-12-103)
• Habitability (Warranty of Habitability): Colorado strengthened the warranty in HB22-1137 — landlords must address mold, pest infestations, lack of heat, and other defects within 24-96 hours depending on severity, after written notice. Tenants can sue for damages plus attorney's fees
• Source-of-income protection: Colorado prohibits landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers or other lawful sources of income under C.R.S. § 24-34-502, enacted 2020. This is enforced through the Colorado Civil Rights Division
• Rent control preemption: Colorado long preempted local rent control, but HB24-1098 (2024) and the Colorado Housing for All package partially relaxed this, allowing local governments to enact certain rent-stabilization measures. Colorado Springs has not enacted local rent control as of May 2026
• Notice for no-cause termination of a month-to-month tenancy: generally 30 days, but HB24-1098 effectively requires cause
• Self-help eviction is illegal — landlords cannot lock out, shut off utilities, or remove belongings. Damages plus attorney's fees
• Eviction process: Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) actions are filed in El Paso County Court. After the 10-day notice expires, the landlord files the case; trial is held 7-14 days after service. After a tenant loss, the writ of restitution is typically issued 48 hours after judgment
• Fair housing: federal Fair Housing Act and Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (which includes source of income, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ancestry)

For free legal help: Colorado Legal Services — Colorado Springs Office at (719) 471-0380. Colorado Housing Connects helpline at 1-844-926-6632. The Office of Dispute Resolution offers free landlord-tenant mediation for El Paso County residents. For state-level details, see our Colorado housing resources.

Other Housing Programs in Colorado Springs

• Public housing: CSHA manages public-housing communities across the City. Waitlist status varies — check csha.us
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): Colorado Springs has substantial LIHTC inventory. Search the HUD LIHTC database for El Paso County properties
• HUD-VASH (veterans): Colorado Springs veterans are referred through the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and the Pikes Peak Vet Center. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care via 211 and CSHA partners
• Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) — first-time homebuyer, down-payment assistance · chfainfo.com
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions and routes you.

The CSHA Section 8 waitlist usually reopens via lottery each July — call (719) 387-6700 (dial 1) to check your existing position or watch csha.us. CERA opens a tight 3-day window June 8–10, 2026, so get your documents (lease, ID, income verification, eviction notice) ready now. If you got a 10-day notice, call Colorado Legal Services at (719) 471-0380 the same day — HB24-1098 just-cause requirements plus Colorado source-of-income protection often defeat the case outright.