Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Colorado
Colorado has 59 housing authorities managing a combined 557 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 254 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 46%. This data was last verified on Jul 16, 2026.
Colorado's affordable housing landscape is managed by 59 housing authorities overseeing a total of 343 waiting lists. As of now, 115 of these lists are open, representing a 34% open rate, while 182 lists are currently closed to new applicants. Individuals seeking assistance can explore a variety of programs designed to make housing more accessible. Key programs include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which has 59 lists with 10 currently open, and Public Housing, which offers 58 lists with 31 open for applications. Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) are also available across 32 lists, with 4 open.
Beyond these primary programs, various specialized housing assistance options exist. For instance, there are 17 "Other" program lists with 8 open, and 16 lists for RAD with 3 open. Senior Housing has 4 lists with 3 open, while Affordable Housing has 3 lists with 2 open. Several "Deeply Affordable" programs also have limited openings, such as Deeply Affordable (Family with Young Children) with 1 open list and Deeply Affordable - Bringing School Home with 1 open list. Other specific programs like Farm Labor Housing (2 lists, 1 open), Elderly Supported Housing (1 list, 1 open), Emergency Rental Assistance (1 list, 1 open), and supportive housing initiatives also contribute to the available options. It's important to note that some programs, such as Mainstream (16 lists), VASH (3 lists), LIHTC (3 lists), and FUP (3 lists), currently have no open waiting lists.
Applicants should be aware of regional differences when seeking assistance. For example, Denver has 3 housing authorities with 2 open lists, Englewood has 2 HAs with 1 open list, and Boulder has 2 HAs with 17 open lists. Local experience suggests that Denver and Boulder County often have extremely long waits for housing assistance. In contrast, Colorado Springs and Pueblo Public Housing Authorities may offer shorter processing times and more frequent openings. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) serves as the state housing agency. Recent activities demonstrate the dynamic nature of waitlists, with Longmont Housing Authority changing PBV from closed to opening soon, and the Housing Authority of Weld County in Greeley experiencing both openings and closures for Public Housing lists.
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The affordable housing programs tracked in Colorado include Public Housing (32 open), Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (15 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (7 open), RAD (4 open), Mainstream, VASH. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, application process, and wait times. In most cases, applicants can apply to multiple program types at the same housing authority, and there is no limit to the number of housing authorities you can apply to statewide.
The cities with the most open waitlists in Colorado right now are Boulder (74), Longmont (18), Littleton (18), Greeley (14), and Lakewood (12) . Applicants who are flexible about location will generally receive assistance sooner than those who apply to a single waitlist in a high-demand area.
Latest opening: Colorado Division of Housing — Emergency Rental Assistance
Eligibility Requirements for Colorado
To qualify for assistance in Colorado, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA).
- Income: Below HUD local limits
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen or eligible legal status
- Background: Criminal background check required
- Residency: Preferences often given to locals
Real-Time Data Verification
Section 8 Waitlist aggregates data from official Colorado legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.