Larimer rent aid falls from nearly 2,800 households to 156

Rent assistance reached 156 Larimer County households in 2025, down from nearly 2,800 in 2022 when federal funding was available, Housing Stability Manager Aaliyah Rodriguez told commissioners.

Neighbor to Neighbor served those 156 households, just above its goal of 150, Rodriguez said. The drop reflects fewer resources, not less need: “This is a representation of less resources available,” Rodriguez said. The Larimer County Regional Housing Needs Assessment found that 54% of county renters are cost burdened, Rodriguez said.

Board Chair Jody Shadduck-McNally asked for an explanation of the decline on the rent-assistance graph. Shadduck-McNally suggested an asterisk directing viewers to that explanation. A staff member agreed the data needed context and promised, “I'll work on addressing that moving forward.”

Commissioner John Kefalas said the draft county budget for next year includes funding for eviction prevention and the Colorado Poverty Law Project. Staff described the project's courthouse clinic for people served with eviction notices. They can get help filing a response there.

Larimer County and its municipalities were awarded more than $21 million in the most recent Proposition 123 funding cycle, a staff member said. The awards covered affordable housing units and local-government capacity grants. Creating a new affordable housing unit can cost more than $500,000, staff said.

Backyard Boost waives fees for accessory living areas in unincorporated Larimer County, staff said. In exchange, owners sign a three-year deed restriction requiring rent affordable to someone earning below 60% of area median income. The county will apply its fast-track process to affordable units built through the program, another staff member said. Of about three applications, two were close to approval; funding could support up to 10 projects, staff said.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.