(COLORADO) — The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), has opened pre-applications for emergency rental assistance. It began Monday, April 14th at 11:00 a.m., and ends at Wednesday, April 16th at 5:00 p.m. The funds are designed to help people across the state if they are struggling to make ends meet. People facing eviction are prioritized. However, DOLA says those who have fallen behind on rent, meet income requirements, or meet other qualifying factors are eligible to receive the support. According to DOLA, once the pre-application window closes, applicants will be entered into a random selection. "Selected applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a full application on the online portal within seven days. To be considered for assistance, applicants must be eligible for assistance and submit the completed application and all required documentation before the deadline," said a spokesperson for DOLA. For those who might need some help with the process, DOLA says you can contact the CARE Center at 1 (303) 838-1200, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time. DOLA emphasizes that aside from deadlines, the timing of a submission does not impact the chances of being selected to receive rental assistance. ...read more read less