Rent and Utility Help
Temporary Rental & Utility Assistance (TRUA)
Households may only apply for TRUA assistance if they have a current Demand for Rent or Possession from their landlord or have an active eviction case (FED) at the time of application. Households who receive funding from TRUA in 2025 may not re-apply for additional funds in 2025 and will not be eligible to receive TRUA in 2026.
Apply for TRUA
Applications will be accepted beginning on the third Tuesday of each month (see below for schedule), and the application portal will close once capacity has been reached for the month. After this period, there will be a random selection, and selected applicants will be invited by email to provide additional information in order to complete the application process. Applicants who are not selected will be notified and are welcome to apply again in future months. Interested applicants may submit one application per household per month.
Funding is not guaranteed. Applicants may not receive all types of assistance requested in the application. Eligibility for TRUA funding is determined by the reviewing agency assigned to the case. Not all eligible households who apply for TRUA will receive assistance.
The TRUA application portal will open at midnight (12 a.m. MT) on the following days:
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- Tuesday, March 18, 2025
- Tuesday April 15, 2025
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025
- Tuesday, July 15, 2025
- Tuesday, August 19, 2025
- Tuesday, September 16, 2025
- Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Refer to the TRUA Program Guidelines [Versión en español aquí] for more detailed information and guidance.
For questions and further assistance, including language access and technical support, contact the CARE Center Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm MT:
- Call or text (303) 838-1200
- Chat with a representative by using the yellow chat function found in the bottom right corner of the CARE Center welcome page.
The Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance (TRUA) Program offers three types of assistance to eligible renter households:
1. Rental Assistance – Up to 6 months of rental assistance may be provided one time. This may include rental arrears, the current month’s rent, and up to one month of future rent.
2. Utility Assistance – Assistance may be provided for current and past-due bills from Denver Water and/or Xcel Energy (electric, gas). Utility assistance may be provided one time per utility and will only be provided at the same time as rental assistance; households may not apply for standalone utility assistance.
3. Relocation Assistance – Only available in instances when eviction cannot be prevented. This may include security deposit, first month’s rent, application fees, and other eligible move-in costs. Deposit and first month’s rent will count as one month each toward the 6-month maximum. Relocation assistance may be provided one time and will only be provided at the same time as rental assistance.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
More detailed eligibility criteria are outlined in the TRUA Program Guidelines (see above).
- Household income must be at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI)
- Household must be experiencing a financial hardship or other housing crisis
- The residence for which assistance is being requested must be the primary residence and located in both the City AND County of Denver
Minimum Documentation Requirements
Applicants must provide at least one document for each category below. Additional documents may be requested as needed, including ones not listed here. More detailed program requirements are outlined in the TRUA Program Guidelines (see above).
1. Proof of Income (for each person 18 years of age and older) can include, but is not limited to:
- Pay stubs
- Tax returns (most recent filing)
- Bank statements
2. Evidence of Tenancy can include, but is not limited to:
- Signed lease agreement
- Official document showing Tenant’s name and address, such as rent ledger, utility bill, driver’s license, or pay stubs
3. Evidence of Rent Due can include, but is not limited to:
- Signed lease agreement
- Tenant ledger
- Demand or eviction notice
- Past payment receipts
4. Evidence of Financial Hardship (or other housing crisis) can include, but is not limited to:
- Self-attestation within the online application
- Additional documents may be requested on a case-by-case basis
5. Photo Identification
- Valid photo identification issued by any governmental entity (U.S. or foreign)
- All other acceptable forms of identification are listed in the TRUA Program Guidelines
Appeal Policy & Form
We understand the urgency of your housing situation. If your Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance (TRUA) request was denied due to ineligibility and you believe that you are eligible, you may appeal this decision to the City and County of Denver's Department of Housing Stability (HOST). You may submit an appeal using one of the following three methods:
- Form: Complete and submit the online appeal form (español).
- Email: Complete and email this PDF appeal form (español) to:
DenverTRUA@denvergov.org
Subject Line: “[FirstName] [LastName] Appeal of TRUA Denial”
- Mail: If needed, written appeals can be mailed to:
Denver Dept. of Housing Stability (HOST) – TRUA
201 W. Colfax Ave, 6th Floor
Denver, CO 80202
Need More Help?
For status updates, questions, and further assistance, including language access and technical support, please contact the CARE Center Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm MT:
For in-person help completing your application, such as uploading documents, you may visit or get in touch with one of these community organizations:
- BuCu West Community Connectors
- Located in the Westwood neighborhood
- 4200 Morrison Road Unit 3 Denver, CO 80219
- (720) 541-9324
- Colorado Housing Connects
- Located near the West Colfax and Sloan Lake neighborhoods
- 1 (844) 926-6632
- East Colfax Community Collective (EC3)
- ONLY serving residents who live in the 80220 zip code
- Located in the East Colfax neighborhood
- 1195 Newport St Denver, CO 80220
- (720) 295-0152
For housing navigation support, tenant-landlord mediation, and other resources, reach out to Colorado Housing Connects: 1 (844) 926-6632 or https://coloradohousingconnects.org
If you are facing a pending eviction, connect with an eviction legal assistance provider for free services as soon as possible:
Additional Partner Resources
Colorado Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program – helps homeowners get caught up on past-due housing/mobile home payments, property taxes, lot rent, insurance, and housing utilities
Colorado Housing Connects and 1-844-926-6632 – utility payment assistance, information on housing resources such as affordable housing, Tenant-Landlord Mediation services, and public benefits assistance
Denver Human Services (DHS) Emergency Assistance or 720-944-4DHS (4347) – limited emergency assistance funds available for deposit, first month rent, and rent assistance for households with a demand for rent or Eviction Notice as well as Xcel payment assistance
Energy Outreach Colorado– assistance with Xcel Energy electric or gas utilities (Denver County only)
Mile High United Way and call 211 – multilingual and confidential service that connects individuals to critical resources including food, shelter, rental assistance, childcare, and more
Sunshine Home Share Colorado – assists people above the age of 55 stay in their homes by safely matching them with someone seeking housing