This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Colorado Springs and El Paso County — not generic Section 8 advice. If you need shelter tonight, want to know whether the waitlist is open, or are looking for a nonprofit that can help with this month's rent, the named resources below are where to start.
- 211 Colorado — dial 211 (free, 24/7) for any housing emergency in El Paso County
- Colorado Springs Housing Authority (CSHA) — (719) 387-6700 · csha.us
Emergency Help Tonight in Colorado Springs
If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:
- Springs Rescue Mission — primary adult shelter in Colorado Springs. Walk-in and overflow capacity in winter
- HopeCOS — the other major shelter network for single adults in the city
- Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) — 45–90 day temporary shelter specifically for families with children under 18
- Cold-weather warming shelters — beginning January 1, 2026, when temperatures are predicted to drop below 20°F, you can board a Mountain Metropolitan Transit (MMT) bus to a designated warming shelter without a fare or physical pass
- Coordinated Entry (via 211) — the local homeless services system assesses your needs and connects you with available housing. Call 211 to reach the access point nearest you
For a complete walkthrough of what to do in the first 24 hours, see our emergency housing tonight guide.
Section 8 in Colorado Springs: CSHA Status and How to Apply
Housing Choice Vouchers in the city are administered by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority (CSHA), which serves residents inside Colorado Springs city limits. Here's the current status:
- Waitlist is closed as of May 2026. CSHA opened the Section 8 list briefly on April 19, 2026 (a one-day window). Before that, the previous opening was July 16–18, 2024 — so openings are rare and short
- HUD voucher pause: There is also a federal directive currently pausing the issuance of new Housing Choice Vouchers. CSHA will announce when this is lifted
- Check your status if you already applied: log into WaitListCheck (WLC) and look for an Active status with your Position number, or call (719) 387-6700 and dial 1 to hear your ranking at any time
- Apply to neighboring authorities too — you are not limited to CSHA. The Fountain Housing Authority, the Colorado Division of Housing, and other El Paso County and Pikes Peak region PHAs run their own lists with separate openings
For the full national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.
Colorado Springs Fair Market Rents (FY 2026)
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rents (effective October 1, 2025) for the Colorado Springs HMFA (El Paso County) anchor the voucher amounts your local PHA can pay:
- 2-bedroom: $1,735
- 3-bedroom: $2,413
CSHA sets actual payment standards between 90% and 110% of these figures, and uses Small Area FMRs for specific zip codes. Confirm the exact payment standard for your unit's zip code before you sign a lease — your share of the rent depends on it. The Colorado Division of Housing publishes the current voucher payment standard schedules for areas they administer.
For how your portion of the rent is calculated once you have a voucher, see understanding rent calculation.
Emergency Rental Assistance in Colorado Springs (Named Programs)
If you're behind on rent or can't make this month's payment, these named local programs have provided rental assistance in El Paso County. Funding is volatile — always call to confirm current availability:
- Kingdom Builders Family Life Center — rental assistance and rapid rehousing, with a focus on survivors of domestic violence
- Karen Horgen Prevention Program (KHPP) — one-time rental and utility assistance, administered through Family Promise of Colorado Springs
- Westside CARES — collaboration of nonprofits providing rent and utility help for residents living west of I-25
- Catholic Charities of Central Colorado — limited rental assistance through their Homeless Resolution Program. Their dedicated ERAP funding ended July 1, 2025, so capacity is reduced
- Pikes Peak United Way / 211 Colorado — the front door for the entire system. Call 211 to be referred to whichever program currently has openings
- LIHEAP utility assistance — Colorado's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program helps with heating and cooling bills, which frees up cash for rent. Apply through the Colorado Department of Human Services or call 211
For the wider national landscape of rental assistance programs and how to qualify, see our emergency rental assistance guide.
Tenant Rights in Colorado
Colorado law gives renters in Colorado Springs several protections that are stronger than federal minimums:
- Source-of-income protection: Colorado has a statewide law prohibiting landlords from refusing to rent to you because you pay with a Section 8 voucher or other lawful subsidy. If a landlord says "we don't take vouchers," that is illegal in Colorado. See our source-of-income protections guide
- Warranty of habitability: Your landlord must keep the unit fit to live in — working heat, water, electrical, and structurally sound. Colorado's Warranty of Habitability law lets you take action if they don't
- Eviction notice requirements: Most non-payment evictions in Colorado require a 10-day demand for compliance notice before the landlord can file. Lease-violation and no-cause notice timelines vary. See how to avoid eviction
- Security deposits: Colorado caps security deposits at the equivalent of 2 months' rent and requires return within 30 days (or 60 days if the lease specifies). Landlords must itemize any deductions in writing
- Retaliation is illegal: A landlord cannot evict, raise the rent on, or refuse to renew a lease in retaliation for you reporting code violations or organizing other tenants
- Fair housing: The federal Fair Housing Act plus Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, national origin, disability, ancestry, creed, marital status, and source of income
For broader state-specific information, see our Colorado housing resources page. To file a fair-housing complaint, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.
Other Affordable Housing Options in Colorado Springs
- Public housing: CSHA operates public housing developments inside the city. Application is through CSHA directly; the list operates separately from the Section 8 list
- LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) properties: Privately owned apartment buildings with income-restricted rents. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in El Paso County. See how to find LIHTC housing
- HUD-VASH (for veterans): Combines a voucher with VA case management. Eligible veterans can be referred through the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
- Rapid Rehousing: Short-term rental help plus case management to move people from homelessness to permanent housing. Access through Coordinated Entry (call 211)
- HUD-approved housing counseling: Free one-on-one counseling for budgeting, applications, foreclosure prevention, and fair-housing issues. Find a counselor through HUD's counselor locator
Next Steps
Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. single, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.
If you're already on the CSHA waitlist and just need to verify your position, the fastest path is calling (719) 387-6700 and pressing 1.