Homeless Crisis Looms as Emergency Housing Vouchers expire

Strategic Insights -

The expiration of the COVID-19 era emergency housing vouchers has left Colorado Springs residents in a precarious situation. Despite the efforts of organizations such as Westside CARES, which provides rent assistance and other services, the wait times for assistance can be long, and in some cases, it can take up to 30 days or more to resolve issues. For Kaniya Johnson, a 34-year-old mother of three who recently moved to Colorado Springs, the delay in transferring her existing voucher has caused her family to become homeless. Johnson's complaint joins others who have raised concerns about the Colorado Springs Housing Authority's handling of housing vouchers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Colorado Springs Housing Authority's wait times for assistance can be long, and in some cases, it can take up to 30 days or more to resolve issues.
  • The emergency housing vouchers, which were originally set to extend to 2035, will expire in 2026, leaving low-income families without housing assistance.
  • The Colorado Springs Housing Authority has implemented a five-step eviction process, which includes clearance from a third-party legal firm, the opportunity for mediation, and court approval.
  • Westside CARES CEO Kristy Milligan believes that the ongoing emergency HUD funding will help minimize disruptions to families who receive housing assistance.
  • The Colorado Springs Housing Authority has a quasi-governmental status, with an independent agency that is appointed by the mayor.
  • The Colorado Springs Housing Authority has a "pause" on accepting new applications for vouchers, which remains in place.
  • More than 1,700 people currently receive vouchers from the Colorado Springs Housing Authority.

Statistics:

  • 30 days: The amount of time it took Kaniya Johnson to resolve an issue with her housing voucher.
  • 5: The number of steps in the eviction process implemented by the Colorado Springs Housing Authority.
  • 2,000: The number of people who usually apply for housing vouchers from the Colorado Springs Housing Authority.
  • 1,700: The number of people currently receiving vouchers from the Colorado Springs Housing Authority.
  • 2026: The year in which the emergency housing vouchers will expire.

Sources:

  • "Colorado Springs residents rail against housing authority over voucher delays, wrongful eviction" by Debbie Kelley, The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.), June 2025.
  • Email responses from HUD spokesperson.
  • Westside CARES organization website.
  • Colorado Springs Housing Authority official website.
  • Colorado Department of Local Affairs' Division of Housing.
  • Colorado Springs Housing and Homelessness Response Department.