Boulder Housing Partners’ Program Comparison Chart
Boulder Housing Partners is here to help you find a welcoming and affordable place to call home in Boulder. Whether you’re looking to rent a beautiful apartment or townhome at one of our 35+ apartment communities in Boulder, or looking for help paying your rent in Boulder County, we have a variety of options to meet your unique housing needs. Learn more about what may work best for you.
| BHP’s 35+ Rental Apartment Communities in Boulder | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deeply Affordable Communities Apartments with Rental Assistance Included | Boulder Affordable Rentals | Market-Rate Rentals | Housing Choice Vouchers Previously known as Section 8 Vouchers |
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| What are the basics? | Apartments for income-qualified applicants that are less expensive than typical market-rate rents and come with additional rent assistance and Resident Service coordination. | Apartments for income-qualified applicants that are less expensive than typical market rate rents in Boulder. A wide range of incomes are accepted. You may be surprised to learn you qualify! | Apartments that are similar to market-rate rental apartments in Boulder. Market-rate apartments offer inviting living spaces, desirable locations, and pet-friendly apartments to call home. | Qualified Housing Choice Voucher holders receive assistance with paying their rent in Boulder County. Rental locations can include apartments, townhomes, and houses where a voucher holder signs the lease with the rental owner or manager. |
| Where are apartment communities located? | Throughout the City of Boulder, managed by Boulder Housing Partners | Throughout the City of Boulder, managed by Boulder Housing Partners | Throughout the City of Boulder, managed by Boulder Housing Partners | Rental assistance may be used within Boulder County at a rental that meets or exceeds housing quality standards that is found by the voucher holder. |
| What size homes are available? | Studios to 4 bedrooms | Studios to 4 bedrooms | 1 to 4 bedrooms | Voucher holders find their own rentals for their approved household size. Assistance can be used in locations such as apartment communities, townhomes, and individually owned houses. |
| Are any of these apartment communities specifically for older adults? | Yes. -Canyon Pointe (For 62+) -Walnut Place (For 55+) -Arapahoe Court (For 62+ or people with disabilities) -Madison (Several apts for 62+ or people with disabilities) -Manhattan (Several apts for 62+ or people with disabilities) -Northport (For 62+ or people with disabilities) Apartment homes at these communities are designed for independent living. Resident Service coordinators are available to connect residents to local resources. Visit Apartments for Seniors or People with Disabilities to learn more. | Yes. - High Mar (For 55+) Apartment homes at High Mar are designed for independent living. A Resident Service coordinator is available to connect residents to local resources. Visit Apartments for Seniors or People with Disabilities to learn more. All other apartment communities in our Boulder Affordable Rentals program are available to applicants of all ages, with at least one household member age 18+. | No. Apartment communities are available to applicants of all ages, with at least one household member age 18+. | See “Regarding qualifying, do you give priorities to particular groups?” |
| Are any of these apartment communities specifically for households with children? | Yes. - Six communities participate in the Bringing School Home program for households with children ages 0-6. - BHP’s Woodlands community offers the Family-Self Sufficiency program for households with children under the age of 18. | Apartment communities are available to applicants of all ages, with at least one household member age 18+. | Apartment communities are available to applicants of all ages, with at least one household member age 18+. | See “Regarding qualifying, do you give priorities to particular groups?” |
| Are any of these apartment communities specifically for people with disabilities? | Yes. -Arapahoe Court (For 62+ or people with disabilities) -Madison (Several apts for 62+ or people with disabilities) -Manhattan (Several apts for 62+ or people with disabilities) -30Pearl (Independent Living Program Apartments for Individual with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) Visit Apartments for Seniors or People with Disabilities to learn more. | Apartment communities are available to applicants of all abilities. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations due to a disability are accepted at all Boulder Housing Partners communities. Accessible can also be found at these communities. | Apartment communities are available to applicants of all abilities. Accommodations due to a disability are accepted at all Boulder Housing Partners communities. Accessible apartments can also be found at these communities. | See “Regarding qualifying, do you give priorities to particular groups?” |
| Are there any restrictions for full or part-time student applicants? | Yes. Program guidelines restrict households with students, unless a student(s) can meet one of the exceptions. See Deeply Affordable Rentals Student, Liquid Asset, and Property Homeownership Restrictions for details. | Yes. Program guidelines restrict households with students, unless a student(s) can meet one of the exceptions. See Boulder Affordable Rentals Student, Liquid Asset, and Property Homeownership Restrictions for details. | No. | Yes. Program guidelines restrict households with students, unless a student(s) can meet one of the exceptions. |
| Must I already live or work in a certain location in order to qualify? | Yes. Program guidelines give priority to those who live or work in Boulder County.* *For Arapahoe Court, program guidelines give priority to those who live or work within the city limits of Boulder. For Canyon Pointe and Glen Willow, applicants may apply from any area. | No. | No. | Yes. Program guidelines give priority to those who live or work in Boulder County. |
| Regarding qualifying, do you give priority to particular groups? | Yes. Program guidelines give priority to households who live or work in Boulder County (with exceptions listed in the question above), and who apply as families, or households with children, or have disabilities, or are older adults. Criteria vary per apartment community, and an overview of the types of communities offered can be found on the Deeply Affordable Communities page. | No. | No. | Yes. Program guidelines give priority to households who live or work in Boulder County, and who apply as a family with children, a person with a disability, or are older adults (age 62+). |
| How much will my rent be? | Rent is approximately 30%-40% of the household’s gross income. The remainder is subsidized through federal funding. | Rent is set at a monthly rate that is lower than typical market-rate rents in Boulder. Rents do not exceed limits published by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. | Rent is comparable to market-rate rents found in Boulder. | Rent is approximately 30%-40% of the household’s gross income. The remainder is subsidized through federal funding. |
| What is the most income I can have to still be eligible? | Maximum income limits vary per apartment community. Most apartment communities have a maximum income limit of 50% of the Area Median Income. Visit Are You Eligible to learn more. | Maximum income limits vary per apartment community and can also vary per individual apartment as set by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Visit Are You Eligible to learn more. | There is no income maximum. | Residents can earn up to 50% of Area Median Income. Visit Are You Eligible to learn more. |
| What is the least income I can have to still be eligible? | There is no minimum income requirement. | Two times the amount of the apartment’s rent, unless using a Housing Choice Voucher. | Two times the amount of the apartment’s rent, unless using a Housing Choice Voucher. | There is no minimum income requirement. |
| When is the wait list or lottery open? | Waitlists open periodically on a limited basis depending on when apartments become available. Please visit the Deeply Affordable Rentals program page or call our wait list hotline (720) 564-4627 for announcements of openings. | Available rentals are listed on the Now Renting page and on each community’s page. You may also sign up for notifications of availabilities at a particular community by visiting the community’s page. | Available rentals are listed on the Now Renting page and on each community’s page. You may also sign up for notifications of availabilities at a community by visiting the community’s page. | The lottery opens three times a year in the months of February, June and October. Exact dates will be posted on our website and lottery hotline at least one month in advance. Please visit the Housing Choice program page or call our information hotline (720) 564-4627 for announcements of openings. |
| If I qualify, how soon will I receive housing? | The waiting period varies from approximately 3 months to 2 years, depending on the amount of apartments that are available and the number of households waiting. | Applications are processed as they are received for an available apartment. Processing time varies from 5-8+ business days based on screening timing, and when an apartment is available for move-in. | Applications are processed as they are received for an available apartment. Processing time varies from 1-3+ business days based on screening timing, and when an apartment is available for move-in. | Numbers are drawn randomly after the lottery closes. Our goal is to contact all the selected applicants within 6 months of the numbers being randomly selected to proceed forward with application process. |
| Must I pass a criminal background check to qualify? | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| How can I get an application? | The way to apply for these communities* is through a wait list. Please visit the Deeply Affordable Communities page or call our wait list hotline (720) 564-4627 for opening information. Applications are not accepted prior to wait list openings. *Visit ••• Housing First at Lee Hilland Family Self Sufficiency at Woodlands to see their different application process. | A link to pre-qualify will appear with each listing when an apartment becomes available. Applications are not accepted ahead of time. To know if you would qualify based on income, see the maximum income limit that is posted with each available apartment and be sure you earn 2x’s the posted rent amount. | A link to pre-qualify will appear with each listing on the Now Renting page, or contact the Leasing Representative. | To apply for a Housing Choice Voucher, you must be randomly selected through our lottery. The lottery opens three times a year. Please visit the Housing Choice program page or call our hotline (720) 564-4627 for lottery opening information. |
| Are pets allowed? | Most apartment communities allow up to 1 pet with prior approval. | Most apartment communities allow up to 2 pets with prior approval | Most apartment communities allow up to 2 pets with additional pet fees and prior approval. | Pet policy is determined by your rental manager. |