Who Qualifies for CHFA Schools-to-Home? The Eligibility Guide for Every Colorado School Employee

Quick Answer You qualify if you are classified by your employer as a full-time employee of a Colorado public school, school district, charter school, institute charter school, BOCES, or innovation zone. The program is not limited to teachers — classified staff, administrators, and support personnel are all eligible. Only one borrower on the loan needs to meet the employment requirement. Program launches July 2026.

The name "Schools-to-Home" makes people assume "teachers only." That assumption is going to cause thousands of eligible Coloradans to miss out on up to 25% of their mortgage in down payment assistance. Let's fix that.

The Eligibility Rule, Word for Word

CHFA defines an eligible "public school employee" as any individual employed by one of the following, who is classified as full-time by their employer:

• A Colorado public school or school district
• A charter school or institute charter school
• A Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
• An innovation zone

Notice what's not in that definition: there's no requirement that you teach, no requirement that you're licensed, and no list of approved job titles. The test is (1) who employs you and (2) whether they classify you as full-time. You can confirm your employer using the Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView directory.

Roles That Can Qualify

Certified Staff

• Classroom teachers
• Special education teachers
• School counselors
• School psychologists
• Librarians
• Instructional coaches

Administration

• Principals & APs
• Deans
• District office staff
• Superintendent's office

Classified Staff

• Paraprofessionals
• Bus drivers
• Custodians & maintenance
• Cafeteria & nutrition
• Front office & registrar

Specialized Roles

• School nurses
• IT & technology staff
• Security personnel
• Athletic directors & coaches
• BOCES employees

SB25-167 — the law that created this program — was written to help the entire school workforce live in the communities they serve. A school doesn't run on teachers alone, and a bus driver faces the same housing market a teacher does.

Quick Eligibility Reference

Your Pre-Launch Eligibility Checklist

Do these now — before July 2026

1. Confirm your employer is an eligible entity on CDE's SchoolView directory
2. Confirm your classification — ask HR for documentation that you're classified full-time
3. Check your credit — target 620 or better, start repairs now if needed
4. Complete a CHFA-approved homebuyer education class (it's required and available now)
5. Watch for CHFA's "Understanding Your Financial Commitment" course — releasing before launch
6. Get pre-qualified with a CHFA Participating Lender so your launch-day file is ready
7. Partner with an agent who knows this program cold — contact us today

Common Eligibility Questions, Answered

I work at a charter school. Do I qualify? Yes. Charter schools and institute charter schools are both explicitly named as eligible employers in the program. My spouse isn't a school employee. Can we buy together? Yes. When multiple borrowers are on the loan, only one must be a full-time public school employee. Teacher + nurse, custodian + contractor, principal + accountant — all combinations work. I'm part-time or a substitute. Do I qualify? The program requires that your employer classifies you as full-time. Part-time and substitute roles wouldn't meet that bar — but if you're moving into a full-time position, you're in. If you're close to full-time status, it may be worth a conversation with HR before house hunting season. I work at a private school. Do I qualify? No. Schools-to-Home is funded by the Public School Permanent Fund and is limited to public school system employers — public schools, districts, charters, institute charters, BOCES, and innovation zones. I work for a university or community college. Do I qualify? Higher education institutions are not on the eligible employer list. The program targets K-12 public school system employees. Higher-ed employees still have access to CHFA's standard down payment assistance — up to $25,000 — which we can walk you through. Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer? The legislation directs CHFA to prioritize first-time homebuyers. CHFA's final program rules at launch will clarify exactly how prior homeowners are treated. If you've owned before, don't self-eliminate — ask. "First-time buyer" often means you haven't owned in the last three years. Do I have to buy in the district where I work? No. Nothing in the published program requires you to buy within your employer's boundaries. The home must be in Colorado and must be your primary residence. A Douglas County teacher can buy in Aurora; a BOCES employee in Fort Collins can buy in Loveland. Is there an income limit or credit score requirement? Schools-to-Home runs on CHFA's lending framework, so expect standard CHFA requirements — typically a 620+ credit score, a $1,000 minimum borrower contribution, CHFA income limits, and completion of homebuyer education. Final program-specific limits arrive with the July 2026 launch.

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More Schools-to-Home Resources

• Complete CHFA Schools-to-Home Program Guide Full program breakdown — assistance amounts, how it works, comparison tables, and every FAQ.
• What Is Shared Appreciation? The Trade-Off Explained Honestly What you get, what you give up, and when the program is (and isn't) the right move.
• Colorado School Employees: Up to 25% Down Payment Assistance The announcement post — where the program came from and how big this really is.
• Every Down Payment Assistance Option for Colorado Teachers (2026) How Schools-to-Home compares to CHFA grants, metroDPA, Good Neighbor Next Door, and more.
• Why Kenna Is Colorado's #1 Schools-to-Home Expert Team Our track record and why preparation before launch day makes all the difference.

Disclosure: Eligibility details based on CHFA publications as of June 2026 and subject to CHFA's final program rules at launch. This article is informational and not lending advice. CHFA loans are originated by CHFA Participating Lenders. Tags: Buyers, Down Payment Assistance, Colorado Teachers