English

Colorado Extends Eviction Protection for some Colorado Tenants

PENDING APPLICANTS FROM THE ERAP TO RECEIVE BENEFITS

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

Haga click aquí para leer la versión en español

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has extended various eviction protections for residents still waiting on rent assistance. The order issued by Polis only benefits those awaiting a response to their requests from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), a local initiative that serves tenants who cannot pay their rents due to financial problems caused by COVID-19.

Under the new Polis order, landlords must give their tenants a 30-day notice before filing an eviction action against them in court. In the previous order, landlords only gave their tenants about 10 days to receive rent payments and afterword they could start the eviction process.

The ERAP has been offering support to distressed tenants for up to 15 months in the form of rent payments. The program has experienced delays since its launch, however. “The demand for this state and federal aid has been immense, and these programs need time to help tenants,” says Governor Polis’ new ordinance.

DOLA Report

Congress allocated $690 million to Colorado for the rental assistance program through two pieces of legislation. The Colorado Sun revealed that to date, less than 5 percent of those federal funds have been paid to renters. Officials with the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) blamed the delays on fraud but declined to provide details on the extent of that fraud.

“Both landlords and tenants should stay in close contact regarding their requests, and landlords should refrain from evicting their tenants for non-payment while they seek help,” said Rick Garcia, Executive Director of DOLA. Colorado has paid or approved $121 million in housing assistance to 36,858 households.