The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) provides rental assistance to income-eligible tenants by subsidizing a portion of their monthly rent and utilities and paying it directly to their landlords. In cases where utilities are not included in rent, the program may pay a larger portion of the rent so that the tenant is able to afford utility payments. The assistance provided is the difference between what the tenant pays toward rent (generally 30%-40% of the household’s adjusted gross income) and the cost of the rent.

Once you have been accepted into the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you must remain in good standing. That requires being a considerate neighbor, paying your rent on time, reporting any changes in the members of your household or your income to your residential coordinator and ensuring that your unit passes an annual inspection.

A lottery system is used for applicants to become Housing Choice Voucher participants. The lottery opens when we have vouchers available. Exact dates of the openings will be posted on our website at least 5 days in advance of the opening.

Email bchalottery@bouldercounty.gov or call the Boulder County Housing Authority at 720.776.0823 if you have any questions.

Thistle Community Housing is a non-profit organization that offers affordable housing opportunities in Boulder County. Thistle develops, manages, and preserves quality, permanently affordable rental and ownership homes. Mapleton Park is a Community Land Trust property and Thistle manages the review of all applicants seeking to find housing in the Park.

To apply for housing in any Thistle CLT property:

• Review the Income Qualification Worksheet first to determine if you qualify.

• Complete the Common Application, available here in English and Spanish.

  • To apply for housing in any Thistle property check the “Thistle Communities” option on the first page of the application.

  • Note: the common application may also be used to apply for other housing programs available in Boulder County that offer low-income rental opportunities and homebuyer assistance.

• To qualify as a homebuyer in Mapleton Park complete the Mapleton Supplement Application available here in English and Spanish.

  • Note: The Mapleton Application does NOT require a CHFA certificate or mortgage pre-qualification letter.

• To qualify as a homebuyer in any other CLT property complete the Supplement to the Common Application, available here in English and Spanish.

• You will need to show how you are going to pay for your home:

  • You may purchase your home with cash. Any cash gifts from relatives or friends cannot exceed 20% of the purchase price.

  • You may negotiate a seller-finance agreement and record a Chattel Mortgage with the Boulder Clerk and Recorder.

  • You may be able to obtain a loan through your bank, however bank loans may be limited by the age of the mobile home and many lenders will not originate loans on pre-HUD manufactured mobile home. A list of Community Land Trust Lenders can be found here.

  • You may seek a private investor loan, but interest rates on these loans may be high.

  • Down Payment Assistance may be available through a number of programs. You can find a list of available programs here.

Email info@thistle.us or call 303.443.0007 for more information or assistance with completing your application.

The Colorado Division of Housing administers several housing voucher programs for individuals facing specific circumstances.

• The Family Unification Program (FUP) assists Households involved in child welfare. Vouchers are reserved for families where housing is an obstacle to retaining or regaining custody of their children. Youth vouchers are available to homeless youth who are aging out of the foster care system.

• Project Based Assistance Vouchers (PBV) subsidize specific units in designated buildings targeting populations needing supervision or a structured setting.

• The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program provides housing choice voucher rental assistance and intensive case management and clinical services to enable homeless veterans access to permanent housing.

• The Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing (CoC PSH) program provides rental assistance and access to supportive services for individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness and have an identified disability verified by medical professionals.

• The Section 811 PRA program provides project based subsidies to assist very low income people with significant and long-term disabilities so that they may live independently in the community by providing affordable housing linked with voluntary services and supports.

• The Mental Health – State Housing Voucher (MH-SHV), Homeless Solutions Program – State Housing Voucher (HSP-SHV), and Recovery-Oriented Housing Program – State Housing Voucher (ROHP-SHV) programs provide long-term rental assistance and access to supportive services for extremely low-income persons (and their households) with a disabling condition and a history of homelessness. Preference is given to households with frequent and/or high utilization of public systems.

https://www.thistlecommunityhousing.org/additional-resources