How to Apply for CERA

There are two ways to apply for emergency rental assistance. Depending on your situation and documentation, a household may apply for both.

Monthly Random Selection

Requirements

• Your household meets all of the eligibility requirements.
• You have one of the following active eviction documents related to nonpayment of rent:
  • a demand for rent
  • a court summons/eviction notice
  • a stipulation agreement
  • a writ of restitution
  • a sheriff’s notice
  • mediation documentation
  • payment plan documentation as established by HB25-1168.

Refer to Monthly Random Selection section for full documentation requirements.

The Process

• Complete a brief pre-application during the monthly pre-application window.
• After the window closes, applicants are entered into a random selection.
• Applicants will be notified through email of their random selection result.
• Selected applicants are invited to complete a full application.

Apply for the Monthly Random Selection

Check the Emergency Rental Assistance web page for current application windows and deadlines.

Pre-applications are open for a limited time each month. If the pre-application is no longer open, you will need to wait for the next open cycle to apply. Future pre-application dates are located on the DOH calendar.

For more details about the monthly random selection requirements and process, visit the Monthly Random Selection page.

Daily Random Selection 

(Must have received a court summons/eviction notice already)

Requirements

• Your household meets all of the eligibility requirements.
• You have one of the following active eviction documents related to nonpayment of rent. Please refer to these documentation examples.
  • a court summons/eviction notice,
  • a stipulation agreement
  • a writ of restitution
  • a sheriff’s notice. 

The Process

• Call the CARE Center during open hours at (303) 838-1200 to determine if you are eligible to get on the Daily Random Selection list.
• The CARE Center will add you to the Daily Random Selection list if you are eligible to be added.
  • You will remain on that list for two weeks or until you are selected, with daily email notifications of your status. Please do not call the CARE Center for daily updates. If you are not selected after two weeks, you will receive an email letting you know. If you are still in need of emergency rental assistance, please call the CARE center to determine whether you can renew your place on the list.
• A random selection is run daily.
• Selected applicants are invited to complete a full application.

Apply for the Daily Random Selection

• Call the CARE Center: (303) 838-1200
• Open: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)

Applying to Both Monthly and Daily Random Selection

If you have received a court summons/eviction notice or documentation further along in the eviction process (a stipulation agreement, a writ of restitution, or a sheriff’s notice) due to nonpayment of rent, you may apply for both the Monthly Random Selection and the Daily Random Selection.

Households that have only received a demand for non payment of rent are not eligible to apply for the Daily Random Selection and are only eligible to apply for the Monthly Random Selection.

What to Expect if You Are Selected

If you are selected through the Monthly Random Selection or the Daily Random Selection, you will receive a selection email inviting you to complete the full CERA application in the Neighborly portal. The selection email will contain more details about what information and documentation is required for the full Neighborly application as well as the application deadline. Being selected to complete the full application does not guarantee you will receive assistance. You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit complete documentation.

What to Do if You Are Not Selected

Because more tenants apply than the program can assist, some applicants are not randomly selected to continue in the application process.

• You will receive an email explaining your selection status.
• Not being selected does not mean you were denied, and you may apply again during a future application window.
• Visit the Additional Resources page for other resources.

What Happens if You Are Selected but Do Not Qualify

You will be notified that you are ineligible.

• If you are deemed ineligible and believe the decision was made in error, you may appeal this determination to the State of Colorado’s Division of Housing. Appeal information will be provided in the email notifying you of your ineligibility, or you can receive the appeal information by calling the CARE Center.
• If you were deemed ineligible because you received emergency rental assistance from a state-administered program within the past 24 months, you can reapply after the 24 months have passed. If you are unsure when you last received assistance, you can call the CARE Center at (303) 838-1200 for more information about when you may qualify again.