CCAA Balance of State
Basic Income Research Project
The Colorado Community Action Association (CCAA) is piloting a research project to address issues stemming from the combination of high cost of living and low wages in rural Colorado communities.
Households will be selected from the following eight counties of Eagle, Huerfano, Las Animas, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Routt, and San Miguel to participate in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project. Through the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, program selected households will be provided with one-time direct financial assistance.
In order for your household to participate in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, you must meet the following qualifications:
Household: For purposes of determining income eligibility, the term “persons in family” in the HHS poverty guidelines means persons in a household. A household includes any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit. The income of each individual in the household who is 18 years old or older must be included in determining income eligibility. In determining whether an individual is part of a household, the person applying as head of household may consider factors such as whether the individual pays for their own food and occupancy.
Household Income: Your household income is the combined gross income of all individuals over the age of 18 in your household. To qualify for this program, your household's annual income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Income qualification will initially be self-certified. If selected, household income will be verified through your 2025 federal tax return. Alternatively, if your current income is lower than what was reported on your 2025 tax return, you may provide your most recent five months of pay stubs and bank statements as an alternative method of income qualification.
If your household is interested in participating in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project and currently resides in one of the eligible counties, please find the corresponding application link for the county you currently reside in. If your household is selected in the random lottery, the CCAA will ask your household to provide documentation verifying you meet income qualifications and proof you currently reside in one of the eight eligible counties. If you are selected to participate in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, your household will be asked to complete surveys, assessments and questionnaires as part of the research project every six-months for two years.
If your household meets the qualifications and is selected to participate in the Basic Income Research Project, your household will receive a one-time payment of $13,000. Please note this payment is considered taxable income by the IRS for 2026 tax purposes and will be reported to the IRS by the CCAA. Participants in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project are required to complete a W-9 for tax purposes and will be issued a 1099 at the end of 2026.
Applicants are highly encouraged to submit applications electronically. If they are unable to access the application electronically, they may contact Abigail Smith at [email protected] to request a paper application.
For questions about the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, please contact Abigail Smith, [email protected]. If you would like to be added to an email list to receive notifications when future applications open for the Basic Income Research Project, click the button to sign up below.
Households will be selected from the following eight counties of Eagle, Huerfano, Las Animas, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Routt, and San Miguel to participate in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project. Through the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, program selected households will be provided with one-time direct financial assistance.
In order for your household to participate in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, you must meet the following qualifications:
- Your household must reside within one of the following eight counties: Eagle, Huerfano, Las Animas, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Routt, or San Miguel.
- Your household must meet income qualifications of being at 200% or below the Federal Poverty Level in 2026. If you need assistance determining your Federal Poverty Level, please visit cdphe.colorado.gov/federal-poverty-level-calculator.
Household: For purposes of determining income eligibility, the term “persons in family” in the HHS poverty guidelines means persons in a household. A household includes any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit. The income of each individual in the household who is 18 years old or older must be included in determining income eligibility. In determining whether an individual is part of a household, the person applying as head of household may consider factors such as whether the individual pays for their own food and occupancy.
Household Income: Your household income is the combined gross income of all individuals over the age of 18 in your household. To qualify for this program, your household's annual income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Income qualification will initially be self-certified. If selected, household income will be verified through your 2025 federal tax return. Alternatively, if your current income is lower than what was reported on your 2025 tax return, you may provide your most recent five months of pay stubs and bank statements as an alternative method of income qualification.
If your household is interested in participating in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project and currently resides in one of the eligible counties, please find the corresponding application link for the county you currently reside in. If your household is selected in the random lottery, the CCAA will ask your household to provide documentation verifying you meet income qualifications and proof you currently reside in one of the eight eligible counties. If you are selected to participate in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, your household will be asked to complete surveys, assessments and questionnaires as part of the research project every six-months for two years.
If your household meets the qualifications and is selected to participate in the Basic Income Research Project, your household will receive a one-time payment of $13,000. Please note this payment is considered taxable income by the IRS for 2026 tax purposes and will be reported to the IRS by the CCAA. Participants in the CCAA Basic Income Research Project are required to complete a W-9 for tax purposes and will be issued a 1099 at the end of 2026.
Applicants are highly encouraged to submit applications electronically. If they are unable to access the application electronically, they may contact Abigail Smith at [email protected] to request a paper application.
For questions about the CCAA Basic Income Research Project, please contact Abigail Smith, [email protected]. If you would like to be added to an email list to receive notifications when future applications open for the Basic Income Research Project, click the button to sign up below.
CCAA Basic Income Research Project Application 2026
Ouray County Resident Application:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/63CGKS5 (English)
www.surveymonkey.com/r/6ZH9FPY (español)
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 at 5 p.m.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/63CGKS5 (English)
www.surveymonkey.com/r/6ZH9FPY (español)
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Routt County Resident Application:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRZBJ5N (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z89B3LL (español)
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 at 5 p.m.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRZBJ5N (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z89B3LL (español)
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Montrose County Resident Application:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZL8WXPD (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZL75KPP (español)
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 at 5 p.m.
www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZL8WXPD (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZL75KPP (español)
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Huerfano County Resident Application: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Las Animas County Resident Application: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Moffat County Resident Application: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eagle County Resident Application:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/999WFQF (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6D5KFLG (español)
Application Deadline: May 26, 2026 at 5 p.m. (CLOSED)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/999WFQF (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6D5KFLG (español)
Application Deadline: May 26, 2026 at 5 p.m. (CLOSED)
San Miguel County Resident Application:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CWJR6QJ (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CWS3C5D (español)
Application Deadline: June 3, 2026 at 5 p.m. (CLOSED)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CWJR6QJ (English)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CWS3C5D (español)
Application Deadline: June 3, 2026 at 5 p.m. (CLOSED)
Colorado Community Services Block Grant (CO CSBG)
Colorado receives the annual Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding allocation from the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children & Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS).
These funds are received and administered by the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) on behalf of Colorado, and are distributed, by a formula allocation based on local poverty statistics and an inverse population density ratio measure, to twenty-six (26) local CSBG Grantees/Eligible Entities providing direct assistance and services to all sixty-four (64) Colorado counties. These local agencies utilize the CSBG funds, along with other leveraged funds, to serve low-income participants (at or below 125% of Federal Poverty Level [FPL]) to stabilize families and/or promote self-sufficiency. Additionally, the funds may also be used to provide linkage services to the community at-large to advance local community revitalization efforts.
These funds are received and administered by the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) on behalf of Colorado, and are distributed, by a formula allocation based on local poverty statistics and an inverse population density ratio measure, to twenty-six (26) local CSBG Grantees/Eligible Entities providing direct assistance and services to all sixty-four (64) Colorado counties. These local agencies utilize the CSBG funds, along with other leveraged funds, to serve low-income participants (at or below 125% of Federal Poverty Level [FPL]) to stabilize families and/or promote self-sufficiency. Additionally, the funds may also be used to provide linkage services to the community at-large to advance local community revitalization efforts.
This website is supported by Grant Number CSBG-24D001 from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Neither the Colorado Department of Local Affairs nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.