Single women in Colorado may qualify for federal or state housing programs.
The State of Colorado does not offer housing grants or housing programs specifically for single women. However, single women living in Colorado may qualify for housing assistance through federal and state programs that extend eligibility to all qualified residents. Programs sponsored by the federal government offer rent subsidies and affordable housing for low-income Colorado residents living in urban and rural areas. Local home buyer programs provide low- or no-interest loans to help qualified home buyers meet down payment requirements.
Public Housing Program
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, nearly 8,300 Colorado households live in public housing units. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers public housing nationwide and local public housing agencies administer the program in Colorado. Public housing may include different styles of housing, including apartments or single-family homes. The Public Housing Program offers housing to low-income individuals and families, along with the disabled and senior citizens. To qualify, applicants must meet income limits established by HUD, which may vary depending on location. Public housing residents typically must pay approximately 30 percent of their incomes for rent.
Housing Choice Voucher Program
Local housing agencies in Colorado offer rent subsidies through HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program, often referred to as the Section 8 program. The HCV program extends eligibility to the disabled, senior citizens and low-income households and allows participants to choose their housing from the private rental market. Candidates must meet income limits established by HUD and participants can choose from rental housing such as apartments, single-family houses or townhouses. HCV recipients typically pay approximately 30 percent of their monthly incomes for rent and their local housing agency pays the subsidy to the property owner. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that more than 28,000 Colorado households receive rent subsidies through the HCV program.
Rural Rental Assistance
Low-income Coloradans living in rural areas may qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Rental Assistance program. The RA program offers rent subsidies, typically to tenants living in housing financed by the USDA's Section 515 program. The USDA extends eligibility for the RA program to senior citizens, disabled people and households with low incomes. RA participants typically pay no more than 30 percent of their incomes for rent. To qualify for RA subsidies, applicants must meet income limits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 2,500 rural Colorado households receive rent assistance through the USDA program.
Local Home Buyer Programs
Certain local Colorado governments offer programs to help homeowners make down payments for home purchases. For example, the City of Longmont administers the Boulder County Down Payment Assistance Program. As of July 2011, the program offers loans of up to $15,000 to help first-time home buyers meet down payment requirements. The City of Aurora sponsors the Home Ownership Assistance Program, which extends eligibility to first-time home buyers. The HOAP offers no-interest loans up to $10,000, as of July 2011, for home down payments. The HOAP requires home buyers to contribute at least one percent of the home price from their own funds.
Tags: home buyers, rent subsidies, Budget Policy, Budget Policy Priorities, Center Budget
