Eligible survivors can receive housing support

The Community Foundation Boulder County nonprofit has launched the Housing Support program to meet the ongoing needs of Marshall Fire survivors.

The program will support qualifying households who have lost or will soon lose their Additional Living Expenses insurance. Applications for up to a total of $5 million in housing support are available at cedproject. org/rebuild.

Eligible households can receive up to $2,500 a month or up to six months or until receiving their Certificate of Occupancy, whichever comes first. Applicants can also request two three-month extensions. The program will be available until the $5 million funding is gone.

CEO of Community Foundation Boulder County Tatiana Hernandez said as the emotional two-year anniversary of the Dec. 30, 2021, is soon approaching, ALE insurance expiring is also approaching.

“The Housing Support Program is an acknowledgment that we are not done yet, our community is still in the process of recovering from this event,” Hernandez said.

She explained despite Boulder County recovering quickly after the fire, it takes longer than two years for a community to recover. She wants fire survivors to know there are resources to help those rebuilding or displaced.

Applicants do not have to be rebuilding to qualify. Both renters and homeowners are eligible for support.

“We want to make sure people have more time and stability to make decisions in a way that is best for them and their families,” Hernandez said.

She said not everyone is in a position to rebuild and some people are still tied up in insurance disputes.

The Housing Support money is intended to relieve the anxiety of Marshall Fire survivors as ALE insurance sunsets.

To be eligible to receive the funding, applicants must: be displaced due to a partial or total loss of their home; have a monthly income at or below 150% of the Boulder County Average Median Income; experiencing financial hardship and have had insurance deny ALE extension; have requested a hardship review from the mortgage servicer; and have a contract between landlord and tenant parties if needed.

Households receiving assistance from the Community Foundation Boulder County’s Unmet Needs Fund are eligible for the Housing Support Program.

Application questions can be directed to recovery@impactdf. org or 970-494-2021 ext. 229.