CORONAVIRUS Aid is available for those facing eviction
Federal protections recently expired
Local officials are encouraging Boulder County residential tenants who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic to explore assistance that may be available to help them stay in their homes after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a federal moratorium on evictions.
Support services range from rental, utility and other financial assistance to landlord-tenant mediation, eviction protection and legal help, officials stated in a news release.
Boulder County residents can call the bilingual Boulder County Housing Helpline at 303-441-1206 or email Housinghelpline@bouldercounty.org or Ayudavivienda@bouldercounty.org.
In some cases, tenants have seen missed rental payments accumulate due to COVID-19 impacts and many are also facing mounting utility bills.
Emergency funding available now can help cover these costs. Details, including eligibility information, are available at boco.org/emerg-rent-assistance.
The City of Boulder’s Community Mediation and Resolution Center, tinyurl. com/ pd67rdkn, provides tools including legal services, mediation, and rental assistance, which city staff said are some of the most effective tools to help prevent evictions.
For Longmont residents, the city’s Mediation Services volunteers unit, tinyurl. com/ 6tcs5m4k, connects both housing providers and tenants with information regarding the landlord/tenant relationship, and can also help residents in other parts of Boulder County — Lafayette, Erie, Niwot, Hygiene, Lyons, and Allenspark — access mediation with their housing provider, referrals to the Housing Helpline, and other community resources. Further information about services and resources is available at bit.ly/mediation-services.
Longmont tenants who
are behind in their rent or utility bills or who need help communicating with their landlord can also contact Mediation Services at 303-651-8444.
Along with Boulder County and the cities of Longmont and Boulder, the Family Resource Network also includes nonprofit organizations such as the Outreach United Resource (OUR) Center in Longmont, ourcenter.org; the Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette, sistercarmen.org, and Emergency Family Assistance Association in Boulder, efaa.org, all of which provide help with rent and utility assistance, housing, and food, financial, and other assistance throughout the community and can help households navigate the safety net.
Those organizations also can provide referrals to the Housing Helpline and other safety net providers and programs. The Family Resource Network also includes the mountain coalition Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance, www.p2phhs.org.
Along with housing supports, Boulder County and its Family Resource Network partners also offer help with food and financial assistance, health coverage, childcare and budgeting.