Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Services Program

Additionally, Colorado Legal Services has created informational videos on the following topics:

• Mediation
• Warranty of Habitability
• Pre-Eviction Notices
• Going to Court on an Eviction
• Boulder County Resources

This program is funded by the Long-Term Rental Tax, which requires the following for long-term rental license holders:

• A $75 annual tax on dwelling units that require a long-term rental license
• Required lease disclosure to accompany lease agreements
• Required notice of EPRAS services to tenants when serving a demand for compliance notice or notice to quit

The Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Services (EPRAS) program launched in January 2021 to help meet the needs of community members facing a potential eviction. The program helps people resolve eviction-related housing issues through legal services, rental assistance and mediation.

This program was swiftly implemented after voters passed the No Eviction Without Representation measure in November 2020 and is funded through an excise tax paid by landlords on each property they operate with a rental license. The EPRAS Program is part of the city’s Community Mediation and Resolution Center which works with community partners to provide landlord-tenant mediation and maintains resources for landlords and renters.

The report summarizes the second year of EPRAS program operations. Key highlights include:

• 534 tenants were served, a 77% increase over 2021.
• $456,237 in rental assistance distributed to 82 households, a fourfold increase over 2021.
• $394,720 distributed to the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) to support rental assistance.
• 124 tenants received legal services through EPRAS.
• Evictions were prevented in nearly 70% of cases at eviction court, up from 50% compared to pre-EPRAS.
• Expansion of the EPRAS staff team.

In 2022, EPRAS saw an increase in demand for services and rental assistance as pandemic-related assistance programs began to wind down. This trend is continuing into 2023 and the EPRAS team expects to see sustained high demand for rental assistance which will likely exceed the program’s 2023 budget. In this case, adjustments to funding criteria and program guidelines may occur to maximize available funds to help the most tenants.

For information on clients served, outcomes and other program data visit the EPRAS dashboard.