About BCAH
Basic Cash Assistance for Households Program
Denver residents impacted by COVID-19 and ineligible for public benefits may qualify for a one-time cash payment of up to $1,500 to help with household expenses.
To learn more about the program, please continue below. If you have any questions, please email bcah@impactcharitable.org.
Program Overview
Denver Agency for Human Rights and
Community Partnerships
As a part of Denver’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the negative financial impact of the pandemic throughout the city...
The Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships’ Denver Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs (DOIRA) has established a project for Denver families aimed at reducing the financial instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, improving financial security, and supporting families in meeting basic needs required to thrive.
To this end, Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs works closely with nonprofits, community-based organizations, residents, and government agencies to provide support to and develop policies, practices, and programs that influence the various paths of immigrant integration and the City and County of Denver has partnered with Impact Charitable, a nonprofit organization, to establish the cash assistance program with the goal of providing a one-time payment to eligible families residing in the City and County of Denver.
Those who receive the assistance can utilize the funds to take care of crucial household necessities, such as:
- Housing
- Food
- Utilities
- Bills
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Healthcare
Who is eligible for the program?
You must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible for the funds:
- You must live in Denver and have lived in Denver for at least the last 60 days. You must have a photo ID from our list of accepted IDs, whether foreign or local, AND
- You must be the head of your household to apply for the program. This means you pay more than half the cost of maintaining your home, AND
- You (the applicant) must be personally ineligible for federal benefits. Benefits included are social security benefits, supplemental security income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or SNAP/Food Stamps. While circumstances can vary; generally, individuals ineligible for federal benefits assistance cannot apply due to their immigration status. This does not extend to the rest of your household, AND
- You must be impacted by COVID-19 or its aftermath, AND
- You must have at least one child under the age of 18 living in your household to qualify for the program, AND
- You must meet our criteria for need, including:
- Living at an address within a qualified census tract (QCT), OR
- Having a child within the household is receiving one of the following benefits: Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”), Free- and Reduced-Price Lunch (“NSLP”) and/or School Breakfast (“SBP”) programs, or Head Start, OR
- Be facing housing instability.
- Living at an address within a qualified census tract (QCT), OR
You must live in Denver and have lived in Denver for at least the last 60 days. You must have a photo ID from our list of accepted IDs, whether foreign or local, AND
You must be the head of your household to apply for the program. This means you pay more than half the cost of maintaining your home, AND
You (the applicant) must be personally ineligible for federal benefits. This does not extend to the rest of your household, AND
You must be impacted by COVID-19 or its aftermath, AND
You must have at least one child under the age of 18 living in your household to qualify for the program, AND
You must meet our criteria for need, including:
- Living at an address within a qualified census tract (QCT), OR
- Having a child within the household is receiving one of the following benefits: Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”), Free- and Reduced-Price Lunch (“NSLP”) and/or School Breakfast (“SBP”) programs, or Head Start, OR
- Be facing housing stability.
Process Overview
How the Application Process Works
The application process involves a potential applicant setting time with a screener organization to complete the application process. To get connected to a screener organization, please complete the contact form below. Applications cannot be completed independently and must be screened by our partners for eligibility.
Applicants gather and provide the necessary documentation, such as proof of residency, proof of identification, and any relevant documents related to housing insecurity or qualifying benefits programs. Please know this is a first come, first served program, so it is important to have all required documents and information ready when you begin to apply.
Applications are evaluated based on the completeness and eligibility of the applicant.
Applicants are notified about their application status.
If eligible: Applicants receive confirmation and are informed if they can receive assistance through the Basic Cash Assistance for Households Program.
Approved applicants receive a one-time cash grant of $1,000. Applicants who also meet supplemental eligibility requirements, such as living in a very low-income census tract or having two or more children, receive an additional $500.
Applicants can pick up their prepaid debit card, receive it in the mail, or receive funds automatically via ACH if banking details are provided.
Accessing the Application: No Fees Involved
Please be informed that our application process is entirely free of charge. At no point will applicants be asked or required to pay for any services related to the Basic Cash Assistance for Households application. If you come across any request for payment or suspect any suspicious activity, please report it immediately to BCAH@impactcharitable.org.
Learn More
Interested in learning more?
Please complete the contact form below.
Resources
Additional Resources to Support You
We understand that everyone's circumstances are unique, and not all may align perfectly with our program's criteria. If you find that you don't meet the specific requirements for our program or are in search of broader assistance, below, you'll find a list of resources that can offer further guidance, support, and opportunities tailored to a variety of needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enter your address here. If you receive “No results found” about your address when making the search, your address is not in the City and County of Denver.
Families that are interested and meet the criteria can apply through our trusted community partners, who will conduct outreach in their respective communities. The selected trusted community partners will be conducting outreach in those communities where they work very closely with and serve many of those families that might be eligible for this cash assistance program.
Families who meet the eligibility criteria and are selected for one of the spots available in this program will receive a one-time cash assistance payment of $1000. Some families may be eligible for an additional $500 which will be determined at the point of application. In order to be eligible for the additional supplement assistance, households must:
- Live in a census tract where 50 percent or more of the households have an income that is less than 40 percent of the area median income, OR
- Have two or more children.
No, each family or household can only apply once.
No. Only one person from each household can apply to the program. The head of the household pays for more than half the family’s expenses.
If you have all the necessary papers with you, the application should take 15-20 minutes to complete. If any documents are missing or hard to read, the application process will take longer because we will need to wait until all documents are submitted and verified.
Our staff from our network of community-based organizations that you apply through will help you complete the application.
The money provided by the Basic Cash Assistance for Households program is considered a charitable gift and does not affect all benefits but may impact some. When applying, further information on this will be provided.
No, it’s not necessary. We won’t ask about your or your family’s immigration status when you apply.
No. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not consider one-time direct cash assistance that is specifically related to COVID-19 when making public charge determinations.
Your information will be used to determine if you qualify for the program. Your personal details, such as (name, phone number, nor street address) will not be shared with government agencies.
The Denver Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships (HRCP) Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs has contracted with Impact Charitable, who partners with AidKit and selected trusted community-based organizations to run the program.
For more information or to reach out with any questions, please email bcah@impactcharitable.org.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Heidi Rodriguez
Public Information Officer
Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships | City and County of Denver
hrcppio@denvergov.org
