HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE DIVISION OF HOUSING
Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV)
The HCV program, commonly referred to as Section 8, is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. Each year, DOH houses more than 6,000 families statewide in its HCV program, serving Colorado’s most vulnerable citizens by providing preference to individuals with disabilities (over 80 percent of DOH vouchers serve persons with disabilities), individuals experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence, and individuals exiting institutional settings.
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (VASH)
The VASH program is a national initiative sponsored by HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The goal of the VASH program is to provide HCV rental assistance and intensive case management and clinical services to enable homeless veterans access to permanent housing while leading healthy, productive lives in the community.
Family Unification Program (FUP)
DOLA partners with the Colorado Division of Child Welfare and local service providers to administer this unique housing choice voucher program to assist homeless youth aging out of the foster care system (ages 18 through 21) and families where available housing is an obstacle to full custody of their children.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Voucher
The PSH program (formerly known as Shelter + Care) serves chronically homeless persons with disabilities, prioritizing persons with severe mental illness. The program operates in partnership with community mental health centers across the state, and is designed for individuals who need services to remain stably housed. Nearly 60 percent of participants have been in the program for 5 years or more.
Colorado Second Chance Housing and Reentry Program (C-SCHARP)
C-SCHARP provides 24 months of rental assistance in combination with intensive behavioral health services for dually diagnosed parolees exiting the state prison system. The program will serve 60 participants annually with recent expansion efforts that will bring additional slots to the Colorado Springs and Denver Metro areas. The program is a collaboration between DOH, the Department of Corrections, the Office of Behavioral Health, and Community Mental Health Centers across the state. Referrals for the program come directly from the Department of Corrections.
Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program
DOH receives funding from HUD through the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Project Rental Assistance (PRA) Program. This program assists extremely low-income people with significant and long-term disabilities to live independently in the community by providing affordable housing linked with voluntary services and supports. PRA funds provide project-based rental assistance; it is not a financing source for housing construction or acquisition/rehabilitation.
Mental Health (MH) Vouchers
The MH voucher program was created to assist homeless persons transition smoothly out of state mental health hospitals into permanent housing. DOH administers housing vouchers for approximately 125 persons statewide in partnership with community mental health centers and sees a less than 10 percent turnover annually.
Colorado Choice Transition (CCT) Vouchers
The CCT voucher program provides housing vouchers for persons with disabilities who require long-term services and support to transition out of nursing facilities. These vouchers help solve systemic barriers to clients moving into a least-restrictive community living environment, to improve their health outcomes. This program also helps people with disabilities who are at risk of being placed in an institution stay in their communities.