Colorado has allocated $20 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to help homeowners who’ve been economically impacted by the COVID-19 national emergency. With its CARES Act money, the state set up an Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program (EHAP). This program offers financial assistance to homeowners who need help with their mortgage payments because their income has decreased or they're unable to work as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19.
EHAP provides eligible low- and moderate-income homeowners with money, paid directly to the lender, to cover mortgage payments. Housing costs in arrears starting on or after March 1, 2020, are eligible for the program. Various agencies around the state distribute the money.
If your housing payments aren’t in arrears, you can apply for the cost of one month’s worth of mortgage payments, starting with current month. The program can pay multiple months of mortgage payments, though you’ll have to reapply in future months. If you have mortgage payments in arrears, you may apply (in one application) for assistance to cover multiple past months, as well as for the current month’s cost. There is no maximum number of months of assistance available, but only one month of assistance will be distributed at a time, unless you have months in arrears. Review these guidelines to get more details on how the program works.
To qualify for mortgage relief from EHAP, you have to meet the below criteria:
To apply for EHAP, you have to go through a local agency, which will assist you with the application. Dial 211 or go to www.211colorado.org to find an agency that can help you. Or, you may click here to find an agency in the county where you live.
To learn more about EHAP, go to the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs website.
Effective date: June 9, 2020