Colorado Springs, CO – The Colorado Springs Housing Authority (CSHA) has announced a temporary pause on processing new applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, citing funding constraints. This pause, which began in February, only affects individuals who were in the process of receiving vouchers. Current recipients of Section 8 assistance will not be impacted by the pause at this time, according to CSHA Executive Director Chad Wright.
The Section 8 program, managed at the local level by CSHA in Colorado Springs, helps low-income families, the elderly, veterans, and individuals with disabilities afford safe and stable housing. Through the program, eligible participants receive rental assistance in the form of vouchers, which cover a portion of their rent. Participants are responsible for paying a portion of their income toward rent, while the government covers the remainder. In order to participate, landlords must agree to accept the vouchers, and the rental properties must meet specific health and safety standards as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
As of this week, there are 2,886 households on the current waitlist for Section 8 assistance, with 1,741 households actively receiving vouchers. The waitlist typically opens each July for a short period, allowing new applicants to apply. Wright has expressed confidence that the pause will not disrupt the waitlist application process this summer, noting that having over 2,000 households on the waitlist is common for the program.
The decision to pause processing new applications was made to ensure that CSHA remains in balance with the available funding for the program. Wright emphasized that there are currently no plans to cancel vouchers for households already receiving assistance. “This is a pause mainly to ensure that we remain in balance with the funding for the program,” he said.
CSHA has yet to receive updated guidance from HUD regarding the program’s funding for 2025, and it remains unclear how future funding decisions might impact Section 8 services in the area. Wright also mentioned that this may be the first time in CSHA’s history that the program has been paused.
The pause in Colorado Springs mirrors a similar move made by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) earlier this year. In March, HACLA announced it was halting the processing of applications for 3,300 families due to reductions in funding for the Section 8 program. HACLA expressed concern that without additional federal resources, housing instability could worsen in Los Angeles, affecting thousands of families and the broader community.
A memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in late January had called for a freeze on funding for numerous federal programs, but the memo was rescinded just two days later. Despite this, recent reports from the National Low Income Housing Coalition suggest that the Section 8 program may face additional cuts when the White House releases its budget request in mid-May.
For now, Colorado Springs residents who are affected by the pause are encouraged to stay informed about future updates from CSHA, which plans to provide additional information regarding the next application period.
As the situation unfolds, the broader implications of funding shortages in federal housing programs remain a growing concern, with many local housing authorities facing similar challenges in providing affordable housing to low-income families.
